Sign outside of a baseball field that intends for children to pledge allegiance to God and to follow the laws of the U.S. before getting to the main message of trying their best during their Little League games.

[u/Skwellington]

[u/IDontLikeYourToan]

The Little League® Pledge was written in 1954 by Peter J. McGovern, the first president of Little League Baseball, Incorporated, after became aware that local Little League programs were reciting the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance before games. Mr. McGovern wanted to give all leagues (not just those in the United States) a pledge reflecting some of the sentiments of the Pledge of Allegiance, without the references to the U.S., while adding the elements of sportsmanship and the desire to excel.

In February 1955, the Little Leaguer®magazine featured the first printing of the Little League Pledge. The text of the Little League Pledge was sent to U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Feb. 22, 1955. President Eisenhower (and every President since then) was a strong supporter of Little League.
In a response by letter to Mr. McGovern a few days later, President Eisenhower said: “Thank you for … sending me the inspiring and fine pledge that, I understand, will now be repeated at the start of the Little League games. I am always glad to hear the plans and activities of Little League.” It has remained unchanged since it was first published.

Pledge
I trust in God
I love my country
And will respect its laws
I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best

Today, local Little League programs often choose to recite the Little League Pledge at the start of the season, and some recite it before every game. Some local leagues also choose to play or sing the National Anthem of the country in which the game is played.

Whether to recite the Little League Pledge (either partially or in its entirety), play/sing a National Anthem, or say a prayer, is entirely up to the local league’s Board of Directors. While many local leagues and districts include a recitation of the Little League Pledge in ceremonies, it is not, and has never been, required to be recited by any person involved with Little League Baseball or Softball.
A message promoting good sportsmanship and appropriate behavior by the game’s participants and fans can also be publicly read following the Little League Pledge. That statement is:

“Little League International and all of its local leagues promote and expect good sportsmanship by its players, coaches, volunteers, and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or ethnic comments, or other intimidating actions taken by spectators, players, coaches, or volunteers that is deemed inappropriate by the Little League International Tournament Committee will not be tolerated and may jeopardize the eligibility of the participating teams within this District tournament.”

Little League also has a pledge for Parents and Volunteers that is often recited along with the player pledge.

The Little League Parent and Volunteer Pledge
I will teach all children to play fair and do their best
I will positively support all managers, coaches and players
I will respect the decisions of the umpires
I will praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game

Edit: Formatting

[u/Oma_Bonke → u/IDontLikeYourToan]

Thanks for the detailed response. That's interesting 

[u/IDontLikeYourToan → u/Oma_Bonke]

I played little league as a kid. Only today did I learn there was an oath lol.

[u/OBoile → u/IDontLikeYourToan]

As someone who played Little League outside of the USA, I'm quite confident in saying that this does not happen in other countries. We certainly didn't play a national anthem before the game either.

[u/Gogglesed → u/IDontLikeYourToan]

Then it is especially infuriating that they chose the old, problematic version, since a modern version is available.

At some point in high school, I refused to do the pledge of allegiance anymore because it felt icky. Telling kids to pledge themselves to anything is indoctrination.

[u/Sarosanima21 → u/Gogglesed]

I was literally chastised by a teacher when I was in high school because I didn't place my hand over my heart like you're "supposed to" because my arm was in a sling due to a fucked up shoulder. I pointed that fact out and she huffed and puffed that it wasn't an excuse. I went to the principal later and asked him if I should've risked further damage to my shoulder just so I could place my hand over my heart and he asked me who told me I should. Safe to say he was pissed. Teacher stayed but she never acknowledged my existence after that

[u/tightiewhitieboy → u/Gogglesed]

Christianity is insanity. It is indoctrination

[u/madadekinai → u/Gogglesed]

"Telling kids to pledge themselves to anything is indoctrination."

This, so much this.

[u/Sufficient_Stop8381]

Interesting. I’ve never seen this before and I played little league in the southern Bible Belt. Maybe we were a heathen team and didn’t know it.

[u/BrutalAnarky → u/Sufficient_Stop8381]

Yeah I played little league all the way to HS ball and we never did whatever this it. However I did have to do the pledge of allegiance in elementary school so I could see how we got there.

