Do you stand for the Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem?

[Joe Republic]

Having children recite it is definitely a bit creepy though.

Why? You have to teach it early on, so that they are going to love their country!

... I can't quite tell if that was intended to be a serious argument.

[Joe Republic]

Hey everybody, go check out the Bellamy salute, for the lols.  It's how children were "encouraged" to salute the flag during the PoA until 1942.





I wonder why they changed it.

[Joe Republic]

Hey everybody, go check out the Bellamy salute, for the lols.  It's how children were "encouraged" to salute the flag during the PoA until 1942.

I wonder why they changed it.

What is your point exactly?

for the lols.

The identification of and solution to the problem was so classically American. 

"Hmm, those danged Nazis are using the same salute to that Hitler guy as our precious kids are using to our flag!  This looks terrible!"
"I agree.  Now you mention it, having kids saluting to a flag and reciting a pledge of loyalty to it does look a little fasc-"
"I got it!  We'll just change the salute!  Problem solved."
"But, it still looks like-"
"Problem solved."

[Joe Republic]

People should wear their best clothes for church. If 'best' isn't necessarily that great, then that's absolutely okay, but anyone middle-class or above should dress essentially as Santander is suggesting. Of course churchgoers shouldn't judge one another for their attire (churchgoers shouldn't really be focusing on one another at all during most parts of a service) but people should make the choice for themselves to honor God by dressing up at least a little.

It's obviously none of my business what people wear to these rituals, but this post was nonetheless quite troubling to read.

[Joe Republic]

I was rather hoping for more of an explanation from you, actually.

[Joe Republic]

Okay. I don't like the idea that leftism needs to imply casualness. Obviously people in congregations that have problems with class divisions should exercise their best judgment and perhaps not dress up to the same extent as in congregations with less history of that sort of thing, but I hardly think it makes me some sort of Simfanesque Tory to suggest that people in the presence of God, who can afford to do so, should wear a cardigan and khakis (or a shell top with a nice skirt, if one doesn't go in for masculine or androgynous looks) or something. The ties and spectator shoes (seriously, on further thought, wtf) are a little over-the-top unless it's a major holiday or feast day or something, sure.

Unless what worries you is non-political?

I just didn't fully see where you were going with the reference to class divisions.