A schoolmate of mine who I recently reconnected with at our unofficial reunion dinner shared on facebook a photo of children reciting the pledge of allegiance from a facebook group called American and Proud with the words "LIKE if you did this every morning in school and think that they still should!" Now I did do that every day in school but was under the impression it was still done in schools now.
So I read some of the comments. Most seemed like me to be under the impression that kids in American schools still did, there were lots of "my kids do" or "my school district does" etc. But some of the comments deteriorated into the sort of...well... blind over the top patriotism is the only way I can describe it. The USA USA USA LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT sort of thing.
Like this:" Yes they should it just shows respect for our county. They don't mind getttung the free services they get here. If they don't want to live here and our ways rge plane goes back to were you came from Than leave. Please"
or this, from an Australian commenting on the rise of patriotism there . "I do believe every child irrespective of color or creed should take part in the morning pledge to the flag. IF parents find this offensive I would invite them to settle overseas in a nation that fits their requirements." Yeah like it's THAT easy.
or this rather xenophobic one:
"i dont think r children should have to do anything they dont want to like having to learn a language that not american we do live n the us right i wood rather home school mine then have them go threw these pissy ass schools" Er...has someone not paid attention in ENGLISH class?
It makes me sad that there are people that think Americans should always 100% support everything the government does and never have a differeng opinion or belief or else be considered un-american and told to get out. 
Of course that sort of people probably think I'm un-american for moving here and becoming a British citizen 
Never ceases to amaze me how ignorant people can be. When I was in school we always did the pledge, but again we weren't forced to say the words or anything. Not sure how it is now though. I have to say, I have never really understood taking pride of your nationality.
Because I believe pride should be reserved for things you achieve on your own; being American isn't some kind of skill I achieved, I just happened to be born in America. I know that's rather not patriotic and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying "Oh I hate America." Quite the opposite, I love it here. I have my minor complaints about the country but that's everywhere and this is my home. I just get a little weirded out when someone says "Oh I'm proud to be such and such a nationality." Oh.. okaaay then .. :/
Probably a controversial thing this post is but, ah well, that's how I personally feel about it. There's my two cents :B
