Pledge Of Allegiance 2001

Book Description

The text of the Pledge of Allegiance is illustrated with stunning photographs of American landscapes, monuments, and flags. The meaning of the pledge, its history, and information about the flag are included.

Customer Reviews:

Great!.......2004-03-01

This bright and colorful book is a great way to introduce your young American reader to the Pledge of Allegiance. The clauses of the Pledge are presented one to each two pages - printed large and accompanied by several large and highly entertaining pictures that accompany the thought behind the words. Great!

After the Pledge, there are pages explaining it line-by-line, and then some great information on the American flag. This is a very nice book, one that you will be proud to share with your young reader. My family highly recommends it to yours!

The Pledge of Allegiance by Scholastic Inc.......2004-02-07

Very well-written book. It could use more historical information about the topic addressed. For example, the early Pledge of Allegiance was the origin of the stiff-arm salute. The Pledge was written (1892) by Francis Bellamy, cousin to an infamous author of the time, Edward Bellamy, and they were both self-proclaimed socialists in the Nationalism movement and promoted military socialism. They wanted government to take over all schools and impose robotic chanting to flags. The Pledge was the origin of the salute of the National Socialist German Workers Party. American socialists (Edward Bellamy teamed with the Theosophical Society) also bear some blame for German socialism's notorious flag symbol, which evolved into overlapping S-letters for socialism under the National Socialist German Workers Party. The Pledge's early salute was not an ancient Roman salute, and the 'ancient Roman salute' myth came from the Pledge Of Allegiance. It is amazing that books don't examine the issue of whether the pledge should be dropped entirely, especially for young children in government schools. The socialist dogma led to the socialist Wholecost: 60 million dead under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; 50 million under the Peoples' Republic of China; 20 million under the National Socialist German Workers Party. It might be the most tragic part of world history.

Helpful book!.......2002-01-03

My students are immigrants or children of immigrants learning English. They have to say the pledge every day but may get the words wrong and certainly don't comprehend it. This book takes out some of the guess work and helps them understand what is going on and what people are saying. It brings them comfort and relief.

The Pledge of Allegiance.......2001-12-21

This book is beautifully illustrated with photographs that are sure to spark discussion. The text (the Pledge of Allegiance) is broken into meaningful phrases that make the reader reflect on the words that we sometimes rush through or take for granted. I highly recommend purchasing the big book version for lower grade classroom use. A gem!

A picture book with great photos and interesting historical.......2001-12-06

This picture book has very colorful photos of our country and our fellow citizens. The pages are spread by the breaks in text that we know from reciting the pledge orally at school. Children are from different races. Scenes from all over America and even an astronaut on the moon holding the American flag are depicted.

In the back there are small photos that were depicted in the book with explanations about where they are and other factual information to explain the contents of the photographs. The entire pledge is rewritten in the back pages and an explanation of who wrote it, why, and when. The meaning of why we recite the pledge is given. Facts about the American flag's changes over the years and facts about the proper way to display a flag, and on what days, are included.

Amazon.com

Whether kids want to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or respectfully decline, this straightforward and playfully illustrated guide clears up what the pledge really means--word by word, and line by line.

Two pledge-loving literacy experts (Michael Sampson and Bill Martin, Jr.) and one polite pledge-abstainer (Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Chris Raschka) have come together to explicate America's time-honored oath in plain, kid-friendly language: "I pledge (A pledge is a promise) allegiance to (Allegiance is loyalty) the flag (A flag is a symbol that stands for a place, a thing, or an idea. Making a promise to a flag usually means the same thing as making a promise to whatever the flag stands for.)." Sampson and Martin's annotations adequately convey the essential meaning behind the words, although understandably less so in the thornier sections: "under God (Many people believe that a democracy is a reflection of how God thinks--every single person is important.)"

