Saluting, of course meaning reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
At that time before the Second World War, the Pledge would begin with
the right hand over the heart during the phrase "I pledge allegiance". The arm
was then extended toward the Flag at the phrase "to the Flag", and it remained
outstretched during the rest of the pledge, with the palm facing upward, as if
to lift the flag.
and:
1954
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an order adding the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.
He would later write in a letter:
'These words [“under God”] will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep
constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which
alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded.'
The irony is, to me, very apparent. We have two arguments against the pledge: one that it is a false form of idolatry. The other, even more apparent today in our politically correct society, that the pledge excludes those who do not worship a God, and incorrectly and unfairly lumps us all together as faithful people. Some of faith won't say it. Some against faith won't say it.
While the addition of "Under God" would seem to placate Jehovah's Witnesses in one way, acknowledging that a flag or the idea of proclaiming citizenship remains under the importance of faith to one's maker, it now creates an even further divide among Americans. Why can we not pledge allegiance to the idea of humility Eisenhower called upon- humility that freedom should bring us no matter what. Humility, meaning a modest estimate of one's own importance. We are not important without the ability to speak, to invent, to create, to worship, to move. Without freedom, we would have none of those things.
Saluting the stars and stripes does not blaspheme God. And by speaking the words of the Pledge, one is not automatically a Christian by default. You are simply a humble supporter of freedom.
2 comments:
In October 2001, Wisconsin passed a statute requiring schools to offer the Pledge or the Anthem each school day. Private schools are exempted if their boards determine this conflicts with their doctrine. Prior to this, the law only required it once a week. The law also says “No pupil may be compelled, against the pupil’s objections or those of the pupil's parents or guardian, to recite the pledge or to sing the anthem.” For more info, read the state's page about it.
Yes, people can reasonably object to saying the Pledge, for many reasons, some religious, some not. I think it's kind of funny for you to say "saying 'God' doesn't make you a Christian by default." You're obviously suggesting that there's only one God, the Christian God, and that somehow all Witnesses, or any non-Christian, or any degree of non-believer should think nothing of being compelled to recite such an oath.
In the Madison School District, teachers recite the following before the Pledge or the Anthem: “We live in a nation of freedom. Participation in the pledge is voluntary. Whoever wishes to participate may stand, those who do not may sit.”
In the Madison School District, teachers recite the following before the Pledge or the Anthem: “We live in a nation of freedom. Participation in the pledge is voluntary. Whoever wishes to participate may stand, those who do not may sit.”
Do you honestly think this is a good thing? We've become so hampered by legalism that our students are read a pledge Miranda act before recitation of a pledge to the country that exists for their freedom?
Students shouldn't be forced to do it if they don't want to, but they also shouldn't be force fed legalistic nonsense like that each morning. I'd tell my teacher I objected to her schpiel on religious grounds and would prefer not to hear it.
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