I remember reciting the Pledge for some friends here in Spain. Several of them grew up at the end of the Franco dictatorship. They couldn’t believe little American kids recited that in school.
Do you know why you’re in school, you little brat? It’s called “compulsory education“. Do you know why that exists? If it didn’t, you would most likely be working in a factory right now.
Funny, they make kids, who aren’t old enough to legally pledge anything, pledge allegiance to the US every day. and a soldier had to say the Oath of Enlistment but once
Woah, it’s mental that american kids have to recite the pledge of allegiance! Like, i heard a story a kid didn’t want to and he got suspended or something.
In ALL Countries ruled by dictators (left or right) there is a Pledge of Allegiance to something that must be sung in schools – and sometimes in public events.Put yourself some questions and give yourself an answer. If you really believe in something pledges are not necessary.
Today’s reprint of a reprint reminds me of a Phoebe And Her Unicorn strip from five or six years ago. Phoebe was going back to school after a marvellous summer with her unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. She found to her amazement that her old enemy Dakota was deliberately sitting next to her and wanted them to try to be friends. They developed into frenemies.
A reader noted, “As it’s a new school year, does this mean Phoebe is now ten?” Another reader replied, “She will turn ten when Calvin turns seven.” Calvin never officially turned seven. The characters talk about “last year” but they always refer to Calvin as being six. However, Phoebe did officially turn ten when her strip celebrated its tenth anniversary in April 2022.
Does anyone else remember that the pledge did/does not include the words “under god”? That was added by some religious zealots in the 40’s-50’s, as I recall. The Founding Fathers were pretty serious about avoiding State sponsored religion. I wish today’s bible/constitution thumpers would read them, instead of pounding on them.
Calvin’s posture is what I experienced every morning when I was working, sitting in front of the computer and getting ready to open my e-mail. It was truly the one event during my workday I looked forward to the least, and I just didn’t want to do it! This especially hit hard when returning from a vacation because I would not look at my e-mail during my PTO.
From MAD, a product-filled pledge of allegiance: iPod Allegra, Tootsie Fab, Fuji United Franco-American. Banana Republic, Ford Chiclets Vans, One Nathan’s, Wonder Bod, Disney Vagisil, Wisk Listerine Ban Jergens Hormel.
Anyone noticed the problem here? This poor little kid has heard adults, especially on television, babbling and arguing about what you can and cannot say or do, and how much trouble you can get into for doing the wrong thing. He’s worried about the Supreme Court and reading his rights! This isn’t really about refusing to recite the Pledge.
I was mad when they added “under god” to the pledge. I was 7 and had memorzed the old version. Now I had to learn the new one. As I got older I objected to it for different reasons and pretended to say it.
Calvin’s reaction is definitely the right one. Loyalty oaths are beneath a free society, loyalty oaths that are so unsubstantial that they have to be repeated almost daily are a farce, and asking little kids to “pledge” anything is just weird. And to a flag??
dadthedawg Premium Member 17 days ago
Calvin, you are the youngest ever concientious objector…..
codycab 17 days ago
Geez Calvin! What did America ever do to you?
C 17 days ago
Courting disaster
SHIVA 17 days ago
Kick the Commie out!!!!
californiamonty 17 days ago
Oddly enough, he’s correct—sort of—about the Supreme Court. The court did rule that he does not have to participate in the pledge of allegiance.
orinoco womble 17 days ago
I remember reciting the Pledge for some friends here in Spain. Several of them grew up at the end of the Franco dictatorship. They couldn’t believe little American kids recited that in school.
Johnny Q Premium Member 17 days ago
Imagine if the Pledge said “one nation under Allah…”
Robin Harwood 17 days ago
Very wise, Calvin. Don’t pledge to anything until you have consulted your lawyer.
Robin Harwood 17 days ago
Very wise, Calvin. Don’t pledge to anything until you have consulted your lawyer.
French Persons Premium Member 17 days ago
Do you know why you’re in school, you little brat? It’s called “compulsory education“. Do you know why that exists? If it didn’t, you would most likely be working in a factory right now.