I Pledge Allegiance also covers some of the history behind the pledge and the flag, but what kids will probably remember best--aside from the pledge itself--is Raschka's clever, winning collage work, which somehow manages to sum up ideas like liberty, justice, and God with a few quick strokes and scraps. (An 18-by-24-inch flag poster is included with the book.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

"Finally, here's a picture book that helps young children move beyond rote recitation of the Pledge to find meaning in its language. This is the book parents and teachers have been waiting for." — BOOKLIST (starred review)

"I led a pigeon to the flag" . . . "and to the wee puppet" . . . "one
nation, and a vegetable" . . . What was that again? Children in the United States have been reciting the Pledge of Allegiance since 1892 — and for about that long, they've found its big words confusing. Now, beloved children's book author Bill Martin Jr (BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?), fellow literacy expert Michael Sampson, and Caldecott Honor-winning artist Chris Raschka give America's children a hand, and explain this patriotic poem once and for all. A new paperback edition offers notes and suggested activities to help parents and teachers make this book even more interesting to and fun for children.

Customer Reviews:

It already has 50 stars.......2005-04-12

I think this is a nice book to teach a child the pledge of allegiance and to explain to them what the pledge means. This book breaks down the meaning of each word and explains them in a way that children can understand. It gives the history of the pledge, a little about the flag, what to do while saying the pledge and touches on what this great country is all about. From other reviews I have read, it appears that Francis Bellamy, who authored the pledge, did not include the line "...under God". Nonetheless, it was included in this book and is the version of the pledge that I recited every morning during my school years...and it is the version I will teach my daughter.

I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr.......2004-02-07

Noble try........2003-01-12

The goal--nicely attempted--of breaking down each line of this too-difficult-for-the-kids-who-have-to-say-it speech falls short.

While they explain the large words in kid-friendly phrases and credit Francis Bellamy, they make the significant omission of the fact that Bellamy DID NOT write the phrase "under God," and that it was added without his permission. The text says, "Many people believe that a democracyis a reflection of how God thinks..." without mentioning that the pledge, in its current form, misquotes its author.

A book that is designed to clear things up should be more accurate. Nonetheless, the illustrations are eye-catching and the language accessible to kids. It's a good idea to give them a better understanding than their often-quoted, "I led the pigeons to the flag..."

What Our Pledge Really Means............2002-10-05

Every morning millions of children stand and face the flag, place their hands over their hearts, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. But what do these 31 words really mean? Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson have taken the pledge apart, and explained each word (pledge: A pledge is a promise), or phrase (one nation: Our states and territories have bonded together to form one nation. One nation means one country), in simple, kid-friendly language. Add to that some history, fun facts, witty asides, and the clever artwork of award winning illustrator, Chris Raschka, and you have the makings of an engaging, entertaining, and informative book. Perfect for youngsters 6 and older, I Pledge Allegiance is a creative and straightforward look at the meaning behind America's most often recited words, and works well with Syl Sobel's Our Pledge Of Allegiance.

American Symbols (Chester the Crab's Comics with Content Series)

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American Symbols (Chester the Crab's Comics with Content Series)
Bentley Boyd
Manufacturer: Chester Comix
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0972961607

Book Description

Which words were added to the Pledge of Allegiance decades after it was written? What color was the White House before it was burned? How did American students help pay for the Statue of Liberty? Who carved Mount Rushmore? You'll learn about these and other famous American icons in this funny, colorful graphic novel that will excite reluctant readers, prepare students for standardized history tests and help homeschooling parents!

To The Flag: The Unlikely History Of The Pledge Of Allegiance

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I Pledge Allegiance: Does it Matter?
Marketing at Its Best
To the Flag: A Detailed Overview of the History of the Pledge
Examining its original writing in 1892 and various challenges to its authority and style up to present times
Exceptional presentation of history with issues

To The Flag: The Unlikely History Of The Pledge Of Allegiance
Richard J. Ellis
Manufacturer: University Press of Kansas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0700613722

Book Description

For over one hundred years, it has been deeply ingrained in American culture. Saluting the flag in public schools began as part of a national effort to Americanize immigrants, its final six words imbuing it with universal hope and breathtaking power. Now Richard Ellis unfurls the fascinating history of the Pledge of Allegiance and of the debates and controversies that have sometimes surrounded it.

