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FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

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Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#111
post #73
post #62

When I was in sixth grade I found out (I am not sure how actually) that I didn’t have to say the pledge if I didn’t want to. I didn’t (and don’t) believe in God, and I didn’t believe in the “under God” part of the pledge, so I decided that I wouldn’t stand for the pledge anymore. This was an extremely conservative area, and so my teachers were very upset. I told them I don’t have to say the pledge if I don't want (an…

Are there really parents that would force their children to say it anyway? This feels like such a bizarre thing to have a fight over.

I think it reasonable to assume that the principal, at least, would be such a parent

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#112
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Freedom of speech: pro-US propaganda Lack of freedom of speech: anything else

Pretty much. Americans want to export their fascist ideology to Europe under the guise of "freedom of speech". They need to get their own house in order first, frankly.

[flagged]

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much. Americans want to export their fascist ideology to Europe under the guise of "freedom of speech". They need to get their own house in order first, frankly.

[flagged]

I took the comment as specifically referring to the fascist ideology being pushed by the current US administration.

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it’s incredibly important to have active and engaging conversations about the FCC on HN, regardless of political ideology, because of our shared identity as those deeply involved with tech. We should be openly discussing whether freedom of speech and information is being infringed by governments around the world in ways which can and do infringe upon our world.

So how might a campaign such as this be advanced or advertised in ways that don’t infringe upon Democratic values?

By an earnest suggestion from an administration that respects the United States, our freedoms, and our institutions. Not an implicit threat from a wannabe dictator who hangs giant pictures of himself up on government buildings to glorify himself, throws vindictive hissy fits when he doesn't get his way, and rambles at length about how he hates most American values.

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#115
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly I think even without the "under God" part I've always thought it was kind of weird and culty.

Your comment reminds me of what one American college student said in public in Italy. It was 2018, Trump was president, I was on a shuttle bus that takes tourists up and down a viewpoint. It was just leaving the viewpoint when it stops, a man hops in and asks in English "Did anyone see an Apple Watch?". "Yeah, right here!". The first person had forgotten it in the bus, and the second person had found it, and returned…

"If you had a bus full of Japanese people, the watch would have been precisely where you left it!"

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#116

Nothing says you're selling an inferior product better than having to propagandize people into believing in it.

Lots of people take for granted that their government exists and doesn't suck as bad as those in other places. Say what you want about it, but every successful country cultivates a national culture and identity. This is especially important for countries where the people are very heterogeneous in other identity facets. If people feel no particular affinity for the country because they are rarely encouraged to stop an…

> Lots of people take for granted that their government exists and doesn't suck as bad as those in other places.

From the UK. Our government definitely sucks, and has basically had the same hostile policies despite switching between different parties.

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53806-how-popular-is-...

People wish that we would stop pandering to the US, at least to the level that we do.

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#117
post #62

When I was in sixth grade I found out (I am not sure how actually) that I didn’t have to say the pledge if I didn’t want to. I didn’t (and don’t) believe in God, and I didn’t believe in the “under God” part of the pledge, so I decided that I wouldn’t stand for the pledge anymore. This was an extremely conservative area, and so my teachers were very upset. I told them I don’t have to say the pledge if I don't want (an…

The “under god” part always rubbed me wrong. I was surprised to learn it was added relatively recently in 1954. I wish we could go back to the prior one.

You can thank Billy Grahm, a major US preacher, for that under God [1] in which the GOP and religious right started to get more aligned around 1950.Indeed, Graham could often be seen later with Regaen (US president 1980-88).

I think it's decently accurate to write US founders were religious except:

(1) church private and state public was more of a thing even though the majority shared similar private values

(2) God was away/apart more so in a static background way

[1] https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/pledge-alleg...

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much. Americans want to export their fascist ideology to Europe under the guise of "freedom of speech". They need to get their own house in order first, frankly.

[flagged]

> Many of the clowns who throw shade on us from across the pond live in dystopian hellscapes...

Rose tinted much?

These are all fucking awful. The UK is bad because it took leaking of state secrets before Andrew proper action, being a paedo and involved in trafficking just means you have to move to an "out of the way mansion". At least now its getting the attention.

But the US ignores the sitting president involvement.

And shoots unarmed people in the street.

Most of the clowns throwing shade from the US ignore their hypocrisy.

Re: FCC asks stations for "pro-America" programming, like daily Pledge of Allegiance

#120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The “under god” part always rubbed me wrong. I was surprised to learn it was added relatively recently in 1954. I wish we could go back to the prior one.

I think the Christian Nationalists have overplayed their hand and revealed that their belief is politics takes priority over religion. Going back to the pre-1954 pledge is feasible within our lifetime. Hopefully as part of the upcoming rebuke of sacrificing our nation's values for a megalomaniac coopting religion for political gain (with very public examples of hypocrisy). Jesus preached feeding the hungry, healing t…

I agree. Culture wars have distorted, then corrupted a lot to the point where Christains think the state is their personal PR guy, bouncer, and front man ... with an undertone of entitlement to pursue while state is obligated to comply.

To me it smacks of desperation.

Wanna get more adherents? Live your life right, and keep stronger boundaries between personal and private. People will see and respect that.

When things cross, stop already with seeing public comments as an opportunity to evangelize, and blabber on about holiness.

Good example: there's a guy rusty (US state secratary) I believe got caught in the middle of Trump's 2020 election nonsense on the issue of alternative electors. He testified Jan 6 saying cooperation was against his faith and morals whatever the outcome.

Man, I had big respect for his actions and explanation. Short, factual, backed up by action.

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