Pledge of Allegiance ... Yo Prometo Lealtad a La Bandera

The definition of Patriotism is love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it. I don't see how it matters in what language you say The Pledge in.

It pisses me off that my McDonald's menu, street signs, and even generic postings at the Zoo are in multiple languages. It also pisses me off that everyone has to bend over backwards for YOU (generic) because YOU can't be bothered enough to learn MY language. YOU moved HERE.

And before anyone climbs on my back, I lived in Germany for 3 years. While there I spoke German when off base. I was the only one of my friends that even bothered to try. When a boyfriend and I wen to visit his family in Italy, I did my damnedest to learn at least some basic phrases in Italian so I could attempt to communicate. When I visited France, I tried, and failed miserably, to speak French.

My point is, I was in THEIR country so I attempted to speak THEIR language. Do the same for MY country.

When we lived overseas, nothing was said in English for me. I didn't expect it. If you come here, we speak English. Learn it in English.

Really? I believe that if someone is taking time to learn a flag advertisement which was then turned into a patriotic oath, it doesn't matter which language they speak it in.

Patriotism and being a citizen is not about words, it is about our contribution to our communities. It is expressed by our actions, not what we say.

" The original "Pledge of Allegiance" was published in the September 8 issue of the popular children's magazine The Youth's Companion as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. The event was conceived and promoted by James B. Upham, a marketer for the magazine, as a campaign to instill the idea of American nationalism by selling flags to public schools and magazines to students.[5] "

Oh, and it was also written by a socialist. .....do a search and you will find the Pledge has a very interesting history, both in how it was originally composed and the deliberate considerations in that composition. I'm also fairly sure that the Native Americans were not speaking English when *we* came here..... did we bother to learn *their* language?

Who cares?
I would think that if a school has a high percentage if Spanish speaking students it makes perfect sense.
What meaning is there in "memorizing" something in a language you don't understand and parroting it?
To tell you the truth, when I am at the school and witness the pledge, it always looks a little like indoctrination to me on some level...

People who immigrate to this country do learn to speak English, eventually.
Even if the first generation never does, the second one will.
And why shouldn't they be able to do it publicly? Why should someone be denied the right to pledge an oath to America simply because they don't speak English? None of my German/Scottish forebears spoke English when they arrived in the midwest in the mid 1800s. Would you have shamed them as well? What about the Irish, French, Poles, and every other group who ever immigrated here?
I guess we have different ideas about what is patriotic.

The US does not have an official language. I think it is ignorant to call it "unpatriotic." Many of our founding documents were drafted in multiple languages. The founding fathers deliberately rejected the idea of English as the official language in 1 780 because it would be undemocratic. A large portion of our nation, including many born here, speak spanish (as well as many other languages) as their first language.

I suppose you'd prefer they don't say the oath at all? No, you just want them to say it your way.

There's an old saying among us foreign language teachers. Don't like foreign languages? Learn one. Then it won't be foreign any more.

ETA: Sure. Okay - then let's take out "under God," because that wasn't in it either when it was originally written - oh, and by the way, it was written by a socialist, so I think we need to lean a little more in that direction. And since you only want English, then I think it's important for you to learn Aramaic, so you can read the bible... in its original language...

Translations and changes are what unite us! Why should someone have to pledge an oath in a language they can't understand or don't connect to emotionally!? That's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Don't you want people to understand what it is they're promising to do, for crying out loud?

ETA again: way to ignore my main point, which was I can't imagine why anyone would want people to pledge an oath in a language they don't understand or connect to. So in other words, you don't really want them to mean it, you just want them to put on a good show for your sake. SMDH...

ETA to Queen! Yes, thank you for pointing it out - You and I share the truth between us, although you bear more of the truth than I. The New Testament was written in Greek. The old testament was written primarily in Hebrew, while a few chapters in the prophecies of Ezra and Daniel and one verse in Jeremiah were written in Aramaic. And supposedly, even some aramaic words were used by the gospel writers.

But since K. only took away that she doesn't read the bible and ignored the basic point I was making, I guess it's all moot anyway.