For anyone who has ever recited those thirty-one words, To the Flag provides an unprecedented historical perspective on recent challenges to the Pledge. As engaging as it is informative, it traces the story from the Pledge's composition by Francis Bellamy in 1892 up to the Supreme Court's action in 2004 regarding atheist Michael Newdow's objection to the words "under God." Ellis is especially good at highlighting aspects of this story that might not be familiar to most readers: the schoolhouse flag movement, the codification of the Pledge at the First National Flag Conference in 1923, changing styles of salute, and the uses of the Pledge to quell public concerns over sundry strains of radicalism.

Created against the backdrop of rapid immigration, the Pledge has continued for over a century to be injected into American politics at times of heightened anxiety over the meaning of our national identity. Ellis analyzes the text of the Pledge to tell how the very words "indivisible" and "allegiance" were intended to invoke Civil War sentiments-and how "with liberty and justice for all" forms a capsule expression of the American creed. He also examines the introduction of "under God" as an anti-Communist declaration in the 1950s, demonstrating that the phrase is not mere ceremonial Deism but rather a profound expression of what has been called America's "civil religion."

The Pledge has inspired millions but has also been used to promote conformity and silence dissent-indeed its daily recitation in schools and legislatures tells us as much about our anxieties as a nation as they do about our highest ideals. Ellis reveals how, for over a century, those who have been most fearful about threats to our national identity have often been most insistent on the importance of patriotic rituals. Indeed, by addressing this inescapable paradox of our civic life, Ellis opens a new and unexpected window on the American soul.

Customer Reviews:

I Pledge Allegiance: Does it Matter?.......2005-12-05

Anxiety has eclipsed the American people again-but what's new? Richard J. Ellis's to the Flag presents the anxiety of the American people in parallel to the Pledge of Allegiance. When I first read the book I thought it would be about the whole controversy regarding the words "under God" and how unconstitutional they are. I was wrong. Chapter 5 covers that controversy but the book is about the whole Pledge and the contradicting nature of the democracy that America has incorporated into its infrastructure.
The beginning of the book was undoubtedly one of the most intriguing parts of the book as a whole. The propaganda used to spread patriotism was so utterly important in penetrating solidarity amongst the American people in light of an enormous influx of immigrants to the country. The magazine owned by Daniel Sharp Ford called the Youth's Companion's success relied on premiums. Those premiums, as Ellis later unravels, is making flags available to subscribers for purchase. The magazine set out to encourage people to decorate their houses and schools with flags to promote "patriotism". The author points out the importance of media in sustaining the life of the Pledge. I had trouble with his criticism of promoting patriotism. I do not see the problem of promoting Patriotism especially in a country that is founded on immigrants who have previous allegiances. Politicians obviously manipulate situations to encourage Patriotism when they need it to be present in the political life of a country. However, the underlining truth is that patriotism is a good thing at times. We're not talking about fanaticism; the patriotism instilled in the American people with the first induction of the Pledge was a positive thing. America is a democracy that advocates free speech yet, as Ellis states, "democracies generally do not require their school children to pledge allegiance to the nation on a daily or even regular basis... the rote recitation of loyalty to a nation is something we generally associate more with authoritarian regimes than liberal democracies." (210). The "Under God" issue aside, the Pledge is a statement that declares a complete surrender to American values. It may contradict the foundation of American values but, in the end, no real democracy exists in the world and if one of America's break away from democracy is the Pledge then that is one of the smaller actions America has taken in the name of democracy that contradicts democracy.
And now, back to my main interest in the book. What of the "Under God" issue? When God was to be introduced in the Pledge it was due to an immense campaign that plastered God everywhere in the American social, as well as political, system. "In God We Trust" was added to paper money, stamps and was used by Eisenhower to release religion into the public atmosphere. It wasn't merely something that came into being from nothing. Ellis states "the absence of any reference to God in Bellamy's spare twenty-three-word pledge had little if anything to do with a desire to keep religion out of the public schools... Bellamy's program called for an "Acknowledgment of God" either through "prayer or scripture" so even if God were absent in the actual words of the Pledge, Bellamy made sure it was sandwiched between explicit appeals to the Almighty." (122) Thus, God was not completely excluded from the initial Pledge. It was a different time; it was a time where the United States was thought of as Christian country and hence God obviously played a role in the structures of the country.
But what the book centers on is the anxiety America feels that requires the rejuvenation of the Pledge. There are three main events that, according to Ellis, have given legitimacy to the Pledge. The first one, of course, was the xenophobic notion felt by many Americans who were overwhelmed by the increase in immigrants. The second one took place in the 1950s when "under God" was introduced in the Pledge because of anti-communist sentiments; those who rallied for this introduction wanted to present America in a light of a country with a religion. Politicians, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, used the word "under God" more frequently after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Harry Truman was "the first President to rely heavily on the phrase...particularly after the Cold War heated up." (125) And the third event is unquestionably September 11th 2001. "Our "enemies," the President pointed out, "hate the words" of the Pledge of Allegiance. In fact those enemies "want to erase them," which is why "we're determined to stand fro these words, and live them out in our lives." (G.W. Bush at a school in Nashville, Tennessee, September 2002) The word "enemies" was used to refer to the terrorists and at the same time create fear amongst the Americans who oppose the Pledge by ultimately placing them on the same pedestal as the terrorists.
Ellis does a formidable job in generating the social and political atmosphere of the time and the significance of the Pledge. There are a lot of factual remarks and examinations by Ellis. I found that this reading contained too much detail; we go from one event to another to another with extreme details and a lot of repetition. It felt like reading court case of some sort that listed all evidence with all essential details. The vast majority of the book is facts and cases. But what is the author's opinion about all this? We get a taste of what he believes in the very last page of the book: Ellis claims the true problem of the pledge is that the true patriots are the ones want to get rid of it because they have faith in the power of America. This claim should have been made earlier on in the book since it is one of the most relevant and most important observation made by the author.