PaulAbbott2 17 days ago
Funny, they make kids, who aren’t old enough to legally pledge anything, pledge allegiance to the US every day. and a soldier had to say the Oath of Enlistment but once
Jonfield 17 days ago
Woah, it’s mental that american kids have to recite the pledge of allegiance! Like, i heard a story a kid didn’t want to and he got suspended or something.
Nuke Road Warrior 17 days ago
The principal knows Calvin’s first name. Not a good thing.
Jayalexander 17 days ago
Any tiny excuse to be annoing this feces muncher willl find it.
Zykoic 17 days ago
I was a Boy Scout in grammar school. We did flag raising, leading the Pledge and we lowered the flag and properly folded it and put it away.
We also learn some self reliance, we had a pocket knives and could start a fire with some tinder and sticks.
Imagine that!
snsurone76 17 days ago
Aha—so the truth comes out: Calvin is actually an agent for Putin—or Hamas!
lalapalooza Premium Member 17 days ago
lol this was the story of my life only not so much as he gets into. mine was more feminist stuff lol
SunshineDaydream 17 days ago
I think the principal is thinking the same thing as Calvin is saying in the fourth panel.
albertonencioni 17 days ago
In ALL Countries ruled by dictators (left or right) there is a Pledge of Allegiance to something that must be sung in schools – and sometimes in public events.Put yourself some questions and give yourself an answer. If you really believe in something pledges are not necessary.
nsr60 17 days ago
I’ll admit it is troubling that he gets sent to the principal’s office for this.
markkahler52 17 days ago
Do they even DO this in most schools anymore…?!
Calvinist1966 17 days ago
Today’s reprint of a reprint reminds me of a Phoebe And Her Unicorn strip from five or six years ago. Phoebe was going back to school after a marvellous summer with her unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. She found to her amazement that her old enemy Dakota was deliberately sitting next to her and wanted them to try to be friends. They developed into frenemies.
A reader noted, “As it’s a new school year, does this mean Phoebe is now ten?” Another reader replied, “She will turn ten when Calvin turns seven.” Calvin never officially turned seven. The characters talk about “last year” but they always refer to Calvin as being six. However, Phoebe did officially turn ten when her strip celebrated its tenth anniversary in April 2022.
einarbt 17 days ago
Well done Calvin. Pledging anything to the US empire is never a good idea.
bbenoit 17 days ago
Does anyone else remember that the pledge did/does not include the words “under god”? That was added by some religious zealots in the 40’s-50’s, as I recall. The Founding Fathers were pretty serious about avoiding State sponsored religion. I wish today’s bible/constitution thumpers would read them, instead of pounding on them.
WhyIsThisHappening 17 days ago
Next will probably him doing something, getting in trouble, then saying “I can’t believe its not even 8:30 yet.”
SquidGamerGal 17 days ago
For cryin’ out loud! It’s a simple and quick task that even you can do it!!
jessegooddoggy 17 days ago
No more for me, the whole world need help not just the USA.
BJDucer 17 days ago
Calvin’s posture is what I experienced every morning when I was working, sitting in front of the computer and getting ready to open my e-mail. It was truly the one event during my workday I looked forward to the least, and I just didn’t want to do it! This especially hit hard when returning from a vacation because I would not look at my e-mail during my PTO.
minty_Joe 17 days ago
October 22, 2009 C&H:
“I pledge allegiance, to Queen Fragg,
And her Mighty State of Hysteria…"
minty_Joe 17 days ago
From MAD, a product-filled pledge of allegiance: iPod Allegra, Tootsie Fab, Fuji United Franco-American. Banana Republic, Ford Chiclets Vans, One Nathan’s, Wonder Bod, Disney Vagisil, Wisk Listerine Ban Jergens Hormel.
rockyridge1977 17 days ago
Not a great way to start the day!!!!
rshive 17 days ago
Well, Calvin DOES have a tendency to go over the top.
herdocow 17 days ago
New Calvin record?
ladykat 17 days ago
Calvin, you’d be a star student if you spent half as much time doing what you’re supposed to do instead of protesting and goofing off!
aerotica69 17 days ago
I pledge allegiance to Heddy Lamarr (that’s Hedley!) and to the evil for which he stands. Now go do that voodoo that you do so well.
uniquename 16 days ago
Apparently you’re in the Principal’s Court.
