I belong to an international club of rv owners. They still recite the pledge of allegiance. Me: "The club name ends with 'International,' not 'USA USA USA.'" Drove me nuts. I imagine our Canadian members were just like, "Just smile and nod." And if you suggested getting rid of it, the pitchforks would be out in a heartbeat.

I learned the pledge of allegiance way before I had understanding of the words "pledge" or "allegiance" or half the words we needed to recite. It has no meaning to a six-year-old, and by the time I was capable of understanding meaning I had so deeply ingrained it as an annoying meaningless ritual that it never crossed my mind.

I'm now in my thirties and reading your comment is the first time it's hit me that the words are intended to have more ideological significance than putting your socks on. When you say it out loud it's obvious, but having to perform or hearing a mention of the pledge has consistently gotten the same amount of attention from me as one pant leg going on before the other one.

It was an anti-communist thing

It comes across as very culty

It's absolutely bonkers, but that's kinda their theme.

As a Brazilian, it reminds me of the "love for fatherland" the military dictatorship tried to instill into schools starting in the late 60s. Before starting classes proper, all students would stand up in line on the patio, sing the national anthem and any kids found misbehaving would get punished.