US Authoritarianism

When i left my ex-communist country for greener pastures, many years ago, one of the biggest shocks was learning about "lobbying".

What we backward peasants from communism considered plain corruption, was perfectly legal and normal in the USA. Less so in Western Europe, though. Not only normal but seems to be one of core means of getting into power (and holding onto it), whether it is business or politics. Mind you, I never lived in the USA but based on everything I see/hear that is absolutely the case.

I am still flabbergasted by it...

The version tjey made me do also had "One nation indivisible under god" which is some racist theocratic bullshit.

Nationalism /patriotism is a religion, where the country's identity is a god

Did You watch John Oliver recently? When You get American citizenship, they make You listen to a god awful, pro American song while waving tiny American flags. This shit is so cringy.

Yes, and in hindsight, it's pretty disgusting stuff.

Especially considering everything they withheld from me about our history, trying to tell me it was the plague that killed off native people, when in fact it was slavery, war, murder, and torture. Or the times when white mobs destroyed black towns, such as in Tulsa. Or the time when cops and soldiers bombed labor agitators trying to get better working conditions. Or, my favorite, the battle for Blair Mountain.

It's 100% indoctrination, and I'm glad I like to read history books as an adult or I'd have no idea.

The pledge in schools is relatively new, I think it was passed under reagan or something. Your grandparents weren't doing it.

Not only that, but they made the children in Special Education sing “I’m Proud to Be An American” (as if that’s all they have) instead

Reading this as an American (who voted) living in Denmark—where all those things are covered—hits hard…

I always sat it out, because even Russia doesn't make you do that crap.

Always has been.

It's fairly close to a cult, it's a civil religion.

I was probably 5th grade when I stopped pledging. I really thought about it, like what I was saying and realized I didn't agree with it. Like, that's what you do when you're an adult going into the armed services. Not something you should be forcing kids to do. And that's not even including the "under god" crap.

One of the few things that are good about growing up Jehovah's Witness. Never did the pledge, and I don't think I could recite it from memory if you asked.