[u/Automatic_Actuator_0 → u/Sufficient_Stop8381]

Did you ever play in the postseason (all-stars) tournament? That’s the only time it’s enforced I believe. And even then, the district could choose not to enforce the rule.

Edit: it’s explicitly not a rule actually:

“Whether to recite the Little League Pledge (either partially or in its entirety), play/sing a National Anthem, or say a prayer, is entirely up to the local league’s Board of Directors. While many local leagues and districts include a recitation of the Little League Pledge in ceremonies, it is not, and has never been, required to be recited by any person involved with Little League Baseball or Softball.

https://www.littleleague.org/who-we-are/pledge/

[u/One-Insurance-5878 → u/Sufficient_Stop8381]

You may have played PONY League, a separate organization. This is true if the age levels had names like Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, etc.

Actual Little League requires this pledge before every game.

Ofc, it's possible your local organization broke national rules.

[u/Infidelio → u/One-Insurance-5878]

Nah. I’m with him. I coached my son’s LL team for 2 years and never once saw this. We were LL. Not Pony

[u/die_hubsche → u/Infidelio]

I also grew up with this pledge in the 90’s in the Mid Atlantic

[u/strongbadia7]

I didn't play little league but I did play softball and we used the same facilities. I've never seen this pledge in my life and I never saw anyone reciting it. I'm pretty confident that we didn't have the anthem play or anything before games. Our coaches were mostly functional alcoholics who were not invested in teaching us anything. (With the one notable exception of Larry, who rocks.)

[u/rfoleycobalt → u/strongbadia7]

I trust in Larry

[u/Money-Director-6427 → u/strongbadia7]

Shout out to Larry

[u/Matt_the_Pyro → u/Money-Director-6427]

Dudes a 🪨

[u/Matt_the_Pyro → u/strongbadia7]

In Larry we trust

[u/die_hubsche → u/strongbadia7]

I remember this from when I was a little league kid actually. I’m 43.

[u/CannedNoodlez]

I played LL in the 90s and don’t ever remember reciting this. Someone might have read it during opening ceremonies but I’m almost positive I never had to recite it

[u/Lich-Slapped → u/CannedNoodlez]

At my first little league (96-99) wesaid it every opening day and i wanna say every game pregame. But then i moved to a new city in like 2000 and that league never had us say it. I think it really was a “who is the commissioner of this little league” kinda deal

[u/Automatic_Actuator_0 → u/CannedNoodlez]

Not sure about the old days - my youth league was not part of LL.

But today they have the kids recite it at opening ceremonies and then before each all-star game along with the national anthem.

Edit: it’s explicitly not a rule actually:

“Whether to recite the Little League Pledge (either partially or in its entirety), play/sing a National Anthem, or say a prayer, is entirely up to the local league’s Board of Directors. While many local leagues and districts include a recitation of the Little League Pledge in ceremonies, it is not, and has never been, required to be recited by any person involved with Little League Baseball or Softball.

https://www.littleleague.org/who-we-are/pledge/

[u/grandmawaffles]

I believe god was added to the pledge of allegiance in the 50’s as well. My guess was following the trend at the time.

[u/CountDorkula77 → u/grandmawaffles]

Also added to currency at that time, in an effort to fight "godless communism."

[u/Mental_Plankton7902 → u/CountDorkula77]

Yesterday the reds were the enemy and today we now has Krasnov and MAGA defending them.

[u/_njhiker]

Per their website:

“The Little League® Pledge is a historical document, written in the mid-1950s, by an official of Little League. It is not, and has never been, required to be recited by any person involved with Little League Baseball or Softball.

The text of the Little League Pledge has remained unchanged since its inception.”

[u/Dear_Mycologist_1696]

I played official Little League from ‘86-‘93 and never once saw “trust in god” or “love my country” anywhere. It was never posted anywhere and never spoken. Yes it has been around since 1954, but modern American conservatives have taken every opportunity to post Christian nationalist adjacent slogans and signs everywhere they can to trick kids into thinking god is real and is a part of our countries founding and governmental structure. That is what is beyond mildly infuriating about this sign.

[u/--_____o_o______-- → u/Dear_Mycologist_1696]

“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying the cross.” * Sinclair Lewis, 1935

_ Using jingoistic bullshit to tie god, service, and country together is and will always be disgusting.

