“I pledge allegiance,to the flag, …”
I was lucky. In school, I had more than one teacher say “y’know, you don’t have to say that. Especially if you’re from another nation.” So I just used the time to do homework late.
My high school homeroom teacher allowed me to stay quiet during the pledge, but still made me stand up and put my hand over my heart. In 11th grade I moved to a more conservative area of the state, but oddly enough they had more students who opted to stay seated and silent, and the teachers let me do the same.
It was around that time that I started feeling like there was something wrong with all the “America’s so great!” stuff we had been taught since 1st grade. I completely deprogrammed when I had the opportunity to work alongside people from all over the world, learn more about their culture, their family, become friends. I began to see the world differently, and my perspective shifted as I learned more about the consequences of American policies and interventions that they don’t tell you about in the evening news.
So I guess what I’m getting at is that back then, I didn’t say the pledge because part of me was beginning to question the reasons why it was (practically) compulsory. These days, I wouldn’t say it because I cannot in good conscience support imperialism.
Holly shit. They made you do this through high school. This was only a thing for me In elementary school. We had to sing too.
Core memory unlocked
Oh man, I forgot about the singing!I remember we were taught several patriotic songs in first and second grades; I distinctly remember “America the Beautiful”, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, and “My Country, 'Tis of Thee”. Each day the school would choose one of the songs and were forced to sing it immediately after reciting the pledge.
Lol. Funny when they force first amendment violations.
You just unlocked a memory of singing!
I was thankful enough to have a tandem 7th-8th grade combo of English and History teachers who taught us the value of cognitive awareness. Followed by a high school math teacher that introduced me to “A True History of the United States” because they actually gave a damn. It’s far too easy to see that we are the new Roman Empire, but on a speed run.
Eh… 250 years aint a record, but given that the firmware was clearly not changed since then… -C.
State your country and how it’s better than the failure of the U.S.
You can basically throw a dart at the map and hit a country better than the US in some way. The US is ranked pretty far down in just about every metric you would want in a good society.
You don’t have to be an expert to see that, you just have to not be blind.
If you think you can make that statement, you don’t know shit about the rest of the world.
I called the U.S. a failure in the comment you are replying too… So you failed to answer any of the question and then tried to act like I was “blind.”
You really want me to do your Googling for you to find basically ANY international country ranking?
The US is not near the top of anything other than things like most incarcerated, highest homeless population, highest opiate use , obesity rate, etc.
Wikipedia has a fairly comprehensive list of pages for various international rankings, including the original sources for you to take a look at if you actually want an answer instead of just shitposting stupid responses to comments. The US is speedrunning its way towards becoming a failed State. If you can’t see that writing on the wall, then you might be illiterate.
Absolute failure of reading comprehension and trying to misdirect the conversation because you didn’t want to answer the question, when you simply could have not answered at all …
Here let me some show you a proper response to that comment.
“I’m from Canada and mothers are 2-6x less likely to die during their pregnancy here varying drastically by race”
Not a misdirect at all, I can’t answer the question as it was asked because I’m American…
We’re not the greatest at anything worthwhile anymore. And this isn’t new, The Newsroom spelled this out quite plainly nearly 2 decades ago, and it’s only gotten worse since then.
The government has been being slowly co-opted by fascists who have been enshitifying the country for several decades, since before I was even born. I’ve also had the privilege over the years to visit several other countries, visiting friends across the world, not just tourist traps, something most Americans never do. So I think I have a very direct experience with how the US compares to other countries.
Why do your responses seem to be about defending the US as somehow better than it is, blindly?
You didn’t ask a question, you gave an unprompted command without even giving a reason for why anyone should follow it.
Not putting innocent people in concentration camps. That goes for nearly every country.
Most countries are better than the US in most regards.
What a ridiculously stupid to say to say. You know that resisting propaganda doesn’t just mean going to another extreme, right?
What a ridiculously stupid to say to say.
LOL.
You name the metric, I’ll show you how most countries are better than the US.
You name the imperial you mean.
Wat
Failed to answer any of the question. 0/10
Which metric is important to you? The US is 10th or below in every single one.
“State your country and how it’s better than the failure of the U.S.”
That was what you were answering. You have not stated your country or how it was better than the failure that is the U.S.
You are just stating the U.S. isn’t good, while this was already established by it being stated as a failure.
It doesn’t matter what country I’m from, it’s better than the US, in almost every measurable metric of happiness, prosperity, or longevity, lol.
The vagueness is the point of my answer.
I grew up accepting the propaganda wholesale, then at some point when I was around 16, my critical thinking skills suddenly switched on all at once and I was like “Wait a second, this is all some bullshit!” This didn’t seem to be due to any external influence, I think my brain just rebooted.
Yeah, it happens. I was a little edgy nazi shithead in my early teens. Brain development is crazy not gonna lie. Did a full 180 myself
Yeah, Same here honestly, I was conservative when I was a teenager and then I became more progressive as I got older
I think my critical thinking skills were switched on a bit later at 21,
Oh well, better later than never I suppose
What kind of propaganda are you guys getting? In my 9th grade American history class they didn’t shy away from Native American genocide, police brutality (starting with the whiskey rebellion), and the civil war being about slavery. But that wasnt at a normal school.