I feel like anyone that wants to pledge allegiance should. Be it in English, Spanish, French, Pig latin. Whatever.
It seems really odd to me that it would bother you. If they were pledging to another countries flag in school then maybe I would understand. But saying it in a different language shouldn't be that big of a deal.
L.
Y porque hablo espanol como mi segunda lengua....
"Yo prometo lealtad a la bandera
de los estados Unidos de America,
y a la Republica que representa,
una Nacion bajo Dios,
entera,
con libertad y justicia para todos."

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.

The U.S.A. does not have a legally mandated official language, so I do not understand how reciting the pledge of allegiance would be considered unpatriotic. I would rather the people who are saying it know the meaning of the words. If that means saying it in another language, then so be it.

As a former teacher of English as a second/foreign language, I can tell you that immigrants are aware that English is the dominant language here, and most are eager to learn it. But even if one is motivated, it takes the average person seven years to become fluent in a second language, according to current research. I would rather start teaching immigrant children what it means to be Americans right away (and in a welcoming way) than wait until they are fluent in the language.

I do think that your child's school administration would have been wise to share their plans and their rationale with the school community so that there could have been a discussion beforehand.

K., I don't have the energy to even try to be polite to you.

You are a racist. You should hang your head in shame.

I don't care what language it's said in.

You wouldn't like our household. We don't ever say it nor have I forced my children to memorize it.
Spouting off a bunch of words doesn't make you patriotic. It doesn't make you a better person. It doesn't make you love the country you live in any more or any less.
Your actions, making an informed vote, the way you treat your fellow citizens are things that make you patriotic. These things show your love for your country.
Treating everyone with respect, even those that don't speak the same language as you is what makes you a decent human being.

It takes time to learn and understand a new language. You just don't wake up and know it overnight. Teaching children the pledge in their native language and teaching them what it means makes it easier while they are learning English. I also don't think it should be expected that they give up their native tongue just because they are here. A lot of the area around my way (Southern California and in to Texas) was Mexico not that long ago as far as history goes. Maybe we should be learning Spanish instead of the other way around. We took all this from them you know. Or, perhaps we should have all learned to speak Native American because they were here before we were. Racism comes in many forms. This push to force English to be the national language is racism, pure and simple.

English only. You want to live here, speak English! Boy I am really shocked at some of the responses to this question. The first thing my grandparents did when they came was to learn English so they could work here and live here. They assimilated! I love my country and love my flag
And will say the pledge in English always!

It doesn't matter if it's said in English, Spanish, Sign Language, Italian, Hindi, or Pig Latin. The MEANING of the words and having understanding of that meaning is what incites feelings of patriotism to this country.

The USA was built on the backs of immigrants, and I've found that many of those immigrants know more about and love this country more than many natural born citizens. As a US Army Soldier for over a decade, I serve to ensure that everyone who is born in the USA and who comes to the USA legally, seeking a livlihood and freedom, can speak ANY language they like. Even if it offends people like you.

I don't think you're a real patriot. It takes more than saying the Pledge in English to be a patriot. It takes understanding of what it MEANS to be a US citizen. And I think you're missing the mark completely.

ETA; Ally said, "If our boys in the military are saying it in English, then I'm saying it in English."

What the heck is this, 1945? "Our boys?"

That's hysterical. I would be surprised except our country can no longer shock me. My grandparents could not take their test to become citizens until they could read it in English. Just say'en.

I don't like it either.

Additional:
It's divisive.
It's not so much the ability to speak in your native language as it is the refusal to assimilate to your new country.
My Grandfather spoke Polish, German, Yiddish, some sign language and English.
He was in WWI and his job was to speak to German prisoners of war to obtain information - they'd sit down with a pitcher of beer between them and chat.
Especially around WWII - you'd better NOT speak German or people would have been all over you.
If the kids didn't speak English outside the house they would be beaten by family and non family alike.
Prior generations came here and they spoke languages from all over the world.
But they made it their top priority to learn English and they embraced their new country even if they kept a few customs from the old world.
Not anymore.
Not they come here and we have to be accepting of everything they shove at us.
And not everything from every culture is a beautiful thing worth keeping
(honor killings for one, misogyny for another).
WE have to adapt and they do not - they WILL not.
How exactly do you think Rome fell?
Uh huh - same thing happened to them.

I don't really care one way or the other.

