What kinds of patriotic rituals do the
school girls participate in?
The Pledge of Allegiance
• “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Repulic for which
it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all”: written in 1892 to commemorate 400th
anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in America by children’s
magazine
• Took out the words “fraternity” and “equality”
• Addition of “flag of the United States” in 1923, for new
immigrants who might be confused about which flag they
were loyal to
• Salute removed in 1942 (too much like “Heil Hitler”)
• Addition of “under God” in 1954 during Cold War (vs.
“Godless” Communists)
1915, New York Tribune
Challenge by Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Considered the pledge idolatry; to worship
something other than God
• Supreme Court (1943): public school students not
required to say the Pledge
Australian Citizenship Affirmation
As an Australian citizen
I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people,
Whose democratic beliefs I share,
Whose rights and liberties I respect,
And whose laws I uphold and obey
Do they work in creating national feeling?
What do these patriotic rituals mean for
young women’s roles?