[u/_probablyryan → u/Dear_Mycologist_1696]

Same. I played little league in the late 90s and early 2000s. Didn't even know there was a pledge, let alone that it started off thanking God. Also did boy scouts, and while I was aware that it was a Christian-ish organization, there was little to no talk of God involved.

I guess all the conservative snowflakes got upset not enough people were thanking their imaginary friend in public.

[u/Kaneki_Kim]

I really have no idea why people come into a sub called mildly infuriating and then say "there's better things to be upset about"
Hunny, just say you don't get it, this is literally where posts like this GO. Everyone here just defending this bc they think it's an affront to God if they don't. Problem is, this is WEIRD for a bunch of KIDS to PLEDGE just to PLAY BASEBALL.

[u/Sad_bippy → u/Kaneki_Kim]

I posted something very mildly annoying here once years ago and got eviscerated for being “dramatic.” It’s fascinating. Do people just not read the subreddit name????

[u/turBo246 → u/Sad_bippy]

I do think that's a part of it. They don't realize the sub and just go for the jugular.

[u/Skwellington → u/Kaneki_Kim]

Why is no one reading the “mildly” part. “Mildly infuriating” is low key translated to “slightly annoying” in my mind and everyone thinks I’m abt to go postal over this dumbass sign lolol

[u/easchner → u/[deleted]]

tbf as a kid I would have done a lot to get out of social things

[u/megab_rising → u/Skwellington]

I swear people just skip over the mildly...they miss the entire tone of this sub.

[u/Turbulent-Good227 → u/Kaneki_Kim]

At this point I don’t believe this sub is for posting mildly infuriating things. It seems to be for dogpiling on people and telling them what they’re frustrated about isn’t valid

[u/Optimixto → u/Kaneki_Kim]

Religious people are so fucking weird. It is such a catastrophe that we are so prone to that kind of bullshit.

[u/TheRoyalShire]

That has been the pledge for at least 30 years now, I remember everyone chanting it

[u/RAGGAxDRAGGA]

Gotta start propagandizing them when they're young unfortunately

[u/MaterialPace8831]

Little League Dad who is four beers in: "GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU IF YOU DON'T FUCKING SWING!"

[u/Gottech1101]

Oh, I got a good one.

In the small town my in laws live in, they call their little leagues the ‘midget league’. They also have the confederate flag flying beside the American flag during their pledges.

I wish I were joking.

[u/chochofuhsho → u/Gottech1101]

Where in the world do they still do that? Lol that's crazy

[u/DatRat13 → u/Gottech1101]

Cherry on top would be if it was still segregated.

[u/Hizam5 → u/Gottech1101]

Totally forgot about midgets. That was one of the names of the youth football leagues we played in

[u/Born_Matter_5082]

Most kids play in some other league now anyway.  Pretty sure their motto starts with an ode to the almighty dollar

[u/Gloomy-Chipmunk-7110 → u/Born_Matter_5082]

This is a painfully correct description of travel ball

[u/chuck17031]

“Are you saying Jesus Christ can’t hit a curveball?”

[u/SorryManNo]

Ah classic Christian nationalism propaganda, gross.

[u/AhSoulsOnFire]

This has been the Little League pledge for like 70 years…..

[u/Ktulu_BBB → u/AhSoulsOnFire]

And it was fucking gross then too

[u/Squier133 → u/AhSoulsOnFire]

I played little league for like 8 years, from t- ball until middle school. Never once saw that little league pledge or heard anyone pushing it.

[u/Ktulu_BBB → u/[deleted]]

Gfy. No one should pledging allegiance to anyone or any God. Ffs

[u/SignificantRun6039]

I wonder how many people that are okay with this would be fine if it said "I trust in Allah."

[u/RatonhnhaketonK → u/SignificantRun6039]

They would have a meltdown

[u/Facebook_Lawyer_Gym → u/SignificantRun6039]

Allah still means god so it checks out, but for sure conservatives would be pretty scared over it.

[u/Ecstatic_Doughnut216]

Oh, you're not going to like the Scout Oath then.

[u/remosiracha → u/Ecstatic_Doughnut216]

I refused to recite any parts that had to do with God the entire time I was in scouts.

