Do you really have to recite that oath thing every morning? - The Bells of St. Mary's (1946) Discussion

[–] thbryn 15 years ago

I don't remember "the oath" in the film but if you mean pledge of allegiance you do have to recite it daily in all public and from what I gather, almost all cat/private schools.

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[–] little-miss-chocolate 15 years ago

Christ Almighty. That's just legalised brainwashing.

I'm anespeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericumbobulations...

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[–] rooprect 14 years ago

That's just legalised brainwashing.

I remember back in school I always thought it was creepy that a whole room of kids was forced to recite some political oath like a bunch of mindless robots. A few of us refused to say it, and we got in big trouble. I also distinctly remember our teacher telling us that the USA had "never lost a war" (Oh that's right, Vietnam was just a "police action".) This was in the late 80s. Does anyone know if things have changed?

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] rooprect 14 years ago

I'm having trouble seeing how your post relates to anything said in this thread. Unless you're just trying to start a dumb political debate with someone? Maybe someone will oblige.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] rooprect 14 years ago

Still, you make no sense. Political debates down the street and to the left. Good luck with that.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] QueenoftheDookie 13 years ago

Oh so taking pride in your country is creepy? I think it's sad that our brave men and women die just so brats like you can go on not giving a *beep*

EVERYBODY DO THE COOL DANCE!

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[–] weird_beard 13 years ago

So, back in 1775 you'd have no problem with:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Kingdom
And to the Emnpire for which it stands
One continent, under the King
With taxes on tea and stamps for all.

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[–] boxerrebellion 11 years ago

I never thought it creepy when we did it at our Parochial school. I sort of missed it when we moved and the public schools didn't say it (mid-70s). I LOVE that my kids have said it every morning since they started Pre-K. Currently they attend a DoDDS school and not every student does say it, nor are they REQUIRED to say it... especially since not all of them are citizens of the US.

On a similar note,living on an overseas US Base, the Star Spangled Banner plays every morning at 8AM and every evening at 7PM when the first movie starts. ALL children stop, turn to the nearest flag and stand at attention. So do the Philipinos and Jamaicans who work as contractors showing respect for our country. Many times when family movies are shown, the children at our outdoor lyceum (movie theatre) SING, and often the adults join in - and whether they do join in or not, applaud the children's efforts. It's really rather inspiring to witness. When taps plays at sunset, the children (and everyone) again stop and stand at attention - whether those children are practicing a sport, playing a game, trick-or-treating or just goofing off.

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[–] g_dekok 8 years ago

Thankfully, it is NOT mandatory to say the pledge at school. I quit saying it in 6th grade about 1968, because I knew it wasn't true.

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[–] lroy77 10 years ago

We used to do it all through school. My cousin is a teacher, and as far as I know it is still said in all schools. The only ones who I don't think do it are Jehovah's Witnesses.

Going to Catholic school, we also had to say a Hail Mary (believe me, we needed it) every morning.

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[–] wllnorkin 10 years ago

It used to be just grades 1 through 6.
Kids would be about 7 through 12 years old.

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[–] ed-pilling 9 years ago

Every morning we had to say it. Also on every hour we had to bless our selfs and if we said Jesus we had to bow our heads. When I went to public HS we didnt have to say the pledge.

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[–] oldblackandwhite 9 years ago

Well, toots, we may have had to "say the oath thing every morning" back when I was in school in the 1950's, but at least they could trust us to eat with knives and forks -- steel ones!

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He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good... St. Matthew 5:45

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[–] HomerParrish 8 years ago

Reading the comments in this section is hilarious.

Understand this:

Democrats are Socialists and hold an "international" perspective. They hate America, and hate nationalism.

Republicans are not Socialists and hold a national perspective. They love America, and are proud of it.

Those who are saying the pledge of allegiance is "creepy" "propaganda" and so on, are Democrats.

Those who are saying the pledge of allegiance is good and right, are Republicans.

We have a major divide in this country.

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[–] katesgram2000 8 years ago

The kids still say the pledge at our local schools,k-12. There are some smart mouth type kids who don't say it.

I still stand and say it proudly. I do it out of respect for our flag and the country it stand for and the men and woman who fought and died for this country

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[–] ajr01 (51) 6 years ago

Remember this was a Hollywood movie in a pluralist society, with a very strong Catholic tone. You coudln't play that part of the movie too much, if the intention was for it be highly successful. Apparently, it was the biggest box office draw in 1945. (Al Smith's Democratic presidential nomination in 1928, stirred enough hornets!) A Morning Offering (you know the old prayer Catholic schoolkids used to say, "O Jesus through the most pure heart of Mary" etc) for instance, would just be too much for a wider audience. So the pledge to the flag was obviously considered something far less controversial

And while we are on the subject of the Blessed Virgin Mary, despite the visible statues of her in the movie, the only attention she gets is when Fr O'Malley in a nice gesture, bobs his hat to her on his first day of looking around the school. Mary is of course is a main subject of contention between Catholics & Protestants, so if you want to include it, at least do it tactfully. Perhaps that is why it is called the Bells of St Mary's, rather than the Bells of Our Lady of.

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[–] ajr01 (51) 6 years ago

I tell a lie. The other time is when Mr Bogardis in a terribly depressed state, and he hears the nuns singing "O Sanctissima". Then Fr O'Malley sings a line to it in Bogardis' office. But the same principle Most non-Catholic movie goers would not know Latin, and wouldn't appreciate this is a hymn to Mary.

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