Would you agree with me on the pledge of allience?

Question

Figuring that the pledge was written in 1892 and did not include the phrase "under god". Should it be ok with people and kids to say the pledge as they desire, either the original one with out the phrase "under god" or the one with the phrase "under god" which was inserted in 1954 after a campaign by the knights of columbus.

In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer.

Answer 1

As a patriotic conservative Christian I have to say... that that has been my position all along. The 'Pledge' was fine for decades without 'under God', so I have no issues with kids saying it or not, because that's not the important part.

Answer 2

With out changing anything else in the pledge I would agree to an extent. Since the pledge represents (to me) a desire to support and defend your way of life, it is a very small way to say; this may or may not be the greatest nation but it's the one I choose. When you say the pledge you are confirming that you are a citizen and for better or worse this is your place. Remove "under god" if you wish but do not change the Pledge of Alligence.
I think it's interesting that those who disagree with the way this country is run would rather do away with the entire pledge as some sort of boycot or demonstration while they wear a tatoo or display their piercing and claim they do it confirm their dedication to something; a boy / girl friend, to mom, to a friend that died, the list goes on. I say: Love it or just leave!

Answer 3

The original pledge, meant as a universal pledge for use by all republics was this...

I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands,
One nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

It was written, by of all people, a Baptist minister named Francis Bellamy, a socialist Christian in August 1872. The original did not contain the words "of the United States of America" This was added in 1923 by the National Flag Committee, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Nor did it contain the phrase "under God". In 1954, "under God" was added by Congress in an attempt to draw a distinction between the United States and the "Godless Communists."

Since there are religious beliefs which do not recognize the existence of God, I would have to agree with the Supreme Court that the forced recitation of the pledge is unconstitutional and that any reference to the pledge as an official emblem of the United States would also be unconstitutional. Facts are facts and the establishment clause of the constitution is quite clear.

Answer 4

How is saying the Pledge of Allegiance classified as a public prayer? I don't see the word Amen anywhere near it. When you say the Pledge you are not praying to God. With all respect, you are mistaken.

When you Pledge Allegiance to the United States Flag, You:

*Promise your loyalty to the Flag itself.
*Promise your loyalty to your own and the other 49 States.
*Promise your loyalty to the Government that unites us all,
Recognizing that we are ONE Nation under God,
That we can not or should not be divided or alone,
And understanding the right to Liberty and Justice belongs to ALL of us.

The reasoning put forth by President Eisenhower used for adding the line "One Nation Under God" was.. "These 50 individual states are united as a single Republic under the Divine providence of God, "our most powerful resource"".

I personally have no problem with anyone who does not want to use that line when saying the Pledge. I DO have a problem with people trying to have it removed because of personal political agendas though.

I said the pledge of allegience for years and I STILL get a knot in my throat when I hear it. It means something to me. I am not overly religious. How many men and women gave their lives for those words? How is removing that line going to improve your lot in life? It isn't. I FEEL it would dishonor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for you and yours.

Too many values that the United States was built on has been shed away as it is.. and for anyone who says that God was not a factor in why this country was born needs to study history.

Answer 5

Can't we just get over this BS? I never went to church, never belonged to a church but said the "under God" a couple of thousand times. Although I believe there is a God, and so does everyone else. To some it is Mother Nature, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars but all believe in something. So "under God" can be whatever to whoever and we have a couple of thousand others things that are more important to worry about. And, anyway the US was founded as a Christian nation, by Christians. Not Jews. Not Muslims. Many, many references to a God in most documents in the founding of this country. So....don't say "under God" and you won't hurt my feelings but don't tell me that I can't say it.

Answer 6

Aside from the religious aspect of the pledge, we don't really think twice about it. In retrospect though, pledging our allegiance to anything, even this great country, feels like McCarthyism. Loyalty oaths, pledges and things like that fell to the way side when communism destroyed itself. It's unnecessary and even rings a bit of ultra-nationalism, which is not a good thing.

Answer 7

"under god" should not be in the pledge. It is an offense to those who are non-god fearing. And yet- not including it should in no way offend those who do believe in god. It is not a religious pledge, nor should it be. It is simply an oath of allegiance to your country.

While I can understand religious folk wanting it to be included- does the pledge offend them in any way if it is NOT included?

Answer 8

At my high school, no one had to say "Under God" when reciting the pledge, they didn't even have to recite the pledge if they didn't want to. The least that they asked at my school was that you stand up during the pledge.

No offense, but it's allegiance, allience isn't a word.

Answer 9

They should be able to say it anyway they want. I believe this whole "God" thing has gotten out of hand. Who cares?? There are huge problems in the world and people are wasting their time worried about a pledge that has been said for fifty years without any bloodshed.

Answer 10

I think it sould stay as it is now with the words "under God", because the majority believes in one "God".

The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."


This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The 23 words what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal. Those words now read:

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.
June 14, 1954



In 1892, 1923, 1924 and 1954 the American people demonstrated enough concern about the actual words in the Pledge to make some necessary changes. Today there may be a tendency among many Americans to recite "by rote" with little thought for the words themselves. Before continuing with our tour, let's examine these 31 words a little more thoroughly.

I Pledge Allegiance I Promise to be faithful and true (Promise my loyalty)
to the flag to the emblem that stands for and represents
of the United States all 50 states, each of them individual, and individually represented on the flag
of America yet formed into a UNION of one Nation.
and to the Republic And I also pledge my loyalty to the Government that is itself a Republic, a form of government where the PEOPLE are sovereign,
for which it stands, this government also being represented by the Flag to which I promise loyalty.
one Nation under God, These 50 individual states are united as a single Republic under the Divine providence of God, "our most powerful resource" (according to the words of President Eisenhower)
Indivisible, and can not be separated. (This part of the original version of the pledge was written just 50 years after the beginning of the Civil War and demonstrates the unity sought in the years after that divisive period in our history)
with Liberty The people of this Nation being afforded the freedom to pursue "life, liberty, and happiness",
and Justice And each person entitled to be treated justly, fairly, and according to proper law and principle,
for All. And these principles afforded to EVERY AMERICAN, regardless of race, religion, color, creed, or any other criteria. Just as the flag represents 50 individual states that can not be divided or separated, this Nation represents millions of people who can not be separated or divided.

Thus it is that when you Pledge Allegiance to the United States Flag, You:
*Promise your loyalty to the Flag itself.
*Promise your loyalty to your own and the other 49 States.
*Promise your loyalty to the Government that unites us all,
Recognizing that we are ONE Nation under God,
That we can not or should not be divided or alone,
And understanding the right to Liberty and Justice belongs to ALL of us.