[u/NittanyScout]

Rmember a lot of this stuff was created during cold war panic era politics, nust like the actual pledge of allegiance

[u/stickyplants]

Well Timmy, you’re going to hell because you didn’t play your best at little league. You entered a verbal contract.

[u/-brk0 → u/stickyplants]

Sounds like a robot chicken episode lol

[u/bashful_predator]

God and country have fuck all to do with baseball

[u/Odd-Entrepreneur-449 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for sharing this. I feel much better about the organization now.

[u/Actually_R0bin]

If you did a singular word change (God to Allah) you’d see this stadium receive bomb threats

[u/Myth1184]

I played at a field that started off Dixie Youth...never saw anything religion related and we are in the bible belt of Georgia...later converted to Little League...and never saw any religious poster either...

is this new or in some far right area?

[u/CalebDR1029]

What's so infuriating? 

[u/d0ntbejay → u/CalebDR1029]

What if it said "Allah?"

[u/WelcomeToDankonia → u/CalebDR1029]

You goofin?

[u/ONEpoundDOUBLE → u/[deleted]]

It’s comedy that being against indoctrination makes you indoctrinated

[u/Many_Hotel866]

Gotta train them to lick that boot as early as possible

[u/Budget-Cantaloupe725]

That’s the little league pledge. It’s the same as it was when I played 50 years ago.

[u/Paratrooper450]

The entire point of the Little League Pledge is to make it non-specific to any nation, since Little League is played in more than 80 countries worldwide. That's why it says "my country" not "the United States."

[u/stuck2long → u/Paratrooper450]

Not super helpful to non-Christian children though, is it?

[u/chill_stoner_0604]

Take out the first sentence and its an excellent message

[u/r7908]

A note about sportsmanship would be appreciated

[u/bbatardo]

It's the same pledge from when I was a kid. I'm not even religious, but it never bothered me.

[u/Killing4MotherAgain → u/bbatardo]

I also said the pledge of allegiance every morning at school and didn't think that was weird until I became an adult haha

[u/Rocket1575 → u/bbatardo]

It's been the pledge since the mid 50s. Never bothered me either.

[u/fuelvolts → u/bbatardo]

Same for Boy Scouts. A "trust" in a generic Abrahamic God. Didn't offend me at all. I mean, it's kind of weird, but I never thought twice about it. They are a private organization, they can do whatever they want.

[u/No-Needleworker5429 → u/bbatardo]

This was actually nostalgic to read. Totally forgot we said this before every game.

[u/Sac_of_Melons → u/No-Needleworker5429]

You guys said this before every game? Lmao, I played t-ball to high school and this is the first time I’ve ever seen this.

[u/Mental_Plankton7902]

You have to get those youths mentally conditioned young so you can get them ready to sacrifice themselves for the robber barons as they mature into adults.

[u/solxap]

🤔 I coached Little League for a few years and we never recited any pledges.

[u/justmarty]

Play ball, Young Citizens.

[u/TheManOfSpaceAndTime]

I saw that balk, now you'll spend eternity hell.

[u/The-Real-Mason-B]

The bottom half is good. Just paint over the top half

[u/ShutYourDumbUglyFace]

Someday, hopefully, those kids wake up to the indoctrination they are undergoing and rebel against it.

[u/Mental_Plankton7902]

MAGA mouth breathers are coming in here hard.

[u/Rocket1575]

It's been the pledge since 1955. Never bothered me when I was a kid in the early 90s, we didn't recite it or anything, it was just posted at the field we played at like it is here. I had forgotten about it until my own kids started playing, same thing, no recitation, just a sign. It still doesn't bother me.

[u/Jamesglodge]

This is standard in Little League. My kids’ league in California does it before each game, does not bother me at all.

[u/DigglerD → u/Jamesglodge]

So if you don’t trust in god, you can’t play little league?

What if it said I trust in Mohammad Odin?

It probably doesn’t bother you because it already speaks to you. This is the problem. People are OK with the freedom of others to be just like them. That’s not what this country or little league is supposed to be about.

Edit: Yes guys… I should have said Allah instead of Mohammad or Buddha, or Odin, or some other god... That said, if you really want to turn the discussion into a critique of my knowledge of Islam, then ok you win while missing the entire point of the response.

