Which part of the pledge of allegiance is more important?

Question

'Under God' ? Or 'Indivisible'? And which party do you belong to?

'Under God' was added in 1954...it HAS been dissected already

I don't want to remove or change anything. I also don't want to single out 'under god' to be most important, while simultaneously expending energy to DIVIDE this country...indivisible means much more to me in light of the conflicts facing americans

Answer 1

First, I am an independent. Both major parties disgust me, and for me to be rigidly associated with either would be downright self degrading. The line of demarcation between the Democrats and the Republicans is illusory.

Neither “Under God” or “Indivisible” particularly stand out to me in the pledge of allegiance. If I had to pick just out of these two options, I suppose “indivisible” would be of greater value. I think the term “Under God” undermines the virtue of indivisibility because no concept could be more divisive than God.

Whenever one invokes God, the immediate response is which God – Allah, Yahweh, Jesus, Brahma, Vishnu, etc? Even if one were to chose just the Judeo-Christian God (Yahweh/Jesus) that would hardly resolve the issue, because then it leads to the question of how does one choose to serve such a God. This naturally leads to interdenominational conflicts. It’s no wonder that the founding fathers took great pains to keep religion, and all the sectarian baggage associated with it, far from the halls of government.

I think the term “indivisible” isn’t necessarily a good thing either. Sometimes a little divisiveness is the hallmark of a healthy democracy. Complete homogeneity with respect to ideology isn’t the mark of a robust democracy, it’s a actually a sign of a dictatorship and a mindless and conformist electorate.

If I had to choose phrases that I think would be the most important ones in the Pledge of Allegiance it would be “and for the Republic for which it stands” and I would also choose “…and liberty and justice for all”. Our greatest contributions to humanity are the preservation of democracy in the republic form, and our continued devotion to the values of liberty and justice. One can have all the belief in God, all the theology, and all the unity one wants, but without a representative democracy and our emphasis on liberty and justice, the United States simply wouldn’t be the United States.

Answer 2

It's ALL important. There's no need to choose. Words are not scarce resources!

(Instant thumbs down, for a non-answer, I know. But I don't understand the question.)

"Under God" means that we do not think that government or humankind is the highest authority. Much misery has been caused who thought they were speaking for God, but I daresay that much more ensues whenever anyone thinks THEY are the final authority and answer to no one - as happened with communist regimes, to which the addition was a direct answer.

"Indivisible" is self-explanatory. We stand together; the Civil War taught us what happens when we don't.

If you are asking whether we should drop "under God" to get more "indivisibility," I'd say no. Truthfully, I'd say that someone who does not agree conceptually with "under God" - the philosophical concept running all the way back to 1776 that certain rights come merely from being human, and are not granted by the state, be it a king or a politburo - does not subscribe to a central tenet of our government, and shouldn't bother to say the Pledge at all. ALL portions are important.

I would point out that a fair measure of "indivisibility" was sacrificed during the civil rights movement, in order to obtain "liberty and justice for all." As I have said many times, Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail is a direct descendant philosophically from the assertion in our Declaration of Independence that our rights come from our Creator, not the state.

NEITHER phrase should be taken out. Are you advocating that one, or the other, be removed? If so, why? (I know - I should ask my own question, not answer your with one! OK, I just did.)

Conservative/Republican

I believe that the responses will indeed fall on partisan lines - providing fodder for BOTH sides to make their cases. The Right is theocratic; the Left is hostile to religion. Round and round we go.

PS 1954 is also the year Brown v Board of Ed was "added" to our Constitutional jurisprudence. Must have been a good year!!!!! Always nice to debate with you. I did have a question open on this before. :)

Answer 3

I think we have a whole lot more important issues to attend to then this one.

Technically, the Aethiests have a point on this one. Screw them, it stays. This country was indeed founded under God. As to indivisible, well it derned near got divided didn't it? The 'Liberty and justice for all part' could use a little discussion too.

Republican

Answer 4

The pledge is important to me but not important to some. I don't think anyone part is more important than the next.

It's a free country feel free not to say it at all or omit the parts of your choosing.

I hope it gives my kids a little patriotism, and reminds them how lucky they are to live here.

Republican

Answer 5

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.


Every word is important.

Conservative

Answer 6

I make no pledge of allegiance to any government entity, or their icons. I side with those who have interests that match my own. I am unaffiliated with any political party. Given we are neither "under God" nor "indivisible", I find the pledge as comical as the old "Reefer Madness" and "Duck and Cover" public service videos.

Answer 7

How about "the flag, and to the Republic for which it stands."

And ya, isnt it AWESOME how you can benefit from all the great things our country gives you, asks nothing but a percentage of your income in return (unless you dont make much, and then they give you money, too) and you have no obligation to even pledge allegiance to that Republic? Now, being a traitor by 1942's standards somehow is being patriotic..

Answer 8

The pledge is a whole. You can't take it apart.

Indivisible is important because it reminds us to work as a whole and stop letting politicians divide us into groups which they can pit against each other.

"Under God" is important because it reminds us that the government does not grant rights to us. They are given to us by a higher power and, therefore, the government can't take them away.

.

Answer 9

country wise I would say "indivisable". We need to stand together to move forward.
To protect all religions "under god" - although not all religions recognize the same god. All but 2 do recognize atleast 1, or a God of some type. We have to protect everybody's freedoms.

Answer 10

Indivisible, but the most important part is "with liberty and justice for all".

Unaffiliated.