Marketing at Its Best.......2005-11-02

I should have been the youngest revolutionary leader in the world. At age five I could have organized everyone I knew-my family, church members, Cookie and all her brothers and sisters, and everyone in my first grade class. Together, we could have objected to reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. We could have written the President using the extra large pencils or crayons, marched on Washington (if our parents did the driving) and objected to a marketing plan set in place since the 1880s by two innovative writers, turned community activists. The truth of the matter, however, is that I didn't mind or even think seriously about the Pledge as I learned it in first grade. Heck, I wasn't even saying the pledge, given my limitations with multi-syllabic words. Now, as an adult, having read Richard J. Ellis' To The Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance, I am now aware of the rich origins of the Pledge of Allegiance. As the author shares in his introduction, "I found that although there were some revealing accounts of aspects of the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, nobody had written an in-depth history of it." (pg. xvi) Ellis offers a much needed, albeit exclusionary at times, encyclopedic reference about the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ellis develops an amazing account of how two men, Colonel George Balch and Francis Bellamy, devised a marketing plan to increase subscriptions for "The Youth's Companion." Ultimately, their efforts resulted in the Boston-based magazine becoming, "one of the country's best known and most loved periodicals." (p. 5) As Ellis reveals, their initiative evolved from a number of anxieties surrounding "immigrants, materialism, radicalism, communism and the freedoms awarded American citizens." (pgs.xi-xiii) How these two men shaped early American history and even contemporary legislative and political atmosphere is the challenge that Ellis aptly delivered to his readers. An in-depth survey of the Pledge's history from the late 1800s until 2003, Ellis proves his research skills, and most readers will find his book easy to start.
There are, however, distractions. It's unfathomable, given the millions of enslaved African and African Americans on American soil and the subsequent, pervasive racial tensions between black and white Americans that Ellis fails to discuss the possible impact of those relationships and the perceived need for an oath of allegiance. Even in the context of immigration, Africans, as pseudo-immigrants, made an inedible mark on American history and thus should rate a more prominent placement in Ellis' book. The tumultuous rage of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 could easily provide an added dimension to his discourse. He eloquently includes the perspective of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the ACLU, and Jehovah's Witnesses with only a cursory mention of race and its implications when implementing the Pledge. Ellis, as the Mark O. Hatfield Professor of Politics at Willamette University in Oregon, appears to skirt the challenging issue of Blacks' role in America. On the other hand, he skillfully cites other controversies, particularly those relating to school children. He writes, much too late in the book, "The refusals in the 1930s and 1940s had been largely rooted in religious objections rather than in any specific protest against the US government policy, but the refusals in the 1960s were grounded in political protest, particularly against racial discrimination." (p.155) During the campaign to place American Flags over every school house, where any Black schools included? Ellis leaves an obvious void by not addressing Black Americans in his discussion.
During the latter half of his book, Ellis' discourse details the 1954 addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. He explains how the Supreme Court "intended the words "under God" to convey that America is a religious nation unlike the Communist nations." (p. 216). Full of ethical and legislative rigor, the amendment sets the scene for interesting reading. At times Ellis provides more detail than palatable for an average reader. The weightiness of such detail, near the end of the book, could easily leave some readers breathing a sigh of accomplishment with just having waded through it, rather than anticipating another chapter or a future discussions.
Ultimately, Ellis provides an invaluable tool for those curious about the history of our national oath. And while he discounts people of color, he makes each of us aware that Balch and Bellamy knew their constituents. School children and their parents- did not object to the Pledge of Allegiance because, as Ellis reveals, Balch and Bellamy knew that indoctrination was best served to those youthful in age or education

