I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

“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.”

The pledge has not always read this way.  The original text is:

“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands-

One nation indivisible-with liberty and justice for all.”

It was written by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), and published in the Youth’s Companion in 1892.  In 1923 the words were changed to, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…”

In 1954, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God” creating the pledge we say today.

Section 4 of the Flag Code (yes, there is such a thing) states the protocol to be used when saluting the flag, “…standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart…Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.”

The Bellamy salute began in 1892 with a military salute and ended with the arm outstretched, palm up toward the flag.  In World War II it was decided that the salute looked too much like a Nazi salute and was changed to the right hand over the heart.

When patriotic holidays roll around it is good to be reminded that our pledge of allegiance did not drop out of heaven like the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments.  It was written by a socialist.  Let that sink in.

For all the hoopla that the people create around however they understand socialism, one of the statements we hold most dearly was written by a socialist.  His intent was that it would be used by citizens of any country as a way of showing their loyalty to their country.

I doubt he envisioned it would become the mantra of patriots and nationalists alike.

Patriotic holidays like the fourth of July are great opportunities to be reminded of the greatness and the shortcomings of our nation.

We celebrate unity, liberty and justice for all. But let’s not forget that:

• Women still make eighty cents on the dollar compared to men.
• Unemployment for people of color is many times the national average.
• Our country is running concentration camps at the border with inhumane conditions.
• Similar to slave times, children are ripped from their parents arms.
• The political system envisioned by our forbearers has degenerated into self-serving, wealth focused favoritism.
• The number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States is medical expense.
• We are the only developed nation without single payer health care.
• Environmental protections that have kept our great country beautiful are being rolled back at an alarming rate.
• Climate change is real; ignoring it will not make it go away.
• There is no place in the United States where a person can work full time at a minimum wage job and afford basic necessities.
• Areas ravaged by natural disaster, especially Puerto Rico, have still not recovered and federal dollars have dried up despite desperate need.

People panic when they hear the word “socialism”.  However, Social Security, federal disaster aid, infrastructure grants and state aid for education are all forms of socialism that we welcome because they benefit us.

Let’s be clear; the fit people pitch about socialism is a fear based response to someone getting something WE don’t think they deserve.  We blame the poor for being poor, and somewhere deep inside we believe they are lazy.  If they just worked harder…

We look with pity on the sick who can’t afford health care and think it has nothing to do with us. We pay our premiums and don’t have to choose between eating and buying medication.

We are big fans of “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” as long as we are recipients of the liberty and justice.  Our absence of outrage is the most telling statement of what we think of our country and its citizens.

Before you pledge allegiance to the flag, think about who it includes and who it excludes.  When it comes to who is worthy and who is not, remember it is not ours to decide.  The ultimate strength of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.  Whether or not our country is great depends in large part on where one falls on the socio-economic continuum.

If you are going to pledge allegiance to the flag, pledge allegiance to all the people who are part of the republic.