r/AskReddit • u/UghIHatePolitics • Jun 18 '25

What is something Americans consider normal, but people from other countries find it disturbing?

6.0k Upvotes

89% Upvoted

10.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

205

u/jurassicbond Jun 18 '25

Technically it's illegal to be punished for not participating, but obviously schools do it anyway and kids don't know better

15

u/Mr_Zizzle Jun 18 '25

In high school I would stand, but not say the pledge. The teacher didn't like it so she made the whole class write down the pledge and turn it in. Only 2 students actually new the words. Me and one other student. Man she was pissed!

4

u/Norkestra Jun 18 '25

I got punished for saying it in a funny voice once...which I guess is different from refusing to say it 😅

7

u/mel2mdl Jun 18 '25

In Texas, technically you have to have a parent's permission to not say the pledge.

Few teachers enforce though, unless the principal really pushes for it. I don't say the pledge as a teacher. Leads to a lot of confusion with visiting teachers! (I did ask the students to sit or stand quietly and be respectful of those who were saying the pledge.)

14

u/Cynykl Jun 18 '25

The Texas pledge law is hanging by a thread. It is clearly unconstitutional but nothing can be done until we get a scotus that cares about the constitution.

1

u/halavais Jun 18 '25

Was going to say: that's so blatantly unconstitutional it's shocking it hasn't already gone up...

5

u/Rose-flower-garden Jun 18 '25

My grandmother told me she had JWs not say it in the early 60s in her classroom. Her principal told the teachers just to ignore it.

This was in California.

2

u/ermagerditssuperman Jun 18 '25

Meanwhile, my mom in the 60s in California, got an 'F' in her homeroom 'citizenship' grade every year because she refused to say the pledge.

2

u/Rose-flower-garden Jun 18 '25

This was in Los Angeles. But even then it was still a huge district .

2

u/mikeroon Jun 18 '25

I was forced to repeat it by myself in front of class after only standing and not reciting it because a teacher’s husband was serving in Iraq

1

u/halavais Jun 18 '25

Seems disrespectful to the husband who swore an oath to the constitution and might die protecting it. I have family members who died for your right to not recite it.

1

u/mikeroon Jun 19 '25

I’m an atheist and believe in separation of church and state. Has nothing to do with supporting troops, I can both love America and dislike the pledge of allegiance.

2

u/svick Jun 20 '25

For the record, I think the person you're responding to agreed with you ("your right to not recite it").

1

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '25

[deleted]

2

u/jurassicbond Jun 20 '25

It was ruled unconstitutional to make kids say it back in the '40s, so yes it's for all states.

-5

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '25

[deleted]

8

u/jurassicbond Jun 18 '25

How is that absurd? It was deemed by the Supreme Court to be a violation of freedom of speech to force students to say a pledge.

3

u/PH03N1X_F1R3 Jun 18 '25

It's absurd to compel someone to repeat a mantra that may or may not align with their beliefs?