Sitting through a Finnish ninth-grade graduation this morning, I was struck that it lacked any sort of flag salute or even a flag in the auditorium. In contrast, no school ceremony in the the US is complete without a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. It seems the US pledge came about in the 1890s as a way to patch up Civil War differences. In the 1950s, it was a way to differentiate from the godless Commies with the addition of the “under God” clause.
Think about it, how many other oaths are we typically expected to repeat? Marriage vow (typically once per marriage), entry to a profession (once), joining a secret society (once), etc. Operationally, the Pledge of Allegiance seems to work more like the Lord’s Prayer.
Finns in contrast seem to naturally feel allegiance to their country, flag and countrymen. They fought the entire Winter War in 1939 without a pledge of allegiance. So what is the purpose of a community show of patriotism? Is it a way to find common patriotic ground in melting-pot cultures, or is it a feel-good thing for the self-righteous? Do flag salutes promote democracy and protect individual liberties? No answer here, just wondering out loud. Any thoughts?
The Glyphians 