I Pledge Allegiance...

[Mythsaje]

There's currently a facebook poll on the Pledge, and whether or not we should bring it back to American schools. There are three possible answers.

"Yes," because they're attending an American school (and what this has to do with anything, I don't know)

"No," because it's offensive to what the kid(s) believe (referring to specific children, I imagine),

"Yes," for those kids who want to do it.

Most people don't know that the Pledge was originally written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Christian Socialist minister. Interesting that most folks who'd like to see the pledge return would be scandalized if they did know this, and they would've fought it tooth and nail when it was originally introduced.

I love the smell of hypocrisy at midnight.

The original text:

“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” We can all remember the changes that have been instituted in time, the most questionable of which was the addition of "Under God" in 1954.

At various times, there was a lot of conflict with groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, who saw it as idolatry. From their perspective, they were probably right. You know--stopped clock and all that. American atheists, agnostics, and "Free Thinkers" found it particularly odorous after this last addition, yet most of us Gen X-ers would probably remember being forced to recite it as children ourselves. Obviously, the objections of these groups were considered to be of little consequence.

I don't like it. Never have. I regularly pledged my liver to an assortment of imaginary agencies as a child, and the few times I remember being asked to recite the vow as a teenager--well, it's doubtful that I would've been given a pass had they heard what I was saying then.

From my perspective, a forced oath is meaningless. A promise made under duress (and what greater duress could there be as an innocent child made to do so by authority figures appointed to educate them?) has no value. In fact one might go so far as to say it's offensive to anyone who has ever knowingly taken and kept an oath of his or her own volition. It cheapens their sacrifice.

And forced oaths have no place in an allegedly free society.

I'm sure people will disagree with me. It wouldn't be the first time. Don't care.

It's a free country. Allegedly.

[Journeyman]

1. I pledged allegiance to the Constitution when I was inducted into the military in the early '70s...

I haven't repeated the pledge since, and I've no intention of ever repeating it.

The way I figure it, once you pledge yourself to something, if you truly mean it, you need never do it again. In fact, to do so -- to engage in a "doctrine of continual reaffirmation" -- makes a mockery of the original vow, as only a meaningless pledge needs constant updating. I affirmed my commitment to the Constitution as a young man. If I ever change my mind, I'll renounce my pledge. Until then, I consider it my word, freely given. Any attempt to make me renew it simply insults me and casts aspersions on my honor.

As for those who insist it should be recited on multiple occasions, who would prefer to see it rendered meaningless through reduction to nothing more than a rote recitation, I often wonder, if they can't trust me to keep a pledge quietly, what's my mumbling it going to mean?

Perhaps we should just reduce it to a “Reader’s Digest” version: “I pledge allegiance to liberty and justice for all.” Short and to the point, non-controversial, useful for all peoples on the planet.

[Mythsaje]

2. All very good points...n/t

[MineralMan]

3. I say it, but without the "under God" part.

That's the way I learned it.

[Union Yes]

4. Fuck all flags.