The NFL & Pledge Hoopla

I pledge a allegaince,
to the flag,
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic.....

Republic?

Class,  who can 
tell me what 
a "republic"
is?

No hands.

Can you
pledge allegiance
to something
you do 
not really understand?

For all the 
hoopla over
standing for the
Stars and Stripes song
or
not particiapting
in the pledge 
before a professional
sports game,

is not the "bread and circuses"
worship of 
professional sports
as offensive
if not more?