With all the talk this election and convention season about patriotism and flag pins, I wanted to address one of many “targets” in the patriotism debate, The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. First, let’s read it together since many of us haven’t said it since elementary school:
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. (en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance)
A little history on “The Pledge”:
The original pledge was penned by Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy in 1892 and it read simply this:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
This is a very simple pledge and, in my humble opinion, does quite nicely. The reading I have done has informed me that Rev. Bellamy would have preferred to have the pledge end with “with equality, liberty, and justice for all”, but many people resented the idea of equality for blacks and women at that period in history, so he left it out. The (somewhat controversial) change in the wording to include the phrase “one nation under God” came about after a vigorous campaign by the Knights of Columbus (a Catholic fraternal organization) in the 1950’s, leading to the Pledge we know today.
Let’s take a look at some of the individual parts:
Webster defines “allegiance” as devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause (www.m-w.com). In this case, by saying the Pledge a person is showing devotion or loyalty to the United States of America. Many people mistakenly believe that the Pledge is showing devotion or loyalty to a flag. Don’t forget the words, and to the Republic for which it stands. The pledge is truly an oath of fidelity to our Republic, to our United States of America.
When most people recite the pledge, they do so incorrectly. Is this familiar?
I pledge allegiance (pause) to the flag (pause) of the United States of America (pause) and to the Republic (pause) for which it stands (pause) one nation (pause) under God (pause) indivisible (pause) with liberty and justice for all.
Take particular notice of my emphasized pause. It DOESN’T BELONG there, grammatically speaking. The phrase “one nation under God” is one complete thought. I had a friend growing up who’s dad used to use the phrase “in front of God and everybody” as in “I can’t believe you kids are fighting out here in front of God and everybody”. This was not a particularly religious man; not a Christian. However this is a phrase in common use and we all knew what he meant. “One nation under God” is a similar phrase. It is defined by the word that comes next, “indivisable”. There is no need to emphasize the “under God” part or give it any undue significance. A group of zealous Catholics started using the phrase in there own, private meetings and, through a series of coincidences, Pres. Eisenhower heard the phrase used at a church service and decided it was a worthy addition. One short act of Congress later and the phrase is officially adopted in 1954. Members of right-wing, religious organizations like The 700 Club, Focus on the Family and the now defunct Moral Majority have traditionally pointed to “under God” in the pledge to prove that the US is a Christian Nation, specifically blessed by God. This is, of course, not true as the original Pledge contained no such phrase.
Finally, let us consider the issues surrounding NOT saying the Pledge. Many people choose not to say the pledge due to religious or other reasons. Quakers and Jehovah’s Witnesses do not take oaths or pledges to any symbol, believing only God is worthy of Allegiance. Many Atheists choose not to say the Pledge due to the inclusion of “under God”. People have been cursed, spit on and even physically attacked because they choose not to say the pledge.
I hope that you will think about the Pledge next time you say it at a sporting event, school function or political convention. Say it with reverence and respect. Also, respect the person sitting next to you who may not choose to participate. It is a free country, after all.
Comments? Leave ‘em below!
SDG,
Matty
8 responses so far ↓
1 mssc54 // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Here you go again making unsubstantiated comments.
“Members of right-wing, religious organizations like The 700 Club, Focus on the Family and the now defunct Moral Majority have traditionally pointed to “under God” in the pledge to prove that the US is a Christian Nation, specifically blessed by God. “”
“Right wing”? What makes them “right wing”? The fact that they believe that an unborn baby is just that? Or are there other “qualifiers”
“Like” these? Do you mean these specific organizations or not? Can you give specific examples or are you just relying on your impressions?
“Prove that the US is a Christian Nation”. Give me a friggn break. Tell me please just one occassion where any of these organizations specifically said the US is a Christian nation. Is it possible they said the US was founded on Christian principles and you just added what you wanted to fit your left wing bias?
Sure it is, we all know it.
