The 1940s was the heyday of pledges and oaths.* In Boy Scout halls, homerooms, and Elks lodges, people were accustomed to signing on the dotted line or standing and reciting, one hand raised. Even the Clean Plate Club-dreamed up by a navy commander in 1942-had an oath: "I, ____, being a member in good standing . . . , hereby agree that I will finish all the food on my plate . . . and continue to do so until Uncle Sam has licked the Japs and Hitler"-like, presumably, a plate.
The 1940s were characterized by a culture of commitments and affirmations, where pledges and oaths were commonly utilized in various social settings. From Boy Scout meetings to schools and community organizations, individuals regularly engaged in rituals that involved solemn declarations, often with hands raised in a gesture of sincerity. This era saw a widespread acceptance of affirmations as a means of fostering unity and purpose within groups.
One notable example from this period is the "Clean Plate Club," inspired by a navy commander in 1942, which included an oath that members had to uphold. This unusual pledge humorously emphasized the importance of finishing meals as a patriotic duty, reflecting the times' mindset where communal efforts against adversaries were equated with personal responsibilities, such as not wasting food. Such oaths symbolize the era's blending of personal conduct with collective wartime goals.
