Pledge of Allegiance

To Have or to Have Not

Oh my goodness, what have I let myself in for this time? In my last posting it appears that I, more or less, promised to write about the Pledge of Allegiance this week. It had occasionally been talked about in the news for several months but lately this subject has been heating up somewhat. I really don't mind wading out into clear water when I can see where I am going but this may turn out to be a headlong dive into muddy water. Instead of immediately diving in, I think it would be better to wade around the edges for a while. Just bear with me, we'll get there.

In August of 1892 Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931) a Baptist Minister who had been forced to resign from his church in Boston because of his Socialist sermons, wrote the "Pledge of Allegiance" which was published in "The Youth's Companion". It was first used on the 400th anniversary of the year Columbus discovered America, as a salute to the flag on "Columbus Day". The words, at that time, were: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Replublic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

In 1954, after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus and at the behest of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, our United States Congress added the words "under God" to that Pledge. According to Dr. John W. Baer "The pledge had now become a patriotic oath and a public prayer (see St. Matthew, chapters 5 and 6 for oaths and prayers).

In 1940 our Supreme Court, on a suit filed by the Jehovah's Witnesses who considered the flag salute to be idolatry, ruled that public school students could be compelled, even Jehovah's Witnesses, to swear the Pledge. In 1943 our Supreme Court reversed its decision, ruling that, "compulsory unification of opinion" violated the First Amendment of our Constitution. In my research I have found nothing that would change that decision but it is not for the lack of trying.

HR 2389, a bill that was called "The Pledge Protection Act of 2005, which if passed would have stripped our Supreme Court, and most other Federal Courts, of the power to consider legal challanges to the "Governments requiring or promoting the Pledge of Allegiance". This bill passed in the House but died in the Senate. There are arguements made from both sides of this issue as to whether or not congress has the authority to limit our Supreme Court or even lesser courts. (see Article 3, section 2 of Constitution) If congress has this power then why do we even need the courts?

On the web site, Restore the Pledge.org we found this quote; "True patriotism is not shown by how often you wave the flag or say the pledge, but by the respect you accord the primary pillar of our democracy, the Constitution of the United States". I couldn't have said it better myself.

In my long ago youth I volunteered and served 3 years in our military but was never stationed in any war zone but if I had, I would have fought to keep my country and, by extension, my family free. I really have no preference as to whether it has the words "under God" or not because my problem is with the pledge itself. I am not a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses but I agree that as written the pledge could be construed as idolatry

Being born several years after the fact, I can't determine by what authority this one sentence pledge, written by a Minister who was forced to resign from his church because of his socialist sermons, was adopted into our governmental affairs. If I might be so bold as to suggest that the pledge be rewritten in this form: "I pledge allegiance to my God, to my family and to my country, The United States of America, as represented by our Constitution, one nation indivisible with liberty, justice and equality for all ".

The First Amendment is just one part of the Constitution which makes this country the greatest nation in the world but if some members of our government can have their way it may not always be as it is today. My country right or wrong I must love it / for only God and family goes above it. Stay tuned, thanks. William