God bless America! One can never be too patriotic. Power needs to be taken back from multinational corporations that have no true interest in America. Tears should come to your eyes as you recite the pledge. Death By China - the Documentary Film by Director Peter Navarro

In my mind, the Pledge is not said to "make" people love the country. The Pledge is said to affirm that they do.

I found the movie you recommended on youtube and just finished watching it. It's not a feel good movie, is it?

I don't think I said and I know I didn't mean to imply that saying the Pledge would make someone love America. What I was trying to say was that many people who do not say the Pledge are just as patriotic as those who do. To some, like the OP, it is overkill to say what is already in their hearts.

I served as a school administrator in New York City for many years. This issue was always up for debate. Our school had a large population of Muslims from Pakistan and India, as well as, both Russian immigrants and many undocumented students from Mexico. We strived to build a rapport with all communities within the school. We started each and every day with the Pledge on the loudspeaker and kindly and gently asked parents to stand if they were in the main office. It often happens, at the onset, when their students are enrolled in Kindergarten that they had no idea what they were standing for because they didn't understand what was being said. Very few times did parents refuse to stand. After one year of kindness and smiles they stood and understood that they were pledging for the futures of their own children. As an administrator, my main concern was that they showed the flag respect in the presence of students. When the Pledge was being recited all movement, everywhere in the school stopped. Students loved "freezing in their tracks" in order to salute and pledge.
In addition to the Pledge we also added the "Proud To Be An American Song" every morning. Our choir conductor worked with some children and they had opportunities to sing in the morning. It was a positive way to start the day.
Cultivating respect for the country that provides so much is essential in the development of young children. As we get older, standing and pledging provides us all a gentle reminder of this great place that has given us so much, as well as, reminds all that have served in the armed forces that we appreciate them. I'm always glad to stand!!!! :)

I would have been proud to be one of your students! Thanks for making so many aware of the freedoms we share.

It is difficult to imagine anyone who served would not willingly recite this beautiful Pledge to the Flag of our great Nation...the symbol of our freedoms here, and a tribute to the huge sacrifices of its citizens. Certainly the hundreds of thousands of Americans who gave their lives on foreign soil to preserve your right to recite the Pledge would not agree with your reluctance to do so. I thank God each time I have the honor - and privilege - to stand and salute Old Glory.

Be careful what you wish for; your children and grandchildren may someday not enjoy that privilege. God bless the United States of America!

Thank you so much! It is what made our school a decade ago in the bottom of New York City and now can boast that it is now a school in the top 1% of the city! And no... the school is not a Charter School. We educate all students.. 950 in a five block radias of the school. That is a very dense population! lol..We have been featured in the New York Times and are often asked how it was done. We often chuckle... and say "Hire two administrators on a mission and hire the best and dedicated teachers that one could imagine." We were truly blessed. Given the type of work and the hours needed I am proud to say the torch was handed over this January to younger administrators who will carry the torch allowing me to be a frog! But it is nice every once in awhile to get a call just to have someone "pick my brain" for advice. lol