so the other night i was talking with my flatmate maria and she started quoting the star spangled banner. more and more she (and other people) are making me realise just how culturally influencial the US is around the world. can anyone out there quote any other foreign national anthems? it seems that many people don't know their own national anthem, but in the US it has been ingrained into ourr heads - right? i'm only just starting to realise the nationalism that has been pounded into my head year after year as a youth in the US. then we started talking about the pledge of allegance. it freaks me out now, but i remember at the beginning of every day in elementary school having the whole class stand up and look at the flag, put a hand over your heart and "I pledge allegiance..."

HOLY CRAP!

why did i never realize how nazi-esque this was? maybe i'm over reacting...

did anyone else have to do this in school?