To the Flag: A Detailed Overview of the History of the Pledge.......2005-10-11

As hard as it is to remember my education as a child, I do remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each morning in elementary school. Standing tall next to my fellow classmates, we spoke the words that ostensibly represented our country of America. Year after year this salute became ingrained in my head - not as a poem that reminded me of my patronage, but as a boring and irrelevant chore that I never thought to question. Today the Pledge of Allegiance is no longer mandated in schools, but it continues to be a controversial debate in politics. This topic is the subject of Richard Ellis' To the Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance.
At first glance, you might assume that this novel is solely a political scientist's objective articulation of history, and after reading the first five or six chapters, of facts regarding the Pledge. However, as Ellis begins to dive into the controversy surrounding the Pledge, he uncovers the significance of its success as a symbol of American identity, the changes it went through and why, and what it represents for citizens today. His historical style effectively traces the original Pledge, written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, to the 2004 Supreme Court decision that made the thirty-one word oath unconstitutional.
For over a century, especially in the aftermath of mass immigration, World War II, the Cold War, and 9/11, the Pledge of Allegiance has played an important role in defining the American identity. The natural tendency of citizens is to unify against the current conflict, forcing them to justify their Americanness and allegiance to their country. Those who seem less patriotic are perceived as traitors. At these crucial times in history, nothing seemed to express more gratitude and respect than the salute to the flag while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Before the turn of the 20th century, there was a deep feeling of anxiety as America experienced an influx of foreigners immigrating into the schools, the work force, and the social communities. This sparked a movement to "Americanize" the immigrant children, and "create a `new man' from the mixture of different nationalities (pg 38)." The first step in Americanizing immigrants begins with the understanding of the American identity. The United States has no distinct religion, race, culture, or heritage, and this diversity is what truly represents America. Ellis posits, "For most peoples, national identity is the product of a long process of historical evolution involving common ancestors, common experiences, and common ethnic backgrounds (pg 213)." Therefore, the American identity is a myth that our nation has persistently attempted to construct. There was a strong effort made to subdue the anxiety of immigration by federally funding the placement of the American flag in schools, and requiring the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited everyday. Soon the Pledge became the prime symbol of American patriotism, and with its success came resistance and disapproval. Many worried that "the flag salute, the singing, the national self-glorification will result in a nation of swashbucklers, not of patriots (pg.82)." Students who protested or refused to recite the Pledge were suspended from school, whipped by teachers, arrested, and in some cases imprisoned. Furthermore, some students who opposed the Pledge refrained from protesting, simply to avoid the embarrassment of being ostracized in front of their peers.
Those who opposed the Pledge faced even more insurmountable hurdles as the Cold War initiated a "fight against a common enemy: atheistic Communism (pg 130)." During this religious revival, many supported the movement to add the words `Under God' in the Pledge - further emphasizing the nation's religious identity of the time. Ellis states that "the strength of the United States, in the view of many, was its religious faith. And it was faith in God that distinguished the United States from the godless Communists (pg 127)." The addition of these two words may have distinguished our country from the Communists, but it excluded many people that either believed in more than one God or none at all. Moreover, it overrides the Constitutional Principles of the separation of church and state. Former President George H.W. Bush makes it clear in his response regarding atheists: "I don't know that Atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God (pg 218)."
It is obvious that the Pledge had good intentions when it was first written in 1892. Aside from being a nation under God, the words represent what our nation as a whole strives to symbolize. To the Flag clarifies the irony of the rhetoric in the Pledge, `a nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all.' In schools, our youth have been forced to recite the Pledge, and ironically this mocked the liberties they pledged. The notion that we live in a nation of indivisibility is completely false. Issues of class, race, gender, and religion have divided this nation for hundreds of years and continue to smear the image of equality. The Pledge does not represent the American identity; it simplifies and distorts the reality of our society and excludes so many individuals who constitute our nation. Ellis says it best when he reveals the true paradox of the Pledge: "backers of the Pledge are often cast as true patriots, but it is arguably those who would dispense a daily Pledge who harbor the greatest faith in the enduring power and strength of American institutions and American ideals (pg 222)." Ellis subtly reveals this important paradox to allow advocates of the Pledge to measure their own true spirit as Americans. Through this realization, they may begin to understand the reality of our nation, with or without a God, striving for indivisibility, liberty, and justice for all.