And your use of the term "unpatriotic" is confusing. I do not think that term means what you think it means.

I think the Pledge in and of itself is a farce. I've told my school age child that she doesn't need to say it if she doesn't want to. We are not one nation under God (there are many non-believers and people who have non-Abrahamic religious beliefs), we are certainly not indivisible (Congress, anyone?), nor do we have liberty and justice for all.

As for if it is said in Spanish....meh. I mean, it is ok to say it in whatever language you speak. If the schools have a large Spanish speaking body of students, they probably do announcements, etc. in Spanish as well. I'm sure it helps ESL students to learn.

Once again people getting worked up over symbols rather than real issues and ideas.
What's the point of memorizing something and reciting it without understanding it?
Isn't that facism?
Immigrants appreciate and understand what it means to be an American more than most natural born Americans do. They always have. Let them say it however they want.
It's about the meaning of the words, not the language or voice in which they are delivered.

To simply recite The Pledge in English isn't the same as understanding it. Anyone can parrot sounds without knowing what they are saying. Before the words can be understood, it must first be known in a person's primary language.

This is just a basic fact. You don't learn to speak a new language by parroting, you have to understand the translation. For the Citizenship test, you must recite the words, but you don't have to understand them. To say them in Spanish with the full understanding of the words is far more meaningful and patriotic.

I can understand your son being confused, because that happens to everyone. He's only upset because you're upset. You've taught him to be upset when faced with circumstances that are challenging to him. Instead of the reaction of anger, an appropriate action would be to learn some Spanish if you're going to frequent places that use it often.

Hmmm, I find it interesting that you:

Feel it's "unpatriotic" to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in any language other than English because that was the way it was written.

And yet you're "in favor of" removing the words "Under God" in spite of that was the way it was written.

You are, in fact, exercising freedom in this inconsistency that does not exist in many, many other countries.

This freedom that allows you to express these feelings publically, also happens to be the freedom that allows others to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in whatever language they please.

:)

Ah, it has been pointed out to me that I am incorrect. The words Under God were added in 1954. Here is a good place to look at how the Pledge of Allegiance has changed over the years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance

I can't even remember it in English. I think the whole idea of the pledge is kinda dumb, so it doesn't really matter to me how anyone chooses to say it.

The more my kids are exposed to Spanish the more successful they will be. That is my take on it. (Especially since we live in California)

My husband speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English fluently and a little itty bit of German from 2 years of schooling. Numerous doors have been opened to him in life due to his ability to speak various languages.

I am glad your school is even saying the pledge. They are not pledging allegiance to the flags of Spanish speaking countries. Now THAT, I would take issue with. They are simply saying it in Spanish. That may help some fully understand what it means...instead of simple recitation. I would expect though,that it be said in both Spanish..and English.

I don't see why this is unpatriotic...they aren't stomping on the flag or refusing to say the pledge at all. They are simply stating it in their native tongue...I actually think it is a beautiful thing.

Wow. Yes, I find that offensive. I think it's great that America is the melting pot that it is, but there are certain things that should not change. English is our language, learn it. Don't move here if you don't want the culture we have here.

That is what I don't understand. So many people want to come to America to obtain the "American dream" but then don't want to fit into any culture that we have here.

I'm fine with it being translated, but it should only be said in English in schools.

It doesn't bother me in the slightest. What does bother me however is expecting everyone to recite the pledge when most people do not fully understand what it means. I take no issue with people reciting it as they wish. Yes, this includes removing the under god clause which wasn't added until 1954. Also, this pledge didn't originally include "the flag of the United States of America" until 1923.

Why get so worked up when others are indeed being patriotic by stating the pledge? English is NOT the national language of the United States.

I strongly feel that when a person moves to another country part of living there requires that they learn to adapt to their new home.

If we moved to France would we expect all the people who live there to learn English? Of course not, we'd go hungry and live on the streets before we learned to ask for help.

if we moved to any other country in the world we'd have to learn their laws, their language, their driving regulations, etc....we'd have to adapt.

Same for anyone that moves here. They need to learn to live in the country they live in. If I moved to Mexico I'd have to learn to speak Spanish and have to learn their driving laws.

Ugh - I wouldn't be too happy about that either! So do they say it in English and Spanish then? If not what about the students that do not speak Spanish?

