The Pledge

The Pledge of Allegiance

"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." (US history), is how we have been saying the pledge since 1954, so why is it that after fifty years we find a dilemma with the phrase "under God." We have always and always will say the pledge to the United States of America, not to God. Students have never minded saying that phrase, and no one is being forced to say it.

Ever since 1892, the people of America have been saying the pledge to the United States. Since then to the present the pledge has never said "one nation under Jesus Christ" or "Buddha" or "Allah". (Students Opinion on the Pledge of Allegiance) The lower court had even said "the ceremonial reference to God in the pledge does not convey endorsement of particular religious beliefs"(Lawmakers Blast Pledge Ruling). Meaning we have said the pledge for so long for the reason of pride, showing our loyalty to the United States not to any specific super being. The two little words "under God" do not change the pledge into a prayer when said in the public. The phrase is not binding any person to a single god, just our loyalty of the nation we reside in.

The majority of the people that say the pledge on a daily basis are students. Most students do not seem to be bothered by the phrase in the pledge. They have been saying it ever since elementary school and no student has every thought to question it or even say that it was in any way being religious. When we stand every morning to say the pledge we do not think of it as separating us by religion, but that it unifies us as a classroom, as a school, as a state, and as a nation.

The government has not written anywhere in the constitution or any other major document that the residents of America are to say the pledge. "According to current U.S. custom, as codified by the United States Congress, persons are expected (but not legally required): by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. (4 U.S.C. Ð'§ 4)" (Pledge of Allegiance) People are expected to, but cannot be forced to stand up, put their right hand on their heart, and say the pledge. There is no fine or punishment for not saying the pledge, it is our right to choose if we want to say the pledge or not. It is commonly seen that students will not even bother to say the pledge anymore and will rather just stand while it is being said over the intercom.