Is the Pledge of Allegiance seditious or even treasonous?
All those who don’t read the below or uncontrollably wish to spit Civil War sound bytes need not answer.
"I pledge allegiance
To the Flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic
For which it Stands
One Nation
Indivisible
With Liberty and Justice for All"
This is probably one of the least scrutinized forms of "patriotism" we have today in our 50 United States. How many of you know anything about your Pledge or what "for which it stands"?
"Under God" is omitted here because it was not introduced until 1954 and thus cannot be a part of the "original" pledge (from 1892, by Francis Bellamy, a Christian Socialist who wanted the government to rule the economy using the strategies laid out by the Military Industrial Complex), even if people still run around upholding that by saying "preserve the original pledge."
SO LETS LOOK AT IT.
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America"
That means you pledge your life, your liberty, and your property to…a political union? "The United States of America", absent fascist or statist propaganda, is a political union. The greatness of a country is not found in flamboyant banners or patriotic jingles, it is found in the greatness of each individual citizen, each town and each city thriving in freedom. Swearing allegiance to central political unions allows for the growth of Empires and the death of the sovereign individuals and families that made the country great in the first place. By swearing allegiance to a central power, be it a King or a Congress, you betray your home and your roots, no?
"And to the Republic, for which it stands"
We do not stand for government, government stands for US. We do not serve government, government serves US. I do not find it ironic that an avowed Socialist thought inverting the roles of the ruling people and the servant government was a good idea. Socialism and Communism require as a rule servant people and ruling government.
"One Nation, Indivisible"
This is treason. We are 50 States. Fifty independent states that joined the Union voluntarily. As much as it is the right of a State to elect to join the Union, it is a right of the State to elect to leave the Union and only a fascist or dictator would say otherwise. In the Constitution neither is the power for the Federal Government granted to fight secession nor is the right of a State to secede barred. Therefore, a State may come or go as it pleases. "Indivisible" pretends otherwise and suggests we are a forced Union, unable to leave if that Union threatens liberty. There is no liberty in forced Union.
Again, we are 50 states, 50 little countries just as independent and diverse as, in theory, the many nations of Europe or those of Africa.
Anyone who disagrees with the right of a State to secede should re-read the Declaration of Independence: "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." –Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
"With Liberty and Justice for All"
There is nothing I know of that is wrong with this statement. This was a founding principle of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Let it further be noted that the only other country I know that has a "pledge" is the UK, and that is "God Save the King." I’ll let you imagine what that one teaches kids about the sovereignty of the people.
SO, is this seemingly innocent phrase we used to say every morning in fact undermining our very liberty by giving us the impression we are a Union, not a free country, and we serve the government rather than the government serves us?
@ missin’ the beach – # 1 argue of a fascist, the Declaration was not a law. (1) quote me where I said it was a law, (2) tell us why that matters. What was declared was the fact that government serves the people and if it does not do it’s duty then the people may change or remove it. That is a natural right and natural right void any laws that are made to interfere with them. A government may ban free speech but a human still has the right to free speech. I’m afraid you didn’t look hard enough into this.
You don’t understand the Civil War if you make a comment like that. If the desire of human beings to be free and sovereign ended, absolutely, all around the world, when Richmond fell in 1865 you would be correct. As I still fly my flag today I am testimony to that being false, and I know I am not alone.
11 Responses
Patient Sailor r
14 Sep 2011
Rounder
14 Sep 2011
and what would you offer as a better pledge?
Baphomantis93
14 Sep 2011
Very National Socialist
wrfine
14 Sep 2011
You have way to much time on your hands!!!!
Miguel O.
14 Sep 2011
Why don’t you and your libs comrades pledge your allegiance to Russia, I guess it will suit you and your friends better
Dogbreath
14 Sep 2011
I think, historically it was something addressed to all these immigrants who didn’t feel all that American as yet, and to those unreconstructed Confederate veterans who still wanted to secede. In general I dislike ritual expressions of loyalty or love. It just cheapens the sentiment from overuse.
There are a lot of people who reflexively hate the country they live in, and those people used to be called liberals and are now called "progressives".
Beater Car Junki
14 Sep 2011
I like letting kids say the pledge and I see nothing wrong with it. You have made some valid points about the government serving us not us serving it but I really don’t get your opposition to a harmless grade school ceremony. In our society kids watch cartoons and we read them fairy tales but they don’t grow up acting like a cartoon character or believing in fairies. You can leave a reference to the U.K. out as far as I’m concerned because that’s like comparing apples to oranges. Seditious or treasonous is a bit of a stretch. I grew up when kids said the pledge every morning and I’m not seditious or a traitor. If you don’t like the pledge just don’t say it. You seem to be a strong individualist and I respect that.
missin’ th
14 Sep 2011
The Declaration of Independence was not a law. It was just that, a declaration of independence from Great Britain and all they found to be wrong with it.
We are no 50 little countries. There are a handful of states who reserve the right to secede from the Union, and those rights are reserved in their state charters. The rest have always belong to the Union as the United States.
(Texas being the primary one as it was the ONLY "country" to speak of. Hence "Lone Star State" and "Republic of Texas". )
The only time when states are given the right to secede from the Union is when: "any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." and that is really specific to the People, not specific States -though I suppose that is arguable. Case and point, the Civil War, Southern states versus Northern. Southern states seceded on the premise of their states’ rights being infringed upon by a "tyrannical" government. But look how that turned out?
Interesting point, but I think you’ve looked way too far in to it. Why not just take it at face value and accept it as a pledge to the greatness of these UNITED States? To me, it is a utopian idea which should be sought after but will likely never be achieved because as we all know, though we are "indivisible" – we argue a whole helluva lot over pretty much everything political. But then, that’s the beauty of it isn’t it? That we have the right to do so?
CIA
14 Sep 2011
The Flag represents the Republic.
Lina
19 Dec 2011
does it matter this much?
Nobody’s making you say the pledge every day.
We still have the freedom of speech.
If you don’t like it don’t say it.
Write a knew one and say it to yourself.
Is realy worth all this hype?
Lina
19 Dec 2011
So what?
does it matter this much?
Nobody’s making you say the pledge every day.
We still have the freedom of speech.
If you don’t like it don’t say it.
Write a knew one and say it to yourself.
Is realy worth all this hype?
I agree with everything you said except the title. With that said, it isn’t a big enough sticking point to take up. We are 50 little countries, except that we have lost our perspective. One day another state or states will secede and maybe remind everyone what state rights are. Including some on the supreme court.