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I Pledge Allegiance to...what, exactly? [1]
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Date: 2022-07-04
Most of us know the words to the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag. So, no need to insert it here.
It was introduced in the late 1800s by a flag maker, who sought to increase the sales of flags. It was adopted by Congress in the early 20th century, and the was revised in 1954 to add the phrase “Under God”.
It appears that the flag maker was very successful in the pursuit of flag sales, as the sheer number of flags now flapping in the breeze is astounding. Visitors to this country comment about, what is to them, an excessive number of flags. Flags fly, not just at government sites, but at businesses, and, most confusingly to them, at people’s homes. A neighbor of mine recently noted with approval the number of flags being flown in the neighborhood. My house was not among them.
It seems, too, that businesses compete by flying the biggest or the most flags. Automobile dealerships number among the worst at this, hoisting huge flags, with measurements that exceed that of the square footage of most of the homes in the surrounding county.
In recent years it seems like the United States flag has been appropriated by Republicans, as if it belongs solely to them. They proudly fly it from their homes, often displaying more than one from the front porch, with another on a pole in the yard.
Although official flag etiquette prohibits the wearing of the flag as apparel, in recent years it has been seen plastered on all manner of shirts, pants and jackets. It has even been produced as a beach towel, to be spread out upon the sand or ground to be used for a picnic or to be lain upon to catch some sun. For the official rules of flag etiquette see the United States Code Title 4 at the following link:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/8
I have long considered the current use of the pledge to be self-congratulatory, to pat oneself on the back for being so patriotic, rather than expressing loyalty to country. So, I revised a replacement Pledge of Allegiance as, perhaps, a better fit as a statement of loyalty to country over self (and, especially over political party!).
It reads: “I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the Republic, which upon it, stands. One Nation, on Earth, Indivisible, with Liberty and Just-ness for All.”
The Constitution belongs to us all. I especially like the Preamble and all it means for the welfare of all
the people of this nation: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Democrats, we have a lot of work ahead of us this year in order to ensure that the Constitution
still has meaning after November 8.
Happy Fourth!
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