Do You Stand And Pledge...

[La + * Mom]

I was just answering something in another thread and it had me wondering....as a native american, do you stand, cross your hand over your heart and say the Pledge of Alligence to the United States/Canada when prompted? i.e., school, sports functions meetings etc... I personally do not, nor do I stand for it.

[AlmostThere]

That's a really good question. I remember kids from our rez were always getting in trouble because they would not stand for the pledge. Personally, I agree with them. I was one of those kids. Anyways, Alot of the parents became concerned and brought it to Staffs attention. The School thought that the students should stand even if they don't repeat the pledge. Out of RESPECT. But where was there respect for us. Of course, that came with something like " no comment."

[Wojapi4Me]

Playing devil's advocate here:

Do you stand and honor vets during a veteran's song at a pow wow?

[Jammer]

I used to stand and pledge until I was in about 7th grade. It was just something that I was always brought up to do.(Not living within a native community) I grew up in a city that was 60-70% Latino and they pledged as well. It wasn't until I set down with two of my best friends at the time that were from Thailand and they explained to me why they don't believe they should be made or have to pledge to the flag...Even though they were now american citizens they still held on to their roots. It was then that I began to question why I should have to pledge as well. Granted I"m not a fulllblood and I have had many ancestors that fought in the civil war as well as the revolutionary war from both sides of the family. I made a decision to no longer pledge to the flag but to my native ppl and our nation. Although I still stand in respect and in honor of those that have served. This is a touchy subject as SingerDad has brought to our attention. Would we not or do we not stand in honor of our vets. Of course we do. But then that brings up the question as to why we stand in honor them. In one way we honor them because they put their lives on the line to serve. Yet I believe the last time we actually fought a war that was actually ours was on the day pearl harbor was bombed. The rest of the wars, vetinam, desert storm and now Iraq and Afghan are not our wars. We are instead fighting for other countries. And I doubt that its soley because of them not having the same luxuires as we have. It comes down to the oil and money and control that the USA will eventually get out of the deal.

[~Journey~]

I was thinking of something close to this last night..


I made a comment on a neighbors picture here in the gallery. She is Canadian from what I understood from the comment on the photo. She was making a presentation to the Queen and Prince Phillip representing First Peoples.

The thought came to my mind " How do most Canadian First Peoples feel about the Queen and her "ruling the people'? How much respect does she deserve?

Yes I stand and honor the Vets! I try to honor all people, but sometimes the past is hard to forget..and a snake is always a snake and a leopard never looses its spots...

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the comments made here!

[Joe's Dad]

Has anybody thought to ask a veteran for his opinion or what goes through his mind about this subject?

[badmaninc]

I haven't stood for the national anthem in Canada since I was 10 years old, so it has been 33 years. I was beaten by a nun cause I wouldn't the first time and since then I decided that i couldn't. I don't expect my children to sit but if they choose to stand, I don't get upset at them. If we stand or sit is a personal preference.

[hoov4450]

plain and simple. YES

[Pen Pen]

I don't stand because I don't pledge my allegiance to the flag. It's not about honor or respect, it's about pledging your allegiance to sumthin that you may or may not believe in. I personally don't believe in it. Just take the words literally, and think if you really do want to pledge. I personally don't pledge, even had some teachers yell at us for it, it was funny.

[Singing Eagle]

Respect is a funny thing eh?

For me, I will stand for the Canadian national anthem at events. I still have a loyalty to my country even though I don't agree with a lot of what the government does - and dosen't do.

I stand for opening prayers, blessings, honor songs. Heck I'll even go to church and stand when everyone else does - even though I left the church years ago. I will not kneel in church though - I just sit quietly in my seat.

[La + * Mom]

Playing devil's advocate here:

Do you stand and honor vets during a veteran's song at a pow wow?

You know, I was thinking about that last night after I had started the thread...yes, I do stand at pow wows for the veteran's honor song and of course, grand entry....it struck me as odd when I realized that last night. I guess I just had tunnel vision as to the american flag & pledge of allegience. In grade school I watched as one of traditionals (who was raised not even to rise for the pledge) was grabbed by her ears by our male teacher and dragged right out of the classroom for refusing to stand. Later in life, I was at a nascar race one night and was coming up the stairs carrying hot coffee & munchies while the national anthem was being played...some ole redneck grabbed me by the shoulder and started shouting 'don't you have any respect...you are supposed to be standing at attention while this song is being played." With hot coffee streaming down my arm, I was just so flabbergasted...to think that there was such anomousity out there...OMG! that's kinda when my personal realization and general attitude to this matter began. But, yeah, standing to show honor and respect to the native american vets is totally legit.

[WhoMe]

This is a very interesting question because there are different circumstances.

I come from a state with a high degree of Indian veterans and active Indian servicemen/women. At powwows, I am normally at a drum and don't stand up, but am reverent until the flags are posted. When I am dancing, I am already standing up.

At sporting events and when I perform for schools, I do stand up for the pledge of allegiance, but never put my hand over my heart.



When I am a visitor at any other Native event, I take my cue from the elders who are able to stand in my immediate area. If they stand up, out of respect, I do the same.

[ndnmba]

Yes, I stand for the Veteran's song, Honor songs etc., and I also stand for National Anthem and for the Pledge of Allegiance out of respect. My feelings are that you don't have to believe in something to give it respect if it is due. If I am in another country, I stand for their anthem. My dad is a veteran and he felt very strongly about showing respect. I don't repeat the Pledge of Allegiance but I still stand while it is said.

I've also been to basketball games where drum groups such as Eyabay and Battle River sang the National Anthem for the game and everyone stood, including all the white people. I can tell you that I would have been very offended if the white people hadn't stood, because that would have been very disrespectful to me.

[AngelFeather]

Yes, I stand for the Veteran's song, Honor songs etc., and I also stand for National Anthem and for the Pledge of Allegiance out of respect. My feelings are that you don't have to believe in something to give it respect if it is due. If I am in another country, I stand for their anthem. My dad is a veteran and he felt very strongly about showing respect. I don't repeat the Pledge of Allegiance but I still stand while it is said.

I've also been to basketball games where drum groups such as Eyabay and Battle River sang the National Anthem for the game and everyone stood, including all the white people. I can tell you that I would have been very offended if the white people hadn't stood, because that would have been very disrespectful to me.

I agree totally...

[WocusWoman]

I will stand; for the pledge of allegiance, I do not put my hand over my heart, or repeat it's words. I will stand; for christians giving a prayer-at request, I do not pray their way. Just as I would expect them to stand at a powwow or native gathering or ceremony, it is out of respect for the people I'am surrounded by that I give them the respect I expect.