I have nothing more to add as this is a 'sore' subject in my household!

It doesn't really bug me.

I had to learn the pledge in French when I was in junior high school (8th grade) in order to graduate into high school.

I still remember most of it to this day and can read it.

I have to go along with Doris Day as to what she says about living abroad and learning languages at an older age. I thank my stars that I did learn French younger as we were stationed in Quebec, traveled to Germany. I asked questions in French and got the German answer so I was not totally out of the loop for assistance.

Instead of being the Ugly American, it might be smart to learn another language -- German, French, Spanish, Slovac, Arabic, Swahili or Chinese in order to get around in this country. These are languages the people who helped build this country. Sounds like it is time to go back and take a look at our roots for this country.

I am off my soapbox now.

Oh, and other countries look down on us for not knowing other languages and our surly attitude.

the others S.

Je promo my fedalitie....

I think that the Pledge of Allegiance should only be said in English if you're in a school in the U.S. I don't mind giving the kids a written Spanish translation (or whatever language is dominant in the school) so they can understand what they're saying and have it be meaningful. But, I think reciting it in the other language kind of defeats the purpose. I think saying it in English encourages them to try to improve their spoken language skills as a part of living in this country. I hadn't ever really thought about this before and hadn't heard of schools doing this, but I think it's an interesting topic.

I wouldn't move to another country and expect to say their pledge, national anthem, or whatever they have that is similar in English, even if I was in an area with a lot of English speakers. My belief is that you should learn to speak the language of whatever country you live in.

I'm ok with having other parts of the day instructed in Spanish (or any other language) to help the kids learn concepts as they develop their language skills.

A bouquet of flowers to Doris Day!

She said everything I wanted to say, and she did it so well.

We are a country of immigrants. If the school is mostly spanish-speaking, I see nothing wrong with it. If, however, the school is mostly or all English-speaking, then it should be done in English. Just depends on the social make-up of the area. I do not think it is unpatriotic, but I also do believe that immigrants should make an effort to learn English.

I work with a man who's SO has been in this country for well over ten years. She has attended college for most of that time and finally decided to graduate last June from UC Berkeley. That woman can hardly speak any English at all. I do not understand how anyone can be here, especially in school, for ten years and STILL not speak the language! AND graduate from college!

This is an interesting question. As a mom who lives in a city with a large Hispanic community, I am of the opinion that every immigrant should learn English.

When we moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we were required to learn Portuguese. I went to a private American school, paid by my parents, so it wasn't free, and was required to learn the language of the country. In addition, I was required to learn a "foreign language". I can speak English, Spanish and Portuguese.

So I believe the pledge should be said in English. That is my opinion not to be confused with real life.

Updated

This is an interesting question. As a mom who lives in a city with a large Hispanic community, I am of the opinion that every immigrant should learn English.

When we moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we were required to learn Portuguese. I went to a private American school, paid by my parents, so it wasn't free, and was required to learn the language of the country. In addition, I was required to learn a "foreign language". I can speak English, Spanish and Portuguese.

So I believe the pledge should be said in English. That is my opinion not to be confused with real life.

Saying the pledge of Allegiance of the USA in Spanish is not unpatriotic to me, but then again, I'm not American. I live in a multicultural country which welcomes many migrants every year. It brings a tear to my eye when I witness new citizens becoming a part of my country in citizenship ceremonies. It means they love our country and freedom so much they are willing to make a life-changing commitment to it. Whether they choose to make that commitment in my language, or their native tongue, I love it. Welcome to our family brothers and sisters.

The way I look at it if you live in a country you speak that country's mother tongue period if I were to move to Canada I'd learn to speak French because it is the mother tongue. It's crazy people are coming here not wanting to learn English and then expect people to understand them. I work in retail and I have so many people that go in and no one can understand what they are saying or are confused when we answer that there are huge miscommunications

It's sad that when an American has a differing view on racial issues, it's viewed as racist or nonPC, rather than as a rightly deserved and respected opinion...

My ancestors came to the US in 1800, from Switzerland. They retained their native German until the early 1900's. I'm kinda sad it disappeared from our family.

