@mellotronrules: The pledge of allegiance is a sign of loyalty to the country and there is nothing weird about it. By reciting the pledge, every American promises to be true to the United States.
Daily recitation in classrooms is done to honor the nation and those who have made sacrifices for those living in it, but it is not compulsory. All a person has to do while others recite the pledge is sit down and wait until its over.
As far as children are concerned, its important to give them a platform to think about their roles as citizens in America. One purpose of this ritual is to instill a sense of patriotism for the country. People often hear the word "patriotism" and think of the term "nationalism".
A small dose of patriotism has personally helped me get along with others in my day to day life. It has motivated me to sign up for volunteer programs, hoping that I can make my community a better place. You can't force children to feel patriotic, but maybe such values might make them feel happy about living in a place that lets them choose how to express themselves. Once again that's "patriotism"; not "nationalism".
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