(This is an opinion piece. These are my educated opinions on any possible or probable outcome(s). As always, I do not support any illegal or unconstitutional activities.)
Happy Flag Day!
This blog is about what the American flag stands for. If you know someone who is MAGA, feel free to share what “MAGA uber-patriots” are supposed to know already.
The Pledge of Allegiance, sourced from the US Veterans Affairs article:
https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/pledge.pdf
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all (original 1892 pledge.)
Taken from the article, this original pledge was to express loyalty to the country 27 years after the civil war ended:
“One Nation Indivisible” referred to the outcome of the Civil War, and “Liberty and Justice for all” expressed the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.”
In 1923, they added to it so that foreign-borne persons gaining citizenship would be clear. They added “to the flag” instead of “my flag”:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all (amended 1923 pledge.)
The VA article ends with the latest version, the one we pledge today:
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 (amended 1954 pledge.)
Why was it changed with “Under God” added?
I looked up some Google searches about this, and this is what I found:
Per a Pew Research Center article:
“Congress added “Under God” to the Pledge in 1954 – during the Cold War. Many members of Congress reportedly wanted to emphasize the distinctions between the United States and the officially atheistic Soviet Union.” Pew Research Center article above.
“While the Pledge includes the phrase “under God,” students cannot be compelled to recite it. This protection stems from the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause. This clause prohibits the government, including school officials and the school board, from forcing individuals to express beliefs they do not hold.” Unknown author.
As we can see from this amending over time of our pledge, some things remain constant:
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 (amended 1954 pledge and our current pledge.)
This pledge has always (since its inception in 1892) said these things:
- Those saying the pledge agree the country is “indivisible.” This means no displaying of confederate flags unless you are a traitor and encouraging or supporting secession (the breaking away of states).
- “…with liberty and justice for all”. This part of the pledge is an affirmation by those saying it, aka “pledging loyalty to it,” that all people in America deserve liberty and justice and that all true Americans will support everyone’s right to liberty and justice.
So, on June 14th, Flag Day, remind patriots and pseudo-patriot MAGA alike that saying the pledge means vowing to these things. So, MAGA should never say our Pledge of Allegiance. Nor should they display our flag. They do not mean it, and they are working against, not for, our American freedoms and way of life.
May our flag always be a symbol of freedom for all and never be one that supports tyranny.
