Problems with the pledge

By Joanna Carter

Recently, I have seen numerous billboards across the state showing people’s displeasure with some people omitting the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance.

Before I go any further, let me say that I am in no way whatsoever saying these people, who apparently care enough about their beliefs in God to spend their own hard-earned or generously donated money to relay their opinions, are wrong in doing so, nor do I have a problem with Christians or God. I admire anyone for holding on to any beliefs, religious or otherwise, with a fervor that is greatly lacking in an age of apathy, and I consider myself Christian, even though it has been years since I have actually stepped foot into a church for a service other than the occasional wedding or funeral. However, although I believe their intentions are good, I also believe that some of the people up in arms about this topic don’t know much about the history of what we say when showing our patriotism.

The history of the Pledge goes back to 1892, penned by socialist, author, and Baptist minister Francis Bellamy, and he wrote it in a way so that it could be used by not just America, but for any country that would wish to use it. The original text being “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” He also commented on why exactly he chose these words for the Pledge:

“It began as an intensive communing with salient points of our national history, from the Declaration of Independence onwards; with the makings of the Constitution… with the meaning of the Civil War; with the aspiration of the people… The true reason for allegiance to the Flag is the ‘republic for which it stands’. …And what does that vast thing, the Republic mean? It is the concise political word for the Nation – the One Nation which the Civil War was fought to prove. To make that One Nation idea clear, we must specify that it is indivisible, as Webster and Lincoln used to repeat in their great speeches. And its future?… Just here arose the temptation of the historic slogan of the French Revolution which meant so much to Jefferson and his friends, ‘Liberty, equality, fraternity’. No, that would be too fanciful, too many thousands of years off in realization. But we as a nation do stand square on the doctrine of liberty and justice for all…”

It seems to me he was fueled by patriotism for his country and not his chosen religious path, but that’s just my observation from his statement.

The first change to the Pledge came in 1923, changing “my flag” to “the flag of the United States of America.” No argument from me there, considering that it’s American citizens saluting an American flag. The second one, which came after the beginning of World War II, and a change that I can completely understand, was the way the flag was saluted. The original “Bellamy Salute” that he devised was the right arm extended with the palm facing downward, which very closely resembled the later Nazi one-armed salute. I personally wouldn’t want to hold my arm out “Zeig Heil!” style. That’s just not kosher.

The change that I am focusing on is the final change which added “under God” in 1954. Due to the rise of perceived Communist threat, Eisenhower asked Congress to make the switch. I wouldn’t consider this controversial under normal circumstances since it had been changed before with no objections from its author, however, there are two things different about this.

Number one, Francis Bellamy died in 1931. He was not able to himself voice possible dissent of this change. Number two, his daughter objected for him,yet her voice went unheard in Congress. Who better to say what Mr. Bellamy’s opinion would have been? Being a Baptist minister, it should go without saying that he considered himself Christian. But even in being Christian, isn’t it possible that he may have shown an open-mindedness in leaving out these two words knowing that it was a constitutional right of all people in America to believe what they considered right for themselves, whether that meant belief in Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism, or nothing at all? Even when taking away the religious element, shouldn’t it say something that his own daughter expressed concern for the change to the work her father wrote? Her opinion should matter more than anyone else in this entire nation.

As for myself, I cannot recall when the last time I put my hand over my heart and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. When I was in high school, every morning we would be expected to stand and recite it. I would stand, but I never made the Pledge. Don’t get me wrong, I am a very patriotic person. I may not agree with most of what our government does in our “best interests,” but I love my country. I would gladly pledge allegiance to my country. And people may call me un-American for making this statement, but it is within my rights as written in the First Amendment, but I will never pledge my allegiance to something that I could possibly one day burn in protest. Not saying that I most certainly will, but you never do know.