I should stand? Why? I am respecting every person who has ever died for this country in the simple act of refusing to stand. I am ironically standing up for my rights, my liberties, and the freedom that those soldiers died to give me. They died to give me these rights. I am respecting them by using these rights that they died to defend.

As for the simple manner of patriotism, I am far from someone who respects and loves their contry. A country isn't just imaginary lines. It's a foundation of how you can live, what you can do, and the opinions of its leaders. I am ashamed of my country for what is has done, what it is doing, and what it will do. I don't like the state it is in nor what it represents. It wouldn't be too far a stretch to call the USA the worst first world country. I have faith in humanity and in the people of the United States. But just as a mother loves all her children, she cannot help but feel saddened and ashamed by the path her child has chosen.

...I won't claim to have changed any lives, but I know for a fact that one kid took it to heart as he didn't stand for it again to my knowledge. Whether it was for the same reasons as my own, he finally learned that he had a privilige that others refused to let him know about. It is just as immoral to restrict someone's access to their rights as it is to restrict their knowledge of those rights.

Did you know that it was a choice when you were six? seven? ten? fourteen? Sixteen? There are people who lived their entire life not knowing that it wasn't mandatory. I would argue that it IS mandatory. It takes a lot of bravery to stand up to peer pressure especially when you are being threatened with actual punishment by administration or by being outcasted by your peers. The biggest reason I managed not to do it was because:
1.) I didn't care what people thought of me
2.) I was already an outcast.
And most importantly 3.) I preferred to do what I feel I am morally obligated to do regardless of what people will think of me. Almost nobody, if anybody, in my class knew it wasn't mandatory until they saw me sit down silently and a teacher attempt to force me. It's important to make an example for others. To know that you don't have to do something and that you aren't alone...

It's not weird that it is virtually compulsory to swear your life to defend your country regardless of what it does, what is has done, and what it is doing whether it be pursing freedom or torturing children before you understand what most of the words you are saying mean?

I agree. It's not weird: it far exceeds that. It's very, very disturbing.

It's either a composite image taken that allows the exclusion of clouds or it was taken with equipment that is capable of seeing through clouds and other forms of light cover. The greenery is only visible probably due to the addition of an infared camera to properly see their color as plants are nearly black when viewed from such a distance with a "normal" camera. It was likely taken using both as we can see the continental shelf which would normally be invisible to a "normal" camera.

It's not fake. It's just the result of NASA taking a lot of effort into giving us a proper picture of our planet. If you want to see a complete photograph of our planet that isn't a composite, then here is one: https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/SearchPhotos/photo.pl?mission=AS17&roll=148&frame=22727 . If you want to see the photo after being cropped and given color saturation to look prettier, than I refer you to this: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ContentFeature/LivingEarth/Images/apoll17_blue_marble.jpg

As I said in another comment, it's also illegal for anyone to force us to do so as well as being illegal to punish or exclude said student for not reciting or standing during it.

The same right that protects us from saying it doesn't stop you from following your traditions as long as they don't include intruding on the freedoms of others. As the saying goes, your freedom to move your fist ends where my face begins and vice versa. A funny way of saying your rights ends where my rights begin.

To my teacher's credit, she said I could just stand without saying it, but that would imply that I respected such practices even though I didn't recite the Pledge. I refused that as well which was followed with a pink slip.

Now, I'm curious as to whether or not it would apply if the "Under God" portion was removed. I would wager not as the religious undertone isn't alone as it is also a violation of your freedom from "official control" as stated in the Supreme Court Ruling.

You are what you insert

The Internet has spoken.

Canabis isn't alternative medicine either. It's medicine which is why its being legalized for such use all over America.

A side effect of this is that people are realizing a hundred years late that it is... it's not healthy but it's not as unhealthy as people seem to think. For example, it's healthier than cigarettes or alcohol, but that doesn't mean you won't have any negatives. I don't smoke btw.

I can't go in depth here, but there is a YouTube channel that explains why what Elon claims to make is actually, literally, and completely impossible. Here is his video on the HyperLoop which Elon is trying to claim is the "Transport of the future" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNFesa01llk

I almost understood that

I had a friend who was a conductor for a choir and apparantly there is an entire language in wavy hand motions.

@spiderwoman @lady_deadpool

Of course the scientific illiterate (Elon) would think they are a threat. He honestly has no concept of science. He is all hype and no reality. Most of his ideas are nearly a century old and were abandoned because they are simple impossible such as the SpaceX Rocket Travel or Hyperloop. Honestly, please stop thinking Elon is a genius. He is a smart man, but that doesn't mean every word from his lips are true.

It's more than that. I would argue that receiving donations is only a small reason. It's to raise awareness. It's to remind you that the world isn't perfect and that people are suffering and they need help. The money may be able to help more kids if they just spent it on food, but this has a greater effect. It changes your political views, makes you more charitable, makes you more understanding, makes you more inclined to donate, and a host of other things. If nobody knows about an issue, then nobody will help with the issue.

Headbutting a brick wall until your iron will and bloody face break it.