by Jamie Davis, Jacksonville Tenth Amendment Center
My young heart was beating quickly. Even as a young student, I knew something important was about to happen as the class grew oddly quiet and focused. As directed by the teacher, I stood to my feet. I noticed everyone else moving their hands to cover their hearts and nervously I did the same. And then, while looking intently at the flag, all voices began to recite in unison: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…â€
This was my first enduring classroom memory. I’m sure I had good teachers and good friends in my early years, but for some reason, this is what I remember. Perhaps it is memorable because we did it daily and the pattern was always the same. Perhaps it was memorable because I am so proud to be American. But what exactly does it mean to be American? Is America about apple pie, weekend backyard barbecues, and lemonade stands?
Consider the lyrics of the song “Chicken Fried†by the Zac Brown Band
“I thank god for my life and for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died
And the ones that gave their lives so we don`t have to sacrifice all the things we love
Like our chicken fried , Cold beer on a Friday night , a pair of jeans that fit just right and the radio upâ€
While the song is catchy and the sentiment is fun, is this really what America is about? Did the founders sacrifice to keep us from having to sacrifice all the “things†we love? Did they envision a government capable of providing fried chicken and cold beer for everyone? Or is America about freedom, liberty, and rights that God gives which no man nor government has the right to take away?
As a schoolboy, I pledged allegiance daily to a flag, a fuzzy image susceptible to reinterpretation over time. And this matters quite a bit because:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â If I pledge my allegiance to a flag with stars and stripes, then I owe my undying and unquestioning devotion to the government which holds that flag up high.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â If I pledge my allegiance to those who give their lives in battle, then I will owe my undying and unquestioning devotion to whoever directs our troops into battle, be it heroic or criminal battle.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â If I pledge my allegiance to apple pie and fried chicken then I can be enslaved by anyone with a printing press and a handful of promises.
Abraham Lincoln said “The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next.â€Â But our classrooms have been infiltrated. The pledge of allegiance was written by an avowed socialist whose dream was to see America transformed into a command and control economy where income distribution was equal and jobs were assigned by the government.
Is it any wonder that Americans are confused about what the flag represents?
If America is to survive we must renew our allegiance to the republic for which the American flag stands. Ours is a republic framed by the constitution, built on the foundation of the tenth amendment, and held together by respect for inalienable rights.
“I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That ‘all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people’ (10th Amendment). To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specifically drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible to any definition.†Thomas Jefferson
Jamie Davis is the chapter coordinator for the Jacksonville/First Coast Tenth Amendment Center
I don't know if you are ripping into the pledge of allegiance but you are correct. The pledge was not written by a patriotic American but by a socialist.
The upside down U.S. flag is an official signal of distress. This is a naval symbol, and I have no issues with it at all – in fact, I think more flags should be upside down with the constitution being desecrated the way it has been.
I didn't know that.
I agree with you…one question though…shouldn't the word "inalienable" be replaced with "unalienable" rights? Just askin'…
Like most, I grew up reciting the pledge of allegiance without much thought as a schoolroom ritual.
As an adult now, I refuse to recite it, in public or otherwise.
As mentioned in the article, the pledge was a socialist statist scheme to encourage subservience to the State, which I reject.
Further, I cannot pledge allegiance to a lie and enemy of my liberties and way of life, i.e. to a government that has rendered itself illegitamate and unrepresentative of the citizens it is supposed to serve, and has become a hostile oppressor of American citizens, usurping powers it does not legally hold.
The U.S. government does not constitute a republic "with liberty and justice for all" anymore, and I reject the premise that the federal union was, and is "one nation, indivisible".
In short, I will not pledge allegiance and obedience to the worst enemy of Americans' liberties and way of life.
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Why are my comments on this article being deleted??
Sam – no clue – our automated system works great….most of the time. I went in and manually saw them after your message here and – heck of a good comment by the way. thanks for sharing your perspective on this issue!
Like most, I grew up reciting the pledge of allegiance without much thought as a schoolroom ritual.
As an adult now, I refuse to recite it, in public or otherwise.
As mentioned in the article, the pledge was a socialist statist scheme to encourage subservience to the State, which I reject.
Further, I cannot pledge allegiance to a lie and enemy of my liberties and way of life, i.e. to a government that has rendered itself illegitamate and unrepresentative of the citizens it is supposed to serve, and has become a hostile oppressor of American citizens, usurping powers it does not legally hold.
The U.S. government does not constitute a republic "with liberty and justice for all" anymore, and I reject the premise that the federal union was, and is "one nation, indivisible".
In short, I will not pledge allegiance and obedience to what I consider the worst enemy of Americans' liberties and way of life: the United States government.
I think this subject has to be broached very carefully with our fellow righties (the left will embrace because they hate America). It could be seen as something that is equal to anti-patriotic hate-america dialog that you get from the far left. I attacked the picture in this article because it was written on an upside down American flag. I didn't know it was the navy sign of distress. The picture made more sense once I realized that. It wasn't hate-america but just saying things are not level right now.
I agree this subject should be broached carefully. So many people are in the dark about our history and the pledge carries sentimental meaning to them apart from its negative founding or the motives of the socialists behind its creation. I completely get why others find it offensive and unamerican but but we need to give people more time to digest just how far we have strayed from our roots constitutionally before they can grasp why the pledge may not reflect who we really are as a nation.
The word indivisible means no alternative, whether you like it or not. lol
What percent of readers are moved by the endorsement of Chuck Norris in the pop-up?
Very interesting. Now that the country stands for tyranny, you wouldn't want to pledge your allegiance to the country. The flag represents the union. The union at one time stood for individual liberty, however pledging allegiance to a union contradicts individual liberty.
I've got to think about this one. If it's any consolation to the author, I recited that thing for years but I have no allegiance to this union.
Rob, thanks for your comment. RE: "I have no allegiance to this union" – It's a contradiction to human nature to have allegiance to a union which diminishes a humans inalienable rights.