When the New Generation Comes Marching In
I don't remember learning The Pledge of Allegiance or The National Anthem. It often seems that American born children are born with the words imprinted in our DNA. We begin learning these patriotic rites at the same time we learn to identify letters and colors and numbers and shapes. They have become a fundamental aspect of basic education to the extent that our children are unable to avoid it. To call it a sort of brainwashing would be harsh, although accurate. I am proud to be an American. Don't get me wrong, I love my country, and I thank my lucky stars (and stripes) every day to have been born into it. I am proud that we are a nation of the people and for the people. And for that reason, we are a living and breathing nation. We are subject to constant change, not simply by nature of our democracy, but by our duty to it. To blindly follow the social norms stagnates society and threatens democracy. Norms change, as evidenced by endless leaders in our society. p...
