“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.”

idolatry

The flag is a mere symbol to an abstract. The statement carries with it several qualifiers and is complete with an identifiable anchor (the USA). So pledging allegiance thereto is a gesture to a Divine ideal. The ideology of such qualified anchor is no where to be found currently on the planet. The guaranteed republican form of government, the government itself, the body of States united in America exists no more. I for one, would love to fellowship with one nation under God, but that would not be the waring, unconstitutional, and immoral god of the statist theocracy that infests this land. Liberty and justice are noble sentiments to pledge to if they existed. With compelled compliance, license, victimles crimes (complete with presidential hit lists carried out on Americans, here and abroad, without due process - first degree murder, etc.), larceny with impunity (theft of the noble labor's fruit, funny money, policing for profit, etc.) and such open and festering corruption by the executive, legislature and judiciary - supported by their PR branch, the media accepted as the land of the free and home of the brave, a pledge of allegiance to liberty and justice for all is a mere hopeful gesture to the future.

PS. I would love to pledge my allegiance to a Divinely inspired and sanctioned republic of States united in America where law's administration recognized inalienable rights and illuminated liberty and justice for all.

In violation of Article 4, Section 4, the not-progressive Regressive Movement will soon make the next change so that we will be pledging allegiance to the "wonderful democracy" for which it stands.

To pledge is only to promise to be as good citizen; however, many churches say that is not the right thing to do.

If Hillary and Obama get their way, we may soon be pledging allegiance to that bunch of commies known as the U.N.

Jim K, the correct title is IADT, the International Association of Dictators and Tyrants, and the not-progressive Regressives do want us to pledge allegiance to them.

We are not "one nation". "God" is an invention of a subset of the people. We do not provide either "liberty" or "justice" "for all".

Bellamy was a defrocked minister, and a National Socialist. The pledge is fruit from a poison tree.

Every morning, Kindergarten through 8th grade, we stood to pledge allegiance to the flag which was present in every classroom. I actually have never had a problem with it, and feel kind of sad that my children never have done it -- I am not even sure they know the words. It is probably because the word 'God' is in it. I have later learned that to become a citizen of a country -- especially a monarchy like England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.., the applying citizen pledges allegiance to the Crown and signs it -- this is what being a citizen is in other countries: loyalty to its rulers. Americans don't pledge allegiance to the government or the president, our allegiance is to the Republic. Personally, I think that when turning 18 Americans should be offered the Declaration of Independence to sign. We never actually declare ourselves and agree to the responsibilities of American citizenship -- it is just assumed. And as a result, Americans do not really know their country, what its founding principles are, what their rights are and alternately what their responsibilites are. So, I am going to give this 4 stars as I believe the Pledge did instill in me a loyalty to what America is all about and that I am responsible.

It's amazing we change the pledge like we do the constitution (originally the pledge did not have God) - nothing is sacred - it all depends where the money is. Why do you pledge allegiance to a government that kills innocent civilians in the name of freedom when the real reason is power and greed; why to you pledge allegiance when our nation does not stand for freedom and justice for all. The whole thing is just another brain washing instrument that makes us all feel cozy and shields us from our delusions.

SO interesting to read the gamut of responses! I'm with the first guy -- the quote, and especially the "under god" part, is sickening. I think jim k., for example, is utterly misguided; I hope he doesn't lose too much sleep about "the American commies," since there are many REAL problems facing the country. It's good to keep in mind Samuel Johnson's wonderful quote: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

The men and woman of America fight and yes die, every day in this country to keep all of us safe and yes free! They salute that same flag that represents All of our citizens in America and they deserve the respect of reciprocation. I too remember saluting and pledging our American flag every morning in school and I too feel saddened that our children today can not know that experience. One writer is correct when she says that our allegiance is not to our goverment but rather to one another, in the faith that God, however you know or seek him, will hold all of us to a higher moral ground. That moral ground is what in the past, has made America what she once was. What we need to remember when we pledge to our flag, and place our hands over our hearts, is that America has always been viewed as "one nation under God". We have become a very "thankless and self centered" country.

The words in our Pledge of Allegiance are good words, but they have lost their meaning. Maybe because we are not vigilant. Anonymous in Reston, are you ashamed to put your name with your negative comments? Why not own up to what you think and say?

To pledge allegiance to the Republic (that is, public rule) is all fine and dandy if only we still had a Republic to pledge allegiance to. It seems we have rulers now instead of public servants, and masters instead of employees. To a great extent we are controlled and manipulated rather than living free, productive lives. Perhaps it is the Republic that ought to be pledging allegiance to the individual, sovereign citizen, and not the citizen to the Republic.

I love it. Every country has a flag and it is the physical item that is flown to indicate a loyalty to one's country. We have a country full of weak men and whiny women now who have one goal and that is to satisfy their every little whim and make you follow suit. Individual liberty, which is what made this a great country, and we were not only great, we were prosperous and we were GENEROUS but that is all gone to the slackers and those who want to be on the dole...people today have no clue what it is to love their country so a flag is just fabric...they would lift their leg on it as quickly as they do the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Gone is any self responsibility, self reliability self sufficiency or self respect. I am pretty disgusted with the current majority of thugs, thieves, and corrupt people who have their hand in my pocket. But schools teach children to be disrespectful of their country, and parents pay no attention, and it will fall apart as we are witnessing. Still, I love the symbol...I don't care who he was, the author...it is a good pledge...another thing no one honors...

Reston, VA, is right as usual.

My G_d is not an invention. Dick's god most likely is. Many peoples gods are their own creation.

It's sickening to think that, living in this country, you can not be thankful and respectful to a country that was founded "under God" and is giving "freedom and justice to all". I go to school every day and respect this country that has given me a FREE education. I'm in 7th grade and I can't believe that ADULTS, the people living AND voting in this country can NOT be thankful OR respectful.

Should not the pledge be thought provokingly revolutionized to keep up with the growing demands of being an American citizen considering a 31 plus trillion dollar debt?