“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.”
The pledge to the flag was probably one of the earliest passages I memorized in grade school. I had no idea of the meaning of it in my early years, but it was part of the morning ritual, along with the announcements, so I recited it with everyone else.
Originally written by Francis Bellamy, a socialist Baptist minister, in August 1892, the pledge was created to be used by any country. Bellamy believed in the “absolute separation of church and state,” so the original form of the pledge was as follows:
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
The pledge has gone through two additional modifications through the years. The “United States of America” was added in 1923. In response to the threat of war with the Communists in 1954, President Eisenhower requested that Congress add the words “under God”. This has become the pledge that we recite today.
I love this country, and as I read through this very short passage that was intended to symbolize America, I have so many questions. Does this pledge truly represent what I have witnessed over my lifetime? Do we live as though we are “one nation under God?” Are we “indivisible”… living in unity? Are people actually free to live without oppressive restrictions… in “liberty”? Are people really being treated fairly… and “justice for all”?
Let’s live in a way that makes the pledge a reality.
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