Remember “change”. lol
2 Tinny Ray // Aug 29, 2008 at 8:10 am
The Pledge of Allegiance is worse than you know. It was the origin of the Nazi salute. Look at the work of the noted historian Dr. Rex Curry.
3 Matthew // Aug 29, 2008 at 10:43 am
mssc54 ~
“The Constitution of the United States, for instance, is a marvelous document for self-government by the Christian people. But the minute you turn the document into the hands of non-Christian people and atheistic people they can use it to destroy the very foundation of our society. And that’s what’s been happening.” — Pat Robertson, The 700 Club, Dec. 30, 1981
“I don’t know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.”– George Bush
“There is no such thing as separation of church and state in the Constitution. It is a lie of the Left and we are not going to take it anymore.” –Pat Robertson, November 1993 during an address to the American Center for Law and Justice
I have been unable to find a Dobson quote this morning, so I will remove him and Focus from the post above.
Matty
4 http://kungfuchicken.wordpress.com/ // Aug 29, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I’d like to hear your thoughts on the quote you gave from Pat Robertson re: separation of church and state in the Constitution….
5 amy bell // Sep 2, 2008 at 1:17 pm
hmm…had to comment on the last few posts. i do believe that pat robertson, since he has aged, has said some things that i would not agree with…however, i would say he is not in the Christian majority…most Christians do not take him at face value…
dobson is a good source for families and he is not always right either…no Christian is…only God is…
the pledge of allegiance was written as a mission statement for our country…a kind of statement was to what we believe..therefore, i believe history should not be changed and the words under God should be left..sorry, but you cannot change history. if someone does not want to say that…ok. but, you cannot change the words. it was not written as a nazi salute/tone…(tinny ray)…
as for obama…i cannot get past his voting record. he is a wonderful speaker and promises a lot of things, but i cannot get past his voting record. he is the most liberal senator…he voted that if a baby was to be aborted and lived, the baby should die…scary. we have had a majority in the house and senate that is democratic and nothing much has been accomplished..trust me, they could make things happen.
will obama truly cross the asile? what about his ties to some pretty strange religious leaders? the teachings in his church were definitely racist. so, now what?
i am not sure we have a good choice either way. i am pro-life and not pro-war. i hate war just like everyone else. but, it was someone who shed their own blood that i could have free speech and write these words right now…let’s not forget history.
just a few thoughts today from a old friend…hope you are doing well…love the new facebook picture.
amy
6 Matthew // Sep 5, 2008 at 10:47 am
Amy ~ thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. I’m not suggesting that anybody change the Pledge or that it shouldn’t be said, I merely wanted to talk about it. I like the Pledge. I think most people don’t think about it, they just say it. McPalin? O’Biden? I’m going to v0te for Ron Paul if he is on the ballot in California.
Andi ~ I think he’s flat wrong and ignorant for saying it.
Here is the relevant passage:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
It’s right there; no establishment, no prohibition. Congress (the body which makes laws) should have nothing to say on religious matters. One way or the other. If muslims wanted the school to broadcast the call to prayer on the PA system, I would oppose that, too.
Matt
7 http://kungfuchicken.wordpress.com/ // Sep 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I think I was looking at it in the other direction… I agree that the government needs to stay out of “running the church” but what about the church running the government? I think that’s what a lot of people get concerned about.
8 Matthew // Sep 10, 2008 at 10:48 am
Andi ~
I whole-heartedly agree. I don’t want Churches or Religious organizations like Focus or The 700 Club influencing the government any more than I want the government influencing them.
I want government to be smaller, not bigger. I think religious organizations like churches, mosques, synagoges should have to pay taxes like the rest of us so that the government is not subsidizing them.
In point of fact, I support the abolishment of the federal income tax in favor of a federal sales tax. I do not believe we should tax income. People should not be penalized for making money. Taxing consumption also eliminates tax loopholes and forces even people who make money illegally or under the table to pay taxes. We could fully fund our government with a national sales tax and you, the earner, would keep much more of your money. For more information on a national sales tax, visit http://www.fairtax.org.
Ron Paul 08!
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