history of the Pledge

[Feeling the Bern]

http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm

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."

[PatrickforO]

1. I can remember saying the pledge every day in elementary school, but not

junior high or high school. Except at assemblies. We said it there.

Funny how you say the words but only realize what they mean years later. That's why I'm supporting Bernie. He's the best chance we have to actually make the pledge a reality instead of the corporate abomination it's actually become.

[CBGLuthier]

5. In the late 70s they still said it in my high school. They did, I did not.

I disagree with every single statement made in the pledge. It wanted me to pledge allegiance to a list of lies. Not one nation indivisible. No liberty and justice for all, and I do not believe in god.

I stood quietly but otherwise did not and have not done that thing in 40 years.

[Hydra]

2. As long as I can remember, I objected to the "under God" being in the pledge

We don't own "God." It always struck me is more than a little blasphemous that we use that in our nationalism.

[Journeyman]

3. 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.

As I see 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 this land and its 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, how's my mumbling it going to change anything?

And if people have to participate in a pledge, why not a "Reader's Digest" version. . .

"I pledge allegiance to liberty and justice for all."

Short, to the point, and acceptable to anyone on Earth who values others.

And God doesn't have to be a part of it all, seeing as how it's an oath between people.

[Feeling the Bern]

4. If the pledge said this:

"I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it created, one nation, with liberty and justice for all."

I would say it everyday with pride.