• Roflmasterbigpimp@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I said it once, I say it again. Why the Flag? I don’t get it. Why not the Constitution? The Flag changed so many Times in US history.

    Is there an actual reason or just because the flag is a more visual Token for loyalty?

    • warbond@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I think it’s because the people who made the pledge were just trying to sell flags. “A flag in every classroom” or something to that effect. So, once again, the answer is capitalism.

    • nednobbins@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      The visual qualities are exactly the point.

      If you wave around the constitution, it’s indistinguishable from some random bits of parchment. Most people can recognize their flag, even when it’s flapping around and next to similar flags. Humans are just very visual creatures.

      In either case, the pledge isn’t actually to the object itself but to the country represented by that object.

      The problem we have in the US is that Old Glory is commonly used to represent some particular group’s vision of what the US should be rather than a symbol of the country as a whole. When that sort of change is broadly positive, such as when it started to become a symbol of American ingenuity in space, it’s easy for everyone to rally behind. When it starts to symbolize a message like, “We should give the police unrestrained power.” it becomes more divisive.

      • rekorse@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Bullshit, I instantly could picture the declaration of independence, it is not a crazy symbol to use as noone has 400 year old parchment lieing around anymore.

        I think theres an argument over which would be a more appropriate symbol but personally I think the nationalism stuff to be silly when theres not much the US has done to be proud of.

        I’m proud of our younger generations. Do they have a flag?

    • lath@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Dunno for US, but in some monarchies, the flag was carried around by representatives who delivered the will of the king/queen/emperor/etc. So seeing the flag was the same as seeing the ruler in person. Symbolism I guess.

    • Pat_Riot@lemmy.today
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      4 months ago

      It fits the rhythm, the cadence better. Makes it easier to remember and recite.

      What is strange to me is while you’re made to repeat the pledge every day as a child in school, the practice is not carried into adult life at all. We hear the national anthem at every sporting event (not that I go to sporting events), but I can’t think of a single time I was expected to pledge allegiance as an adult.

    • masquenox@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Why the Flag? I don’t get it. Why not the Constitution?

      Yes… why worship a piece of colored fabric and when you can worship a piece of paper with scribbles on it instead?

      • Tryptaminev@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        The constitution is still the constitution, when you read it from a website. It is still the constitution, when it is read out loud. It is the text and interpretation that matters.

        So in terms of pledges it is the least troublesome symbol.

        • masquenox@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Allow me to rephrase, then.

          Why worship a piece of colored fabric and when you can worship a piece of paper that literally institutionalizes the practice of slavery instead of abolishing it?

          I guess that’s just not “troublesome” enough for the average white liberal, eh?

          • Tryptaminev@lemm.ee
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            4 months ago

            Oh i absolutely agree that it is bullshit. In principle a constitution however is a reasonable thing for pledges. Politicians, judges, military and the like pledging to uphold and protect their countries constitution is a good thing. (Now whether they actually do that is another question.)

      • Roflmasterbigpimp@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Yeah I get that it is a symbol but like I said, the Flag changed often and I would have guessed that the Constitution would be a better Symbol.

        But idk tho, I’m just some prick from Europe ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