[u/Ok-Shoulder-797 → u/DigglerD]

When I read God, I read higher power. Whether that’s Mohammed, Buddha, Jesus, the spaghetti monster, the universe or nature.

Why does everyone need to trip up over one word. Find useful things to invest time in. The world is on fire and we are tripping over words…it’s a shame.

But this is ONLY my opinion and I share because I want to, not because I’m downplaying anyone’s opinion or feelings.

[u/PapaSwagBear → u/Ok-Shoulder-797]

Words matter

[u/bstandturtlerises → u/Ok-Shoulder-797]

And atheists? Science isn’t god. 

[u/Purple-Investment-61 → u/Ok-Shoulder-797]

Soon to be replaced with AI.

[u/lingenfr → u/DigglerD]

You do know that Mohammad trusted in God, right?

[u/shonuff_1977 → u/DigglerD]

Operating under the pretense that "God" in this context is the Christian god - when you say you trust in Mohammed you are also saying that you trust in god. Because the Christian god and Islamic god are, in fact, the same god. Which is hair raising if you think about it. All the historical wars. All the current intolerance. Between people who literally worship the same entity.

[u/LewisRyan → u/DigglerD]

Do you not use cash because it says “in god we trust” on it?

Just trying to figure out if you’re being intentionally obtuse, or a hypocrite, or both

[u/Status_Blacksmith305 → u/LewisRyan]

What a stupid response. You're comparing using money to a pledge. That's like comparing apples to cars.

[u/Wulfgrimm720]

Religious fanatics

[u/ulic14 → u/[deleted]]

Makes so much more sense that this comes from the McCarthyism era. So much that emerged in that time was sensible and well thought out. We don't look back on it as a stain on our nation's heritage at all....

[u/Matt_the_Pyro → u/[deleted]]

Honestly didn't know, and so glad we didn't have to say it.

But why was it now put up? Are extremes being reached?

And why what does god have to do with baseball? "Its an American sport" God = America is a thin argument when u know the under god was added after super weathy religious types lobbies took over the upper offices of the government and added it. Along with one nation under god.

Not the original pledge.

[u/InternetDad → u/[deleted]]

Separation of church and state has nothing to do with this. This is a 501c3, not a government program.

A quick google search confirms this pledge is optional for the Little League International (80+ countries) based on local org preference as local orgs may choose to pray or play their own national anthem.

The pledge was written when the first LL president learned that teams were reciting the pledge of allegiance.

That doesnt make it not weird for the pledge to be so US-coded, though.

[u/supastoner7]

please dear babe ruth give me the strength to hit dingers. amen

[u/PB0351]

That's weird... Is the field maintained by a church by chance?

[u/SUBLIMEskillz]

We recited this like 25 years ago before playoff games.

[u/smirkis]

This little league pledge was around when I played back in the 90s

[u/TheLZA84]

I remember the first time I went to an actual Little League sanctioned game to watch a friend’s son play and before the game they had the parents recite something as well…then the kids…I was like wtf is this? Just take the field and play ball. It was something.

[u/rjnd2828 → u/[deleted]]

You're right. Why is little league, a youth sports organization, taking a stand one way or another on religion? It's absurd.

[u/Skwellington → u/[deleted]]

I’m not upset about the someone putting up the sign, it’s just weird imo that this is the official pledge for LL and its mostly about indoctrination instead of the game

[u/PeterHaldCHEM]

Oh the wonderful American Taliban.

[u/One-Assignment-1860]

American brainwashing seems endemic. People really buy into this without stopping to think, and then have the gall to criticise (or invade) other countries cultures and religion.

[u/GarageFridgeSoda]

Same people who put up the sign: I can't believe these godless leftists call us christian nationalists, anyway time to beat my wife because she voted against my wishes.

[u/BadTiger85]

Take out the God part and I'm fine with it

[u/Alice-Stargazer]

I don’t trust in amalgamations of foreskin loving magical space wizards.

[u/electricmehehe]

Stop infecting us with your religious bullshit.

[u/Butterflyteal61]

It's Indoctrination!

[u/FabiusPictor]

Logo unironically looks like Big Brother’s watchful eye

[u/-CortoMaltese-]

This is a “If you do it, you can’t see how fucked up it is” situation…..

