I work in education. Earlier today, I was accidentally out of the room during morning announcements (I’m usually sitting in the back). When I came in, the pledge of allegiance was going HARD. It took all my willpower to prevent myself from sprinting to my desk to sit down so I wouldn’t be standing during the pledge of allegiance (fascist brainwashing!).

Evidently, my behavior was conspicuous and my coteacher asked ‘Are you an objector?’

Sheepishly, I replied “…yeah.”

On 9/11 of all days.

  • PM_ME_YOUR_FOUCAULTS [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    36·
    2 years ago

    Whenever I move into a new classroom and there’s an American flag up, the first thing I do is snatch that sucker down and throw it into a closet. Now I have an enormous gay flag to replace it with.

    Death to America

    • JuneFall [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      5·
      2 years ago

      You see people who don’t care did exist before the oath of allegiance, but since it is established the relation to it is framed in the terms of for or against (objectors).

      Of course this has a dialectical attribute the non-participant of the oath was only created due to the “oath ritual” in its specificity.

      Corollary if someone would object or not participate, then this becomes a very clear political act, the negation of it. So while it is a tool of forced unity it also bears the seed of resistance in it, even for “unpoliticals”. Would love to know how many “unpolitical” students in the USA do object, though.

  • CrispyFern [fae/faer, any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    20·
    2 years ago

    One time I went to a minor league baseball game and was standing in a long line before the game for beer. I kinda zoned out and daydreamed for a while and when I zoned back in I noticed EVERYONE in line in front of me was turned around staring at me. I had a moment of panic before I realized that the national anthem was playing and there was a flag directly behind me.

    • JuneFall [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      5·
      2 years ago

      I had a moment of panic before I realized that the national anthem was playing and there was a flag directly behind me.

      So can you translate for a non USA-brain what consequence this has?

      • Smeagolicious [they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
        4·
        2 years ago

        I think the idea is that fae thought people were staring for some unknown startling reason before noticing that they were simply exhibiting the traditional Amerikkkan pavlovian response of staring at the nearest flag and holding your hat/hand over your heart/saluting when the anthem plays, regardless of context. There’s no real consequence other than an awkward moment, usually, unless you’re really unlucky and some chud is feeling very patriotic/drunk that day. Fistfights and such may start or escalate from there in the worst situations, but it’s not extremely common.

        • JuneFall [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
          4·
          2 years ago

          the traditional Amerikkkan pavlovian response of staring at the nearest flag and holding your hat/hand over your heart/saluting when the anthem plays, regardless of context

          This does sound so strange to me.

  • eatmyass [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    18·
    2 years ago

    I can’t stop laughing at the pledge of allegiance was going HARD. Perfect characterization. Was the person yelling it or something? I’m imagining like a bass boosted pledge of allegiance, or someone throwing in adlibs.