I love this series of conversation starters, and this topic is not talked about enough for sure! I’ll have to add this to my list, thank you for the in-depth review!
I remember being an exchange student in an American High School and when I first heard the Pledge of Allegiance I thought it was the most unhinged thing ever. And also thought it was crazy bizarre they expect me to do it... considering I was not American and didn't plan on becoming one. Even the Catholic and jingoist Poland didn't try to force God and patriotism on kids that way.
They gave me the text in the beginning of the year (I think they were giving it out to everyone) and told me to memorise it.
It seemed like there was an unspoken expectation I would do it. No one told me I didn't have to do it. Possibly, if I had made a show of purposedly not saying it, they would've accepted it. But I didn't dare to try. I was worried about appearing ungrateful and contrarian (after all I was given this great opportunity to learn absolutely nothing but in America /I was so ahead in most of my classes it was laughable, and they wouldn't let me take more advanced classes, that's a story for another time/)
Additionally, I was an Eastern European kid with an accent - I didn't want to stick out even more.
I love this series of conversation starters, and this topic is not talked about enough for sure! I’ll have to add this to my list, thank you for the in-depth review!
I remember being an exchange student in an American High School and when I first heard the Pledge of Allegiance I thought it was the most unhinged thing ever. And also thought it was crazy bizarre they expect me to do it... considering I was not American and didn't plan on becoming one. Even the Catholic and jingoist Poland didn't try to force God and patriotism on kids that way.
They made you say it?!?
They gave me the text in the beginning of the year (I think they were giving it out to everyone) and told me to memorise it.
It seemed like there was an unspoken expectation I would do it. No one told me I didn't have to do it. Possibly, if I had made a show of purposedly not saying it, they would've accepted it. But I didn't dare to try. I was worried about appearing ungrateful and contrarian (after all I was given this great opportunity to learn absolutely nothing but in America /I was so ahead in most of my classes it was laughable, and they wouldn't let me take more advanced classes, that's a story for another time/)
Additionally, I was an Eastern European kid with an accent - I didn't want to stick out even more.