[thechat] More Pledge news

[Erika Meyer]

Probably a lot of you did not notice the "National Pledge Of
Allegiance" last October.  As the parent of a schoolchild, I thanked
my (panthiestic) god that Portland Public Schools were closed that
day.

The concept, in Ari Fleischer's words was this:
"...a nationwide, synchronized Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge will
begin at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and identical times across the time
zones across the United States, so 1:00 p.m. Central Time, noon
Mountain Time, 11:00 a.m. West Coast Time. The students will be asked
to simultaneously take the Pledge. It's an opportunity for American
schoolchildren to be a part of a nationwide display at this time, as
people ask, what can we do to help the United States. ....President
Bush will participate here from the White House, while hosting a
reception for Hispanic Heritage Month, beginning at 2:00 p.m. here at
the White House."
(from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/10/20011010-9.html#Paige)

Here's what it looked like at one one typical American school.
http://www.wkjc.com/Pic_WKJC/Pledge_of_Allegiance/pledge_of_allegiance.html

Why did the idea of a nationwide mass synchronized pledge involving
the President and all public school children make me feel so
disturbed?

I mean, this thing has been going on for years... right?  Except
before TV, you had to do your mass patriotic events in person, like
so:
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/filmnotes/images/triumph5.jpg
No it's not like it's some kind of new concept.  But still...

It's hard to tell why, but something about it makes me uncomfortable.

E
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