Examining its original writing in 1892 and various challenges to its authority and style up to present times.......2005-10-05

With new challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance taking place in modern times, it's important to understand the origins of the Pledge, and To The Flag: The Unlikely History Of The Pledge Of Allegiance provides this background, examining its original writing in 1892 and various challenges to its authority and style up to present times. From the schoolhouse flag movement and first use of the Pledge to its modern meaning to new immigrants, To The Flag should be on the shelves of any high school or public library strong in American history.

Exceptional presentation of history with issues.......2005-10-03

I hadn't expected this book to be so engaging. It's provocative, but the provocation isn't planted by the author but is inherent in the material he reveals. After years in public school reciting the Pledge, I knew little about its history. Until now, although I've read of legal challenges involving the Pledge, I had little idea of the long history of court of its challenges.

How Ellis was able to present so much history, including legal issues, in a way suitable to a lay reader such as myself, I don't know. That's his gift.

One surprise was that the flag salute so resembled the Nazi "Heil Hitler" salute that it was modified in the 1940's. Having read of recent issues with nontheists objecting to the Pledge, it was a surprise to learn that strong objections to the Pledge and had come from religious people who considered the pledge and salute to be idolatry. This led to not only violence but also, for the children, explusion from school. It was these religion objections, not those of nontheists, that led to the court decision that the pledge and salute be voluntary in 1943. Nontheists wouldn't have been likely to object at this time because it wasn't until 1954 that the words "under God" were added to the Pledge. Legal objection to that addition came not only from atheists but also from Buddhist organizations and the Unitarian Ministers Association.

Some key players in the Pledge story that Ellis cites are the ACLU, George Bush Sr, George W Bush, and Jesse Ventura. Jesse has one of the most astute comments about the Pledge I've ever heard. George Bush Sr seemed to have forgotten the "for all" portion of the Pledge when he said (quoted elsewhere): "I don't know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." Compare Jesse Ventura's inclusive observation that "The United State of America exist because people wanted to be free to choose."

Ellis presents many positions, expressing his concern that we distinguish between true patriotism and manipulation of our Pledge. This book is likely to get you thinking about what our country stands for and how patriotism is best learned and expressed. Wisely, Ellis doesn't spout conclusions but rather raises question that may linger with you a long while after you finish your first reading of "To The Flag". Books like this keep America strong.