When I was in elementary school my teacher said it was cool that the natives got pushed off the land and into reservations because we could make better use of the land. The same teacher also handed out worksheets wherein you had to choose the right gender for the right profession.
It all depends on the state. You were in a state that respects education.
In Florida, DeSantis declared that they weren’t going to be teaching anything that made white kids ashamed of being white. They don’t like kids knowing about Native Americans and Slavery.
This seems like a rather bad faith reading of what Florida is doing…
Age may play a large role here.
Well OP does say they didn’t pay attention in class lmaooo. My public school teachs all that and it’s mandatory education in Illinois
Ah see but thats a blue state with the third largest city in the country; I’ve heard about the education down in Floroda and let me tell you it does not come close to even the worst schools in Chicago.
I can’t think of anything either. I remember learning about “learning styles”, which ended up being debunked.
I bet they didn’t mention israel. That’s completely taboo in the Epstein Empire.
Something something schools bad. The conservative version of this is college radicalizes.
I’m 43. We didn’t get any of that shit.
Honest question, what kind of propaganda do you get fed in school? I don’t know much about US schools, but I think you have to salute to the flag and sing your hymn once a week or so (which is really cringe if it is true)?
So,… it’s like this, yo.
In the US in the 90’s and 2000’s, it’s not as though we were particularly lied to in regards to world history, but when it came to national shit like Black Monday or the Civil Rights movement, it was more-or-less glazed over or certain parts were omitted entirely, or certain historical figures were just given completely different motivations.
“Uh, the south wasn’t racist, it was taxes and economics, and such…”
“The Pinkertons? Whoms’t’ve? Never heard of them!”
We’d still get Greece, Rome, Europe, Africa and Asia generally unaltered… with some favoritism to Canada and Mexico, but not when it came to Russia and communism or anything regarding anything that isn’t capitalism and man, school hated on Cuba.
Asia was glazed over massively, not in the hiding anything sense, more of a “who cares?” sense. Social Studies/History was almost always US-centric at all times.
I went to public school in California from the 90’s to the mid 2000’s. I generally didn’t pay much attention in history class but it was made quite clear to me that the south was historically racist and that people of color all over the US experienced racism of one form or another.
I don’t know much about US schools, but I think you have to salute to the flag and sing your hymn once a week or so
Every day bro. We had to sing the pledge of allegiance.
Edit: damn, memory unlocked. I don’t remember how long it’s been since I recited the pledge of allegiance but it’s been more than 20 years. This is from memory, I’ll look it up after I type this out-
I pledge my allegiance to the flag of the united states of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under god, something something, with liberty and justice for all.
something something
“indivisible”
In middle school, my friends and I would stand like everyone else, but we’d say “One nation, under nothing” (we didn’t believe in God), and change the end to “liberty and justice for some” (or ‘none.’)
I wish I could say we were ahead of the game, but really we were just smartass kids who were resentful that we had to make a stupid pledge every day. I can’t speak for the others in that group (since we lost touch in high school), but I just straight up stopped saying anything at a certain point. I’d stand, no hand over heart (for those outside the US - the pledge is meant to be said with your right hand over your heart. I know, it’s cringe), and just zone out for a time while everyone else droned out the obligatory oath in bored, robotic voices.
“Under god, undivided” ?
I’ve never set foot in the US but I’m fairly certain that’s the right answer
It’s been in a lot of movies
EDIT: It was “indivisible”. So close though
In the US in the 90’s and 2000’s, it’s not as though we were particularly lied to in regards to world history
Were you taught that the Nazis emulated the way Americans treated native and black people? Were you taught that Russia won WWII? Were you taught that the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima were completely unnecessary and were used as powerful shows of display to scare the Soviets?
Definitely not on the first one, the second one it is still the official stance of the United States that the bombs prevented what would have been an even bloodier and much more destructive ground assault.
Which is lies, lol. Look at any legitimate contemporary historian for a source.
No that I’m calling you wrong, but you really need to back claims like that with a source better than “Google it”
I don’t work for the stupid.
Lol, you just brandish unsourced “facts”.
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The comparison to Nazis and colonial America was not made, no. The comparison would be disingenuous, imo. The Nazis sought to rid the world of the Jewish people. Black people even if hated in America were still wanted on the base level of labor. While some Jews were used for labor, it was only temporary. The main goal was always extermination.
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Yes, actually. The Russian march back to Germany was very well documented, however overshadowed by D-day in our textbooks.
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No, that point was not made, nor was Oppenheimer’s guilt or any sort of reluctance. I didn’t personally get that info until I listened to Hardcore History.
The comparison was made by Hitler himself, lol.
Because he’s a beacon of truth? His personal motivations don’t override reality.
LOL
Blocked. I don’t suffer idiots and I don’t have to lmao.
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i went to public highschool in Texas where our football coach taught finance and history due to teacher shortage.
