Our Flag , Whats the Problem

[Wayne Goodwin]

How do you feel about Saying The Pledge Of Allegiance in this day in time ?
When was last time you Pledged ?

Patriotism and the Pledge
By John M. Crisp McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
A familiar battle is brewing in New Jersey, where state law requires the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public school classrooms. An anonymous atheist family is teaming up with the American Humanist Association to sue a local school district, arguing that the phrase “under God” in the Pledge “marginalizes atheist and humanist kids as something less than ideal patriots.”

This is another installment in the long legal history of battles between citizens who prefer not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and citizens who want everyone to.

The conflict is based on a poignant question: Can a citizen decline to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and still be a patriotic American?

Of course he can. I haven’t recited the Pledge in years and have no plans to start. But surely my patriotic credentials are acceptable: I’m a U.S. Navy veteran and a reliable voter. I observe all laws and pay my taxes and grazing fees. I always watch the State of the Union address, and I’m a sucker for high-flying, aspirational national rhetoric. I feel a proud twinge when the national anthem is played before a ballgame.

But I’m no big fan of the Pledge of Allegiance. Its origins are dubious. Many assume that it dates back to our nation’s founding, but actually it was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Christian socialist. Bellamy was responding to an explosion of new immigration, not just from traditional northern European sources, but from southern and eastern Europe, including many, like Catholics and Jews, that nativists like Bellamy considered “undesirables.”

Almost from the beginning the Pledge scuffed the consciences of otherwise patriotic Americans. Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, were reluctant to pledge their allegiance to any power other than God. Since 1954, when the phrase “under God” was added to the Pledge in response to the threat of atheistic communism, objections have been raised by Americans who don’t believe in the implied Christian god in the Pledge or who have understandable qualms about mixing theology into any state-sponsored public ritual.

Some citizens have good reasons to decline the Pledge; an American shouldn’t need any reason at all.

In any case, we say the Pledge much too often. In Texas, like New Jersey, public school students pledge their allegiance every morning to both the American flag and the Texas flag. They pledge again before football games. My city council and school board open their meetings with the Pledge. So do the members of the governing board of the college where I work and before subcommittee meetings, too. This is a lot of rote, mechanical pledging, and one wonders if anyone’s patriotism is actually bolstered by a pledge that is prone toward empty ritual.

All in all, I suspect our nation would be better off without the Pledge of Allegiance. At best, it inclines toward meaninglessness, and it can quickly turn into a coercive litmus test for patriotism. Before long we’re looking around to see who’s not wearing a flag pin.

But if you insist, I propose instead a “National Pledge Day.” Every two years, the president could lead the nation in a meaningful recitation of the Pledge on national television. Maybe delete the divisive “under God” and substitute “with tolerance.” Time it to coincide with the beginnings of ballgames and other public assemblies. Some would pledge at home and, this being America, I predict “Pledge parties” at local bars.

Some good Americans will decline, but many others would welcome a meaningful celebration of national unity and allegiance.

Who knows? I might even join you.

John M. Crisp teaches in the English

Department at Del Mar College in

Corpus Christi, Texas. Readers may send him email at [e-mail]

[Wayne Goodwin]

The Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.

In its original form it read:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At this time it read:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration. Today it reads:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Section 4 of the Flag Code states:

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute."

The original Bellamy salute, first described in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, who authored the original Pledge, began with a military salute, and after reciting the words "to the flag," the arm was extended toward the flag.

At a signal from the Principal the pupils, in ordered ranks, hands to the side, face the Flag. Another signal is given; every pupil gives the flag the military salute — right hand lifted, palm downward, to a line with the forehead and close to it. Standing thus, all repeat together, slowly, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all." At the words, "to my Flag," the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.

The Youth's Companion, 1892

Shortly thereafter, the pledge was begun with the right hand over the heart, and after reciting "to the Flag," the arm was extended toward the Flag, palm-down.

In World War II, the salute too much resembled the Nazi salute, so it was changed to keep the right hand over the heart throughout.

[Wayne Goodwin]

I remember doing it in Elementry School but don't remember having to do it in High School .

[P.A.]

Any forced or coerced show of patriotism is worse than none at all. As a teacher I listened to the pledge being recited every morning for 40 years. I doubt it had any effect on the students. I had some students who did not participate for religious reasons and they certainly were no less patriotic than the ones who said the pledge.
We have cheapened patriotism into a required ritual.

[Wayne Goodwin]

I like your input ...

[Snagg]

You can be 100% American and decline to recite the Pledge.

But it is 100% UN-American to FORCE anybody to recite it.

[Lifesighs]

I don't know of one person who didn't do this pledge while in school. Did it make a bit of difference to any of them? I don't think so. 

It's like that guy who doesn't believe in the federal government but goes around waving the flag of our government. People are sometimes really stupid when it comes to this type of thing.

The more this country moves towards corporate ownership the less allegiance I have to it.

[crestofwaves]

We said it every single day in both Catholic and public school, and I coerced my kids to stand and be respectful.  Young men and women died for that flag, and I was not about to have some snotty little brat not stand, be silent, or take his hat off.  One girl threatened to tell her guidance counselor on me, so I told her to please tell her counselor that I demanded her to be respectful of those dead and the rest of the class. She HAD to stand or I would not allow her to be in homeroom. Too BAD!

Ritual is comforting, I think. And what's so bad about showing respect and remembering the people who have fought and are still fighting. They sacrifice their lives and I will always show them the respect they deserve through the flag salute.

[blithe spirit]

I did require my kids to stand quietly for the pledge but not to recite it..it was to show respect for those who wanted to participate....this was during what we called Peer Counseling at the beginning of the day. There are kids who have had family in the military and have made a connection to their service through the flag and/or the pledge. Other kids haven't..it's a personal thing...I think...sort of like a moment of silence...there are time when kids need to share..I taught middle schoolers...it's an especially emotional time for them. They often had other things to share as well..good, happy, sad, etc...like a check in time. We also sat in a circle...Kumbaya and all that...LOL!

[ProblemAgain]

simple...those who want to recite it can recite it and those that don't want to can be respectful enough to stfu while people do recite it, the same as being respectful for a person in an organized prayer even if you don't adhere to their beliefs. it doesn't have to be an either/or. and the street goes both ways.

[blithe spirit]

I am an adult.. I have no respect per se for the pledge or the flag...that has no connection at all to any respect I have for those who have served in the armed forces. I think it has become like some kind of litmus test for patriotism...and I'm over it..and all memes on facebook are totally silly too..like bumper stickers on cars..like having a flag on the ass of your jeans...no real meaning...just a little chest beating thing...

[ProblemAgain]

for some reason, this brought ot mind when our guys came home from viet nam and it was like the servicemen and women were blamed for the policies of the govt. that part still irritates me as a childish mindset that divided the country for years.

[crestofwaves]

I didn't require my kids to say the words, but sometimes I would jokingly accuse them of being communists or subversives. One kid came back for a visit and reminded me that I called him a commie, lol. 

I'm surprised I didn't get fired for half the things I said and got away with--but the kids knew when I was joking and when I was serious, so they had my back.