I Pledge Allegiance: A Recommitment to America

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Pure Propaganda
obvious

I Pledge Allegiance: A Recommitment to America
D.B. Webb
Manufacturer: Howard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 158229254X

Customer Reviews:

Pure Propaganda.......2007-06-22

I leafed through this book at a hotel gift shop one day, expecting to find a history of the pledge, or perhaps some interesting facts and trivia. Instead I found an agenda-pushing piece of propaganda. The book includes numerous quotes from George W. Bush and clearly displays a Christian agenda. One of my favorite quotes from this little book is "And although we, in times of peace, disagree and engage in loud debate about whether to express our faith in the public arena...we all rally in the Great Throne Room of the Almighty when tragedy strikes and our hearts are humbled by fear." I think my fellow atheists would agree that such a statement would be laughable if it wasn't so frustrating and irritating. And yes, the author did use the phrase "the Great Throne Room of the Almighty", whatever that is.

Which brings me to my next point. If you can get past the religious and political slants to this book, you will surely be appalled by the horrendous writing. I Pledge Allegiance: A Recommitment to America includes such glorious prose as "Dignified men uncover their heads in obeisance, and ragamuffins stand at attention when she [the American flag] passes by" and "The open wounds of oppression still oozed the blood of the patriots".

A quick look at the copyright page will give readers a clear indication of the publisher's agenda. "Our purpose at Howard Publishing is to: Increase faith in the hearts of growing Christians, Inspire holiness in the lives of believers and Instill hope in the hearts of struggling people everywhere. Because He's coming again!"

I thought I was going to look through a book about an American tradition, but instead all I got was a right-wing bible-thumping treatise on the importance of submitting to the government and glorifying god. Unless you are a hardcore conservative evangelical Christian, I recommend you don't go anywhere near this propagandistic bit of tripe.

obvious.......2002-10-22

obvious but useful
If you want to help your children understand the meaning of the pledge of allegiance, that's the book you need. The pictures are okay, but I would prefer more pictures and less text.
The story of the pledge is missing.

The Pledge of Allegiance (Symbols of Freedom)

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Pledge of Allegiance (Symbols) by Lola M. Schaefer

The Pledge of Allegiance (Symbols of Freedom)
Lola M. Schaefer
Manufacturer: Heinemann
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1588103986

Customer Reviews:

Pledge of Allegiance (Symbols) by Lola M. Schaefer.......2004-02-07

Very well-written book. It could use more historical information about the topic addressed. For example, the early Pledge of Allegiance was the origin of the stiff-arm salute. The Pledge was written (1892) by Francis Bellamy, cousin to an internationally infamous author of the time, Edward Bellamy, and they were both self-proclaimed socialists in the Nationalism movement and promoted military socialism. Edward's book was translated into every major language, including German. They wanted government to take over all schools and impose robotic chanting to flags. The Pledge was the origin of the salute of the National Socialist German Workers Party. American socialists (Edward Bellamy teamed with the Theosophical Society) also bear some blame for German socialism's notorious flag symbol, which evolved into overlapping S-letters for socialism under the National Socialist German Workers Party. The Pledge's early salute was not an ancient Roman salute, and the 'ancient Roman salute' myth came from the Pledge Of Allegiance. All of the above are modern discoveries by the America's leading authority on the Pledge and the author of "Pledge of Allegiance Secrets." It is amazing that books don't examine the issue of whether the pledge should be dropped entirely, especially for young children in government schools. The socialist dogma led to the socialist Wholecost (of which the infamous slaughter from Germany was a part): 60 million dead under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; 50 million under the Peoples' Republic of China; 20 million under the National Socialist German Workers Party. It might be the most tragic part of world history.

