Comments on: The Pledge http://blogs.slj.com/adult4teen/2011/02/17/the-pledge/ A School Library Journal Blog Mon, 20 May 2013 13:24:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Mark Flowers http://blogs.slj.com/adult4teen/2011/02/17/the-pledge/#comment-10599 Mark Flowers Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:58:03 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/adult4teen/?p=1301#comment-10599 Something I noticed but didn't really fit in the review: Looking at the history of the pledge thorugh the major wars of the 20th century we get: WWI: major support of the pledge, laws passed making it mandatory Korea and Cold War: Addition of "under God," Congress takes it up, etc. Middle East Excursions: fight over "under God" decisively won by the pro-pledge folks. The odd man out: WWII: major court rulings limiting government's ability to force citizens to say the pledge. The reason (in large part) for this happening during WWII?: A desparate attempt by Americans to distance themselves from Nazi oaths of allegiance and salutes, etc. I don't have a grand conclusion - just interesting facts to chew on. Something I noticed but didn’t really fit in the review:
Looking at the history of the pledge thorugh the major wars of the 20th century we get:

WWI: major support of the pledge, laws passed making it mandatory
Korea and Cold War: Addition of “under God,” Congress takes it up, etc.
Middle East Excursions: fight over “under God” decisively won by the pro-pledge folks.

The odd man out:
WWII: major court rulings limiting government’s ability to force citizens to say the pledge.

The reason (in large part) for this happening during WWII?: A desparate attempt by Americans to distance themselves from Nazi oaths of allegiance and salutes, etc.

I don’t have a grand conclusion – just interesting facts to chew on.

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