# raindog, please explain your comment about my off-the-cuff pledge of allegiance

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raindog-please-explain-your-comment-about-my-off-the-cuff-pledge-of-allegiance/535183>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 6, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raindog-please-explain-your-comment-about-my-off-the-cuff-pledge-of-allegiance/535183 "2010-04-06T19:40:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raindog-please-explain-your-comment-about-my-off-the-cuff-pledge-of-allegiance/535183/21 "2010-04-08T17:46:07Z")

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> [@raindog](#):
>
> I’ve read enough of Skald’s posts to know he wasn’t looking to set me up for a fight. (and the thread wasn’t started in GD or the Pit)
> 
> I figure a thread creates a discussion much more than a PM would.

That works for me, then.

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raindog-please-explain-your-comment-about-my-off-the-cuff-pledge-of-allegiance/535183/22 "2010-04-10T01:55:54Z")

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> [@raindog](#):
>
> ETA  
> And now after looking at the OP again I see that my comments (that inspired the OP) were wrong in as much as I didn’t qualify them. (and perhaps if I had he wouldn’t have started the OP)
> 
> His pledge is **not** anathema to the constitution one bit.
> 
> Where I think they would be is if he took the additional step of saying “Now all children will be _required_ to recite this new and improved Pledge.”
> 
> If you want to read this pledge every morning from the school PA system, that’s fine. If I may (or my child..) stand quietly and respectfully silent, then I think it’s all good.
> 
> The moment silence is not OK, and there is punishment for not reciting it, then we’ve violated the principles we’re paying homage to.
> 
> I’m sorry for not making that clearer.

Well, that was really my point, too. The problem is less the concept of a pledge itself, and rather the concept of being forced to say it. I just was trying to defend that on free speech grounds.

BTW: I assumed Skald made this a thread so he could others’ opinions, too.

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