Cheer up Calvin. Leo Durocher (as a manager), once got thrown out of a game before it started.
Lynnjav 16 days ago
The Pledge of Allegiance, as rewritten in 1954, is a prayer.
Geezer 16 days ago
See West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)
pumaman 16 days ago
All legitimate concerns, Calvin.
Angry Indeed Premium Member 16 days ago
There’s a seat reserved exclusively for Calvin in the Principal’s office.
Banjo Gordy Premium Member 16 days ago
In 1942 I got A+ in ’Principal’s Office.
MoeyTehr 16 days ago
I’m with Calvin on this one. Screw the Pledge of Allegiance.
Signed,
Someone who thank the gods never had to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
djtenltd 16 days ago
They may as well move Calvin’s classroom into the principal’s office.
viniragu 16 days ago
It looks like the teacher and principal are related!!
Cozmik Cowboy 16 days ago
Yes, Calvin, since the McCarthyites added “under God” in 1954, it has been a prayer, and thus unconstitutional in schools.
The original, BTW, was written by Francis Bellamy, a Socialist, in 1892, and adopted by Congress in 1942.
WildHenry 16 days ago
Mornings can feel so long, especially when you’re not quite in the groove yet.
KEA 16 days ago
If anything, we should pledge allegiance to the Constitution.
_buddy 16 days ago
84 words, 4 panels.
jkn1027 16 days ago
Calvin’s right. The pledge is weird.
lnrokr55 16 days ago
Wow Calvin, triggered much ???
anomaly 16 days ago
Calvin blew a chance to get the class to pledge allegiance to him.
Bilan 16 days ago
Not only is it 8:15, but it’s 8:15 on the first day of school. Is that a record for Calvin?
mistercatworks 16 days ago
He doesn’t even know if he has “standing” for such a case.
mindjob 16 days ago
Originally this was a funny strip
thedogesl Premium Member 16 days ago
The whole idea of a mandatory loyalty oath to the State sounds just a wee bit Soviet Union-ish to me.
elgrecousa Premium Member 16 days ago
I don’t know when this strip was initially posted but it is amazing how fresh it still sounds.
monya_43 16 days ago
Susie was correct yesterday when she said that Calvin needs to check the chemical content of his breakfast cereal.
buflogal! 16 days ago
Topcat05 Premium Member 16 days ago
Where does a 6 year old get all this drivel??!!
willie_mctell 16 days ago
I was mad when they added “under god” to the pledge. I was 7 and had memorzed the old version. Now I had to learn the new one. As I got older I objected to it for different reasons and pretended to say it.
AndrewSihler 16 days ago
Calvin’s reaction is definitely the right one. Loyalty oaths are beneath a free society, loyalty oaths that are so unsubstantial that they have to be repeated almost daily are a farce, and asking little kids to “pledge” anything is just weird. And to a flag??
Gamerkillss 16 days ago
I mean, yeah I guess?
jvo 16 days ago
I was bored out of my mind when I started school, so I skipped kinder and sneaked into any class that looked interesting.
Searches would be organised.
In the end I got seconded to the principal and followed her around as she taught all the relief classes at school.
Win, win for everybody.
I got to learn English much faster than I would have, and I got an interesting education that year.
The school didn’t have to waste resources finding me.
Next year I went straight to grade 2 from kinder, so it was a good solution all round.
I think Calvin would have liked the same.
baskate_2000 16 days ago
I was going to ask, will Calvin ever learn, but then I realized the answer is never!
wconer 15 days ago
Nothing says, FREEDOM like being compelled to pledge your allegiance to something you do not yet comprehend…
wiley207 15 days ago
Didn’t Miss Wormwood remember that last time Calvin led the Pledge? (“I pledge allegiance to Queen Fragg…”) But Calvin probably remembers!
pixiekitten Premium Member 15 days ago
I pledge allegiance to Queen Fragg and her mighty state of hysteria.