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The Pledge of Allegiance (First Facts)
Marc Tyler Nobleman
Manufacturer: Capstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

State & Local Government | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE...THE TRUE STORY OF THE WALKERS: AN AMERICAN SPY FAMILY

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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE...THE TRUE STORY OF THE WALKERS: AN AMERICAN SPY FAMILY
Howard Blum
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JWE0PA

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I Pledge Allegiance Big Book
Bill Jr Martin , and Michael Sampson
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0763628158
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Book Description

"Finally, here’s a picture book that helps young children move beyond rote recitation of the Pledge to find meaning in its language. This is the book parents and teachers have been waiting for." —BOOKLIST (starred review)

"I led a pigeon to the flag" . . . "and to the wee puppet" . . . "one nation, and a vegetable" . . . What was that again? Children in the United States have been reciting the Pledge of Allegiance since 1892 — and for about that long, they've found its big words confusing. Beloved children's book author Bill Martin Jr (BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?), fellow literacy expert Michael Sampson, and Caldecott Honor-winning artist Chris Raschka give America's children a hand, and explain this patriotic poem once and for all.

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Our Pledge of Allegiance, by Syl Sobel
Interesting, Informative, and Fun.....

Our Pledge of Allegiance
Syl Sobel
Manufacturer: Word Association Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Politics & Government | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

School & Education | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Presidential Elections: And Other Cool Facts

ASIN: 1891231820

Book Description

Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance? Why was it written? What does it mean?

Our Pledge of Allegiance tells the story behind the familiar words that schoolchildren learn and many recite every day. Written in clear and child-friendly language for readers in grades 3-6, the book also features children's illustrations that portray the Pledge from a child's perspective.

Syl Sobel is a former newspaper reporter, a lawyer, and director of communications for a government agency.

His daughters make their debut as illustrators with this book.

Other books by Syl Sobel:

How the U.S. Government Works (Barron's 1999)

The U.S. Constitution and You (Barron's 2001)

Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts 2d ed. (Barron's 2001)

Customer Reviews:

Our Pledge of Allegiance, by Syl Sobel.......2004-02-07

Syl Sobel is the author of a book on the Pledge of Allegiance, and he is very informative. The book could use some updating with more historical information about the topic addressed. For example, the Pledge was the origin of the stiff-arm salute that was adopted later by the National Socialist German Workers Party. The early salute for the Pledge of Allegiance was the straight-arm salute. Francis Bellamy was the author of the Pledge (1892) and cousin to Edward Bellamy, author of an international bestseller that launched the nationalism movement. Edward's book was translated into every major language, including German. Francis and Edward were both self-proclaimed socialists in the Nationalism movement and they promoted military socialism. They wanted government to take over all schools and impose robotic chanting to flags. The Pledge's early right-arm salute was not an ancient Roman salute, and the 'ancient Roman salute' myth came from the Pledge. In addition to the notorious salute, American socialists (e.g. Edward Bellamy teamed with the Theosophical Society) also bear some blame for the notorious symbol usd by the National Socialist German Workers Party. While Edward worked with the Theosophical Society, the same symbol was used. It was used as alphabetical symbolism for socialism, and adopted later by German socialists as their flag symbol. Although an ancient symbol, was altered for use as overlapping S-letters for 'socialism.' It was deliberately turned 45 degrees counter clockwise and always oriented in the S-direction. Similar alphabetic symbolism is still visible as Volkswagen logos. People were persecuted for refusing to perform robotic chanting to the national flag at the same time in the USA and Germany (to the American flag, and to the German symbol flag). All of the above are modern discoveries by America's leading authority on the Pledge of Allegiance, the author of "Pledge of Allegiance Secrets."

Interesting, Informative, and Fun............2002-05-10

Every morning children begin their school day with the Pledge of Allegiance. They stand, face the flag, put their right hands over their hearts, and recite those now familiar words together. But who wrote those famous words and why? When were they written, and what do they mean? Syl Sobel answers these, and other important questions in his well researched, interesting and informative book, Our Pledge Of Allegiance. His entertaining text is written in an engaging, easy to read, conversational style, and is chock full of history, intriguing fun facts, and trivia. Simple, charming illustrations by Mr Sobel's daughters bring a child's perspective to the text, and adds to the fun. Perfect for youngsters 7 and older, Our Pledge Of Allegiance makes a wonderful addition to elementary classroom libraries. This is non-fiction at its very best, and is a little treasure that shouldn't be missed.

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