[u/Playful_Assistance89]

We always did the Pledge of Allegiance every morning when I was a schoolboy. I never did quite understand why, and as I grew older it made even less sense. It's not like these 5 year olds have clearances and are running around carrying state secrets.

[u/Nazgul3475]

Gotta start the indoctrination early for it to work

[u/KevinStorm87]

Ew. Gross.

[u/1FuzzyPickle]

Fixed it

[u/Wipedout89]

I've always found it very North Korea that America makes kids stand up and pledge allegiance to a flag with their hands on their hearts

[u/Andrei_the_derg → u/Wipedout89]

In my schooling it was required to stand and recite the pledge with a hand over your heart every morning while facing the flag that hung on the wall

[u/triglavianenjoyer → u/Wipedout89]

It doesn’t, that would be against the First Amendment. It’s polite to at least stand for the pledge or the anthem, the same way it is in every other democracy, but you won’t get shot or sent to a labor camp for disrespecting the flag or anthem in the US. The same cannot be said for North Korea.

[u/onemassive → u/triglavianenjoyer]

We got sent to the vice principals office if we didn't adhere to the protocol of at least standing for the pledge

[u/partlysettledin21220 → u/triglavianenjoyer]

Give our government 5 minutes damn, they can’t shoot everybody at once.

[u/CrazyBigHog → u/Wipedout89]

It’s because our school system was hijacked decades ago. “Kindergarten” it’s not an English word. The idea of pledging allegiance and a ringing bell to go to your next class(work station) was to make us good little workers for the state.

[u/Ok_Builder_4225 → u/Wipedout89]

My friend and i always changed the words when were younger lol

[u/Optimixto → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

But you know the real words. They are like a hymn, like a prayer. Ingrained forever in you.

How do I know? I spent 3 years in an international military base where the main school claimed to be international while using the US (horribly inefficient) education system. And every single morning, your propaganda wpuld be blast through speakers. Not once did I say to that, but I can repeat it in a heartbeat.

It is literally such a weird fucking thing to do to kids, indoctrination as blatant as can be. You know the only other thing that did this to me? The prayers that christians forced me to recite when I was in a catholic school. Funny how the reactionaries love this shit so much but cry about pride flags.

(Nothing against you, not mad at you)

[u/Morpheus636_ → u/Wipedout89]

It doesn't. They're not required to stand or recite it.

[u/nuglasses → u/Morpheus636_]

Back in the day, one had to stand up or leave the classroom as not to disrupt the rest of the classroom.

[u/Morpheus636_ → u/nuglasses]

Unless "back in the day" was pre-1943, when West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) overruled Minersville School Dist. v. Gobitis, 310 U. S. 586 (1940), that requirement was unlawful.

[u/nuglasses → u/Morpheus636_]

LoL this was in HS circa 1979. Thanks for the heads up.

[u/Pinikanut → u/Morpheus636_]

Huh. My school required that we stand. I used to stand but not put my hand up or recite it. They said I couldn't stay seated. Maybe that was just my school but I was certainly required and I went to public school.

[u/mattkaru → u/Morpheus636_]

My high school in the mid-2000s required us to stand even if we didn't speak. It was a direct response to a student protest from a student who refused to stand that got the local media (and activist groups iirc) involved. If the requirement to stand was illegal they continued to break the law. I'm sure this still happens in conservative areas.

[u/Greenfire32 → u/Morpheus636_]

It's not required, but it's "required."

When I was a kid it was a lot safer to stand up, put your hand over your heart and just mumble along, than it was to stay seated.

And I wasn't living under the rise of fascism on American soil back then like kids are today.

[u/rjnd2828 → u/Morpheus636_]

Not required but certainly expected. It's kind of distopian if you step back and think about it

[u/tableleg7 → u/Wipedout89]

Well, how else do you propose we spot those godless commies?!

Surely, a communist spy would never be able to simply recite the pledge without revealing themselves.

[u/ChocoGoodness → u/Wipedout89]

Ah yes, because that's just as horrific as what happens in North Korea. So many people in America are so damn entitled and pretend they're just as oppressed as countries as this.

[u/New_Bug900 → u/Wipedout89]

Then you’re not very smart.

