As soon as I realized I had a choice in the matter, I sat and did not pledge.

I would have vehemently protested being made to stand. Standing implies a level of respect for a process that disgusts me that I do not have.

oh my god, I love Lift Every Voice and Sing - LOVE IT!

In completely unrelated news, something in this office smells like maple syrup and now I want pancakes. t /preggo likes FOOD

Man, I have a temporary roommate today, to take the place of my usual roommate, who is traveling. No fair!

Is it New Jersey?

God, do I love Lift Every Voice.

I know most teachers don't have a problem with kids who abstain

This may be [mostly] the case now but it certainly wasn't when I was in elementary/middle school. In fact, I think there was an entire Judy Bloom book about it.

At camp we sang God Save the Queen and my brother and I would sing My Country instead. We were just doing it to be pills though.

So would I, but there is definitely a part of our society who believes health insurance and health care is something you work for and don't just get. That segment tends to get really angry about having to fund other people's "free stuff." These are also, generally, privileged people who have been very lucky and have had jobs, money, and health insurance.

These folks also tend to get very indignant when you say they've been "lucky"; they see themselves as having worked hard for everything they've gotten. They don't seem to see that even though they may have worked hard, the element of luck has been on their side, and many people work very very hard and never get good jobs/money/healthcare.

It's just realistically, most people can't afford insurance without an employer helping out.

Especially since, the sicker you are, the more money you must spend on your healthcare, and the more your private insurance costs.

what do you all think of saying the Pledge of Allegiance?

We said it every morning in elementary school. I seem to recall that a couple kids would stand but not say it, and no one gave them any shit over it. We used to sing after, too. I said it, but I stayed silent for the God part.

Oh, I almost forgot - YAY Perkins!!!

I vaguely remember saying the Pledge in elementary school, but not in middle or high school. I would have abstained in H.S. anyway,

Ha for hockey anthem crosspost. I do, in fact, know all the words to the Canadian national anthem too, but only in English. We don`t watch enough Montreal games to know the French one.

It will surprise no one, I am sure, that I know all the words to "O, Canada" in English and the first verse in French. Thank you, semi-pro hockey teams!!

(I will also note that the French version of "O, Canada" is more bloodthirsty than the English.)

Can someone come to my office real quick and punch Outlook in the face for me? I'd really like to be able to SEND A FUCKING EMAIL without it crashing. Thanks!