Response to Sinsull:

You said "The US is not the only country that teaches patriotism to its young. All do. What is wrong with teaching a child to love and respect his homeland, never to take it for granted?"

I must ask you to list any countries that you know of that require children to learn a pledge of allegiance by rote when they are too young to understand what they are saying. Your comparison with religion is right on -- children are presented with such adult concepts as patriotism and religion before they understand them, and by the time they are adults, beliefs have been inculcated to the point of acceptance, thus preventing critical, considered thought.

(Gotta make dinner, but will rant more later!)