:D I learned that North Korea killed more people than any other country on earth and, Germans were communists during world war 2
He is kinda special case tho. It’s usually textbooks casually hiding facts like segregation.
Okay that sounds like the random crazy substitute teacher that exists everywhere :D
The Rosa Parks image however does not make much sense to me. If she was just a random person, why would it be mentioned in a history text book? Also what is the context of the image if not racism, a book chapter about transportation lol?
Not to mention there is a common rewash of history about Parks’ motivation. My whole life I was told that she decided on a whim because she had a long and hard day at work and didn’t want to stand in the back. Actually she was an active member of the civil rights movement and the bus move was planned.
It’s “segregation” chapter for first graders. The change was pushed after the “anti-W.O.K.E” laws. (Yes, what they are called)
Entire chapters were revised to not mention black people being the target. If I was a first grader I would assume “homeless” or “poor people” or even just “generally disliked people” that are being kicked out of shops and buses.
I just read up on this, it seems to be a Florida state law, though not federal, it is still outrageous. But it seems to be in line with modern republican politics in the US. The meme however suggested propaganda that happened in the past, so I thought of my own education which happened around 2000. It felt to me like the propaganda was ubiquitous through the decades, that is why I am asking in such detail. I know of course history is always a strongly biased field, and of course in Europe we are not immune against it. As Columbus was mentioned - especially regarding colonialism there is a lot to talk about in our education system. But, to come to the point, the meme suggests there was kind of extraordinarily propaganda within the US education system? Because I have troubles finding a country where this is not the case.
I hope I don’t annoy anyone of you friends, I am just curious :D
No, no, it’s perfectly fine. Lemmy is for discudsion.
The “state law” is pretty common because all states want to be treated as a seperate country. Especially for education they all have different rules and organizations.
I came to US in highschool way past 2000s so I can’t really talk about that. I had heard a lot of oil and gas companies were funding the schools around that time tho so maybe there are some articles on specific things they did I could look for later?
I like how this implies someone not moving from their seat for a pregnant woman is equivalent to Rosa Parks.
“I was asked to move to a different seat. I did not. I did what I believed was right.”
“We’ve added as little info as possible, so you can fill the rest as you wish.”
So she was really mean and wouldn’t make room for a pregnant woman or something like that!
we spend several years learning about all the presidents (knowledge we will never use again), then we briefly gloss over native genocide (who lived happily ever after once Thanksgiving was invented), then slavery ended with the civil war, fascism ended with world wars I and II, then MLK Jr ended racism when he is shot (probably by the FBI, but we weren’t told that), then we learn that communism is bad and ended with the cold war
I’d be interested in knowing how do they explain in schools that communism is bad.
By describing authoritarianism and calling it communism
Every morning when I went to school, it was rough
The daily pledge is real, but as for curriculum, it really depends on your state. In my school, we learned a lot about the Trail of Tears and native genocide, the exploitation of Asian immigrants to build our railroads, our failures in Vietnam, Jim Crow laws and the horrible things the KKK did, etc. This was in a red state about 15 years ago. I’m a bit surprised by the lack of propaganda.
What’s frightening is ultra-red states (like Florida) that are starting to rewrite their history books to include things like “slavery allowed black people to become Americans and they’re better off for it :D”
Lots of history fuckery
What does that mean? Do you get taught wrong facts about the civil war? Do they tell you the indigenous were at fault? I would be really interested in details!
I was taught in school that Christopher Columbus discovered America and was the only one who believed the world was round when he set sail.
That is incorrect, but how is that propaganda?
It gives the impression that Columbus was some genius who knew more than the rest of Europe (or the world at large.) It’s one small part of his heroic treatment in the US for so many years. The town I grew up in still has yearly parades in October commemorating him. (It’s sort of tied up in Italian pride, and there are a lot of proud Italians in that area. So, the celebrations go on.)
The issue people have with Columbus isn’t really that they think he was the only one to know the world was round. The issue is more the atrocious handing of the native people he encountered.
I know. They’re two sides of the same story, I just mentioned the side that’s glorified.
I see nothing wrong in commemorating him. What is the problem with that? What does commemorating an historic figure have to do with propaganda?
He genocided thousands of natives. He’s a piece of shit, lol.
Yea, I was taught the same in Europe, except for the round earth part.
Is that propaganda or just lazy elementary level education?
That’s what I grew up with as well in Germany.
It highly depends on what time you grew up and where. I’m not the best person to answer.
See the DARE program for an example.
I’ve got a personal theory on this. ADHD and autism don’t break the brain, but they do significantly change how it processes information. This, in turn, gives us a significant resistance to broad spectrum propaganda, via incompatibility. It’s akin to a windows virus not working on Linux.
It’s worth noting that it’s not a resistance to propaganda in general, just the type intended for “normal” people. We can still be caught out by targeted efforts. Normally, we aren’t worth that effort, but AI and its related work will likely change that.
Basically, we have awesome natural defenses, but don’t just rely on them, since they can be bypassed.
Public schools are indoctrination machines - Period. Narrative would you feel comfortable with them teaching? Because I guarantee a problem will be found with it.
🤣
