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Russian Pledge of Allegiance?

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15 messages over 2 pages: 1
jody
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United States
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Speaks: English*
Studies: Russian, Bulgarian

 
 Message 9 of 15
16 November 2009 at 4:47pm | IP Logged 
Chung wrote:
If you want to toy with someone staunchly anti-Communist but unfamiliar with Russian, then recite on request the chorus with its mention of Lenin's party and how it will lead us to the victory of Communism.


That's kinda my idea. Most Americans are pretty anti-Communist, even if they don't really know why. My generation that grew up in the 80's were taught that Communism is evil and the Soviet Union was always the "Bad Guys". In learning the Russian language I thought it would be fun to use very communist quotes in my examples.

All of these are very good examples, thank you all for your suggestions.
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Cherepaha
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 Message 10 of 15
19 November 2009 at 12:38pm | IP Logged 
jody wrote:
In America we have the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the American flag which children typically recite every morning. Is there a similar creed or pledge in Russian? [...] I'm looking for something short, maybe a 3 or 4 sentences, that I can memorize and that means something significant in Russia or the Soviet Union.

Gusutafu wrote:
The chorus is especially apt I think. Some actual Russians may of course take offence.


I’m not sure that Russians would take offense, but you may be right to choose to be sensitive. I think of the Soviet hymn as a historical reality in the same way as this lovely "Prayer of the Russian People" was glorifying the Tsar before the revolution. During the Soviet times it used to generate quite a patriotic and nostalgic feeling in many among its populace. Here it is, in case you may find it useful:
Боже, Царя храни!
Сильный, державный,
Царствуй на славу нам;
Царствуй на страх врагам,
Царь православный!
Боже, Царя храни!
1833 (http://www.hymn.ru/bozhe-tsarya-khrani.html)

(As for the American pledge of allegiance, having grown up in the Soviet Union, I find myself rather allergic to any outward demonstrations of patriotism and make sure that my kid does not engage in any pledge recitals :).
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maaku
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 Message 11 of 15
21 November 2009 at 7:22am | IP Logged 
The pledge is extremely American and very strange when you look at it from the context of an outsider... seems more like what you'd expect of a fascist country. But people here take it as normal and even get offended if you refuse to say it.

Anyway, the OP: The national anthem is probably the closest analogue you'd find in any country.
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Chung
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 Message 12 of 15
12 January 2010 at 7:22pm | IP Logged 
maaku wrote:
The pledge is extremely American and very strange when you look at it from the context of an outsider... seems more like what you'd expect of a fascist country. But people here take it as normal and even get offended if you refuse to say it.

Anyway, the OP: The national anthem is probably the closest analogue you'd find in any country.


What's interesting about the Pledge of Allegiance is that it was originally written by a socialist Baptist minister, and then used as part of a sales campaign in a children's magazine in order to increase American nationalism and sales of American flags for Columbus Day. Over time the original text and gestures associated with the pledge changed somewhat (for example the hand-over-heart gesture when reciting the modern pledge came about as a replacement for the original gesture which involved an outstretched arm and palm facing up. The similarities to the Nazi salute facilitated the switch to holding the hand over the heart.)

The things you learn...
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Rhian
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 Message 13 of 15
13 January 2010 at 3:07am | IP Logged 
Very interesting thread! However, I'd like to remind contributors that, unless it is a Language Learning Log entry or
is a post in a room specifically dedicated to another language/Multilingual Lounge, all posts should (wherever
possible) have an English translation provided for any foreign text. As I said, very interesting thread but I don't
speak Russian and knowing the meaning of some of the text would have added to my enjoyment of the thread even
more.
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ruskivyetr
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 Message 14 of 15
13 January 2010 at 3:59am | IP Logged 
On the subject of the Pledge of Allegiance, I personally don't say it. High school is the time where you become more independent, and you make decisions for yourself and your future. I don't say the pledge because (1) I don't feel it necessary, (2) I do not feel connected personally to America as my roots and my heritage do not lie here, so therefore I don't need to pledge my allegiance to anything American, and (3) I feel that it should be made aware to kids at an early age that they do not have to say the pledge. It is unfair to make it seem weird or bad not to. When I was in elementary school, I did not stand up for the pledge because I did not want to say it. My teacher asked me why I was sitting down, and I told her that I did not want to say it. Ten minutes later, I was sitting in the principal's office being lectured. I wasn't even paying attention to what she had to say, I was just so angry. My parents were called and they thought it outrageous that I was in trouble for something as stupid as that. My father told the principal and my teacher off very harshly. I was a really young child, but I knew that I did not want to say the pledge for the exact reasons I explained before.

Edited by ruskivyetr on 13 January 2010 at 4:00am

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Siberiano
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 Message 15 of 15
13 January 2010 at 3:08pm | IP Logged 
jody wrote:
Славься, Отечество наше свободное,
Дружбы народов надёжный оплот!
Партия Ленина — сила народная
Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт!

Any thoughts?
I like the chorus. Since the new old hymn is a total farce, I prefer the old Soviet text. I'm not a communist at all, but playing with these cliches is much fun.

Edited by Siberiano on 13 January 2010 at 3:11pm



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