A Great Educational Tool for Flag Day: Porky Recites the Pre-McCarthyism Pledge

Tue, 06/07/2011 - 10:38

Last year on Flag Day (June 14) many secular Americans posted an interesting video on their Facebook profiles and elsewhere. The video, a 1939 clip of Porky Pig reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, is a great educational tool, because he recites the Pledge in its original version without any "under God" wording. See the Youtube video here:

Many Americans are unaware of the history of the Pledge. It was written in the 1890s, but the "under God" wording wasn't added until 1954 at the height of the McCarthy era, hardly a proud chapter of American history, after heavy lobbying by religious groups. Thus, the original (God-free) Pledge was used during the First World War, the Great Depression, and the Second World War.

Continue Reading (via Our Humanity, Naturally)

Comments

Submitted by obd2 code reader (not verified) on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 21:32.

Many Americans do not understand the historical commitment. It is written in the 1890s, but the height of the McCarthy era, almost no one in American history and a proud chapter, heavy lobbying by religious groups, but it was not until 1954 by adding "under God" wording. Therefore, the original (without God) commitment to the First World War, the Great Depression and during World War II.

Submitted by wedding bands (not verified) on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 04:57.

This story was a great pleasure for me to read. I too have enjoyed this information. I really appreciate this so much. Thanks

Submitted by Janet (not verified) on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 05:17.

Geez, that's unbeleibvale. Kudos and such.

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David Niose

Dave Niose is an attorney, activist, and writer, and the president of the American Humanist Association. He has appeared on national television and radio and numerous local media outlets around the country speaking on subjects pertaining to humanism and freethought. He is the author of Psychology Today's "Our Humanity, Naturally" blog.

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