Just segue-ing off another answer - I highly doubt the French would ever speak a French pledge of allegiance (if they even have one) in anything BUT French. They take so much pride in it that they have a cultural ministry arm of the government which attempts to maintain the integrity and purity of the French language. They are trying to ban the creep of English words into daily parlance. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-530403/France-pro...

I'm a big fan of bilingual or multilingual cultures like you see in Western Europe and other parts of the world. It's sad to me that we are so limited as Americans. But I think part of it stems from the vastness of our nation. We can drive thousands of miles and never hear anything but English.

All this being said, I *do* think it's strange that the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States would be said in anything but English. Even though we don't have an "official language" English is the de facto language of this country. I can understand why you would find your school's decision odd.

as someone who never stands to pledge allegiance, because i do not have any more allegiance to this country than any other (i consider myself a citizen of the world), my take is that you should be glad spanish speakers want to do it. if you are so patriotic, wouldn't you be proud of this, wiping a tear from your eye as you watch people who are stepped on, disrespected, misunderstood, and oppressed in this country STILL embrace it?

i am glad you posted so you could get other perspectives on this. i hope that is why, and not just to vent how much you hate hearing your "american" pledge be ruined by another language. maybe you have an open mind and are really willing to evolve on this issue. if so, remember that much of this country was once mexico, and none of it was european, much less english speaking, at one time. so embrace your neighbors who are bicultural, and will one day become bilingual, and be more qualified for "american" jobs than most americans.

If I moved to France, and my children attended a French school, it seems odd that ONLY their pledge (if they have one) would be said in English for my kids? Are these Spanish schools or something? Or are English-speaking American schools having people say the Pledge in Spanish? Whatever, it's still nice to say it. Who cares? Why do you care? Are any students being persecuted for saying it in English? Is it forbidden in English? I wish my kids spoke more than one language. Your son was "upset"? My kids would have fun trying to learn it in Spanish. It only makes kids smarter to learn more languages.

I just think it's a really stupid thing to care about. I do not understand why people get all bent out of shape because someone else chooses to say the pledge in another language. It doesn't hurt you in any way. You don't have to like it, but I think it's a waste of your energy to get upset about it.

I was born in this country. I grew up in this country. I have always lived in this country. Yet, I still have to ask this question:

We have an oath? What is it? Never heard of this before.

I think it should be said in English. As others said, I would never go to another country and expect them to cater to my unwillingness to learn THEIR language. It should be learned, and spoken, in English.

Though I must say that if someone was becoming a legal citizen I might make an exception- just so glad to have one less illegal immigrant! :-)

As an American and a Chicagoan, I was really disgusted when I volunteered to judge at the Chicago Public School Science Fair. Some of the Chicago Public School teachers chose to sit down in some of the few available chairs, in the front, when all of the students stood for the ROTC Honor Guard, Pledge of Allegiance, and Star Spangled Banner. Their protest of our Country was on our Tax Dollar time, when they are provided with the highest Union Salaries & Benefits in the Nation. They are definitely poor role models of American Citizenship to our Chicago Public School Students, and I am paying them to be there!

I live in Houston. Don't even get me started on this.

If our boys in the military are saying it in English, then I'm saying it in English.

In the words of Walt from Modern Family "Win and war and then maybe we'll say it in your language".

I would think that most of the Spanish speaking kids in elementary school are bilingual so it sounds as if the school is doing it to appear more supportive of the Spanish speaking students or they are using it as an opportunity to teach the English speaking students Spanish. Our elementary school now teaches Spanish beginning in first grade. I moved from California to Illinois last year and was surprised at how many Mexican immigrants were here - it feels as if there are almost as many as there was in California, except that these immigrants are first generation and speak very little English (I lived in the Bay Area of Northern California). The Illinois driver's test includes a test where you identify traffic signs by their shape and color (for those who can not read English?) which was new for me. It's clear that Illinois is trying very hard to be welcoming to these new immigrants so that might be part of the reasoning of saying the pledge in Spanish.

I had no idea some schools were having the pledge recited in Spanish. Interesting question!

I've started collecting articles about the pledge. I am having a difficult time finding sources that would score high on our media center list of "tests" to find reliable sources. Many are opinion rather than reporting. I'll need more to time research it throughly.