Yes, these ARE real American Children REALLY using that stiff-arm salute while saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
A year or so later, under pressure from people who were disturbed that the same salute was used by German kids saying a similar oath to THEIR (idolatrous) flag (graven image made from cloth) did the protocol for saying the Pledge (which is NOT mandated in the Constitution, in any Federal Law or UCMJ military regulation, by the way) was modified to use three OTHER Roman salutes, the one you use in court to swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and which Military personnel and other Government officials use to swear the oaths of their respective offices, with the right arm extended to the side and bent up at the elbow with right hand extended toward heaven. (NOT a Christian or any form of Judaic tradition!), the right hand placed above the right eye in what soldiers recognize as the method with which they salute their officers, or salute the flag as it passes or is raised or lowered on the flagpole, and the Right Hand being placed over the heart.
None of these is a Christian invention, the four salutes including the Bellamy salute were used by Roman citizens and their Slaves in conquered provinces (sound familiar?) to swear allegiance to regimental colors, to their “masters” or to images of or representations of the name of whichever Emperor held power at the time, and say “Ave _____ (name of the person being saluted)” “Ave Caesar” or “Ave Roma”.
Soldiers typically had the emblems of their rank and service either on their helmets or worn over their heart, which the ROMANS taught was the center of the human body and home of the soul. Everybody else in the known universe use the Dah nti Em, the spot within your belly and just below the navel, as the center of your soul. That includes Jews and the Other Jews who made up the early Church.
Rome had complete freedom of religion, as long as you worship the Emperor as well. Hence the “Ave Caesar” routine. To pass by a bust or written name or picture of Caesar without doing so would mark you for crucifixion. Much like the more Radical freaks who say we should honor the Flag the same way, under pain of punishment for Treason.
They also had the “right to freedom of speech” as long as they also praised Caesar or Rome.
Kind of defeats the purpose, you’re free to disagree with yourself and contradict any criticism of the Emperor or the State by saying something that’s remarkably like “God Bless America” or “support the Troops” or “I pledge Allegiance”. in front of and behind each such statement.
Much like the Reich Wing insist WE should do.
Early Christians and other Jews refused to worship Caesar, because it is in fact Idolatry and throwing in a Graven Image breaks the first three of the Commandments. Christians in the 1930s (and other dissidents, many of them at least ethnically Jewish) made note of those facts and quite correctly objected. Then as now, they were heaped with ridicule from those who insist that there’s plenty of Freedom in America and we have to thank our Holy and Righteous Troops for giving it to us.
Then as now, that was a bald-faced LIE.
So in order to placate those dissidents the words “Under God” were added. Still doesn’t make it right or any less an Idolatrous oath of slavery to a flag.
