Help with the The Pledge of Allegiance?

Question

This is one of my questions for my online school:
During the Spring and Summer of 2004 the Supreme Court had a case brought to it about the Pledge of Allegiance which they refused to consider allowing the lower courts decision to stand about the Pledge. The Pledge was brought to court because some people believe it is violation of Church and State to have students in school recite it because of the phrase ‘under God” which is located in it. The lower court decision was that the Pledge was not unconstitutional or a violation of Church and State and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with that decision. Our activity on the Pledge is not on the decision but on the words that we have all been saying for years. Using any resource you can tell us what the 11 parts of the Pledge mean:

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?

Thanks!

Answer 1

1. I make a commitment to be loyal
2. to the symbol/figure
3. of the United States (where I reside), all 50 of them
4. of the land of promise and opportunity
5. and also make this same commitment to the form of government (Republic)
6. for the freedom of people to choose their leaders and decide for themselves,
7. stand as a unified nation, a homogenous people, under whichever deity I may believe
8. that this nation will not be divided, split, or swayed from it's freedom
9. with the ability to choose
10. and the ability to be freed from wrongs, and make laws to punish those who are wrong
11. for all who are citizens (the forefathers were specific in their language of the Constitution, that only citizens had such rights)


I hope this helps you. Also, the case you speak of in 2004 reinforced that students are FREE to believe as they see fit, and do NOT have to repeat "under god" if they choose not to. However, they may be required to stand with their fellow students to speak the pledge, with that omission.

Answer 2

Good luck on this. Just a little note here. Being a person of a "certain age", I recall when they added the phrase "under god" into the Pledge. From the time I started school - the morning was started with the Pledge of Allegiance. Everyone stood, hand over heart, facing the flag in the corner and said those Patriotic and wonderful words about a country we all loved. It speaks of love of country and it's people and swears to be faithful and true to that country.

When the dimwits in Washington, in post WWII "thank heavens it's over" fervor added the phrase "under god", it became something entirely different. It no longer was a wonderfully written, perfect Patriotic thing to recite and to remind us how fortunate we were. It became, instead, an anthem more suitable for church than for the classroom and forever changed what was perfect to begin with. It immediately set one upon the other.."whose god", "which one". What if you don't have one? It led then and leads now to conflict wherever it is recited. We, as citizens of America, now are in conflict. It is a shame, really. It was perfect as it was originally written.

Answer 3

It's pretty self-explanatory, don't you think?

I pledge allegiance --you are swearing to honor and defend

To the flag -- the symbol

Of the United States Of America -- the Nation symbolized

And to the Republic-- the Nation

For which it stands -- the flag symbolizes

One Nation, Under God-- Our founding fathers wrote our Constitution and our Declaration of Independence based on principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, which they believed were inalienable rights guaranteed by Our Creator.

Indivisible-- That no States shall leave the Union, we are One Nation

With Liberty -- See the original draft of the Constitution.

And Justice for All-- A government of the people, by the people and for the people, the first 10 amendments to our US Constitution should clarify this for you.

Answer 4

I think Red Skelton said it best.

I

me, an individual, a committee of one.

Pledge

dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.

Allegiance

my love and my devotion.

To the flag

our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever
she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given
her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!

United

that means that we have all come together.

States

individual communities that have united into 48 great states.
Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and
purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to
a common purpose, and that's love for country.

And to the republic

a state in which sovereign power is
invested in representatives chosen by the
people to govern. And government is the people
and it's from the people to the leaders, not from
the leaders to the people.

For which it stands, one nation

one nation, meaning "so
blessed by God"

Indivisible

incapable of being divided.

With liberty

which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's
own life without threats, fear or some sort of
retaliation.

And Justice

the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.

For all

which means, boys and girls, it's as much your

country as it is mine.

***~~**~~***


Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country

and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance...

UNDER GOD

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said

that is a prayer

and that would be eliminated from schools too?

Answer 5

Under God to many implies there is a separate supreme being from a human being in control of everything. Some like myself believe we are part of the supremeness of a whole. Some just don't want to say something they are not sure of....honesty on their part....to be praised. Other than that, the whole document goes to treating our fellow citizens with as much respect as possible and honoring our Constitution and its meaning thereto.

Answer 6

Under God does not promote any religeon and therefore is not a violation of church and state.

As long as the VILE CORRUPT DIGUSTING and UNFAIR Family Court system is in operation the words "With Liberty and Justice for all" are very debateable.

Answer 7

well, hmmm, some have such a beef with the pledge of allegience but many walk around daily with US currency that says "In God we Trust." :)