[u/sassysiggy → u/Wipedout89]

It’s all because of the Cold War and some crazy idea that atheist communists wouldn’t say the pledge because they couldn’t, but we all know that’s stupid. Original pledge didn’t even have god in it.

[u/Aggravating_West3619]

WTF does any of that have to do with baseball- show up and play- it’s not rocket science

[u/OnePassion_46]

I played little league for a Catholic School and we didn’t have signs like this. 

[u/RelentlessFelacio]

Yuck 🤢

[u/Working_Tea_4995]

Ever heard of the pledge of allegiance?

[u/worldsfastestsloth → u/Working_Tea_4995]

Yeah it’s also dumb lmfao

[u/_probablyryan]

To all the conservative snowflakes in this thread acting confused about why this upsets people, imagine if you took your kid to their baseball game and the coaches made all the children line up and promise Cthulhu that they won't do drugs before the start of the game. And you had to sit there and watch like half of the people in your community take this completely seriously, and treat you like you're a traitor to your country if you object.

Weird, right?

[u/QNZMadamant]

It’s been the pledge since the 50’s. I suppose you never played Little League?

[u/Beneficial_Trip3773 → u/QNZMadamant]

I did from tball to hs and never knew that we had a pledge.

[u/DefundMarxism]

As long as it's not funded by the government, nothing to see here.

[u/hvhhggggh]

America is just a massive cult with shit like this

[u/nukleus7]

Tear it down.

[u/CheezWong]

Nothing like indoctrinating kids to serve before ever teaching them to have fun or enjoy life.

[u/Icy-Entrepreneur9002]

Little League International operates as a private, non-sectarian organization open to children of all backgrounds and faiths without religious tests.

National policy does not mandate the religious phrase; individual local league boards of directors decide whether to recite the pledge or include that specific line.

Like anything if the phrase bothers you that much remove your child and move on to a different organization. There is no discrimination, you don’t have to say the phrase to play. If a private organization or company wants to include religious statements they are entitled to do so, and you’re entitled to not participate or be a customer.

[u/sesoren65 → u/Icy-Entrepreneur9002]

I read that in Dale Gribble's voice

[u/BookkeeperBoobs → u/Icy-Entrepreneur9002]

Yeah but also the organization and whatever it says isn’t above reproach either…

In other words, complaining about it isn’t off the motherfucking menu

[u/mcampo84 → u/Icy-Entrepreneur9002]

Or it’s a fucking children’s sport that could be fucking inclusive. Last time I checked there’s no religion that requires you to play baseball or vice versa.

Yes they have a right to be exclusionary.

That doesn’t make it right that they are exclusionary.

Removing the top half of that sign would cause them precisely zero harm.

[u/tallywhacker666]

Let's replace god with Satan.

[u/DrNanard → u/[deleted]]

Trying to brainwash kids with religious propaganda is fine?

[u/Hans_Krebs_ → u/[deleted]]

Nah the sign is fuckin weird

[u/luseferr → u/[deleted]]

It's little league baseball not the boyscouts. That sign is weird.

[u/Desperate-Grade-1338]

Bullsh*t, don’t assume everybody believes in an imaginary deity. As far as this country and it’s laws, that’s a personal opinion as well, especially with this current administration

[u/Yos13]

Which god?

[u/OneProjectAtATime83 → u/Yos13]

Cthulu

[u/esem86]

Would the person hanging these signs be ok with me putting up another one next to it verbatim except for I Trust In Allah? I mean, I know the answer, but I'd love for them to explain to me why it's not allowed.

[u/Own_Recommendation49]

Indoctrination should be illegal

[u/Idontknowhoiam143]

God doesn’t even play baseball. He plays soccer.
He’s also an asshole that loves to watch this country suffer

[u/United_Scallion7690]

i promise you the kids are not reading this pledge every time they take the field

[u/NineClaws]

Which God?

[u/No-Wonder1139]

Weird. My local rink the sign just reminds you the players are children, so are the referees, the coaches are volunteers, and to not yell at them.

[u/Hellsman44]

Because trump has been basically breaking the wall down that separated goverment and the church

[u/Omega_Lynx]

The older I get the closer to zero reverence I have for religions and theology.

[u/I_Flick_Boogers]

It reads like something written in 1954…because that’s when it was written.