Given the hullabaloo raised in Arlington, MA, I once again am pondering the appropriateness of that pledge in our nation. I think we might just be better off abandoning it entirely, for many reasons.
The main issue that I have with The Pledge is, quite frankly, the authors of it, followed closely by some of the sentiments that are expressed within it, which are not surprising given who the authors of it were.
It was written at the dawn of the progressive era by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister and Christian Socialist to express the sentiments of his cousin, one Edward Bellamy, whom you may remember as the author of the American socialist utopian novels Looking Backward and Equality. Edward had quite the following in his day, there were even some Bellamy Clubs formed to propagate the concepts contained within the covers of his books, utopian communities which were formed and his books were often referred to by title in many of the Marxist publications of the day.
The original Pledge was not so different from the one today:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
And this, to me, is one of the reasons why our federal government has been able to usurp so much of our liberty with our blessings and consent. We are not the Republic of America, we are the United States of America. A union of states, each a sovereign entity, that have formed a treaty of alliance with each other. This pledge, by its very nature, erodes the fundamental belief contained within our Constitution that the states are sovereign themselves and each individually possesses more authority than does our national government. Through indoctrination methods, such as The Pledge, we are not infused with this belief, but rather that the national government has more power and authority over the citizens than does their state government.
We need to return to the ideals upon which this nation was founded - a national government of highly limited authority - before our constitutional republic morphs into yet another European styled social democracy, the fundamental transformation which the progressives have sought for the last 110+ years. It is our obligation, as the posterity who have inherited that which our founders created, to return those ideals into the hearts and minds of those that will follow us.
And that is why, at least in part, I feel that the people of this nation would be better off abandoning The Pledge.
I hope that those who read this will ponder the sentiments expressed within it as we celebrate the 234th anniversary of our Independence from the tyranny of complete authority of a national government.
PrintSmith wrote: Given the hullabaloo raised in Arlington, MA, I once again am pondering the appropriateness of that pledge in our nation. I think we might just be better off abandoning it entirely, for many reasons.
The main issue that I have with The Pledge is, quite frankly, the authors of it, followed closely by some of the sentiments that are expressed within it, which are not surprising given who the authors of it were.
It was written at the dawn of the progressive era by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister and Christian Socialist to express the sentiments of his cousin, one Edward Bellamy, whom you may remember as the author of the American socialist utopian novels Looking Backward and Equality. Edward had quite the following in his day, there were even some Bellamy Clubs formed to propagate the concepts contained within the covers of his books, utopian communities which were formed and his books were often referred to by title in many of the Marxist publications of the day.
The original Pledge was not so different from the one today:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
And this, to me, is one of the reasons why our federal government has been able to usurp so much of our liberty with our blessings and consent. We are not the Republic of America, we are the United States of America. A union of states, each a sovereign entity, that have formed a treaty of alliance with each other. This pledge, by its very nature, erodes the fundamental belief contained within our Constitution that the states are sovereign themselves and each individually possesses more authority than does our national government. Through indoctrination methods, such as The Pledge, we are not infused with this belief, but rather that the national government has more power and authority over the citizens than does their state government.
We need to return to the ideals upon which this nation was founded - a national government of highly limited authority - before our constitutional republic morphs into yet another European styled social democracy, the fundamental transformation which the progressives have sought for the last 110+ years. It is our obligation, as the posterity who have inherited that which our founders created, to return those ideals into the hearts and minds of those that will follow us.
And that is why, at least in part, I feel that the people of this nation would be better off abandoning The Pledge.
Once again, thank you for your insightful and important contribution regarding our nation. Most of us do not look into such matters and your insight and thoughts are welcomed. Given what you espouse, my own ignorance, and the direction our country is taking, you would do well to be on a speaking tour throughout the country. Most of us need refreshers on this subject. Only through a grass roots effort are we going to have a remote chance of righting our listing ship.
A downfall of our nation is what I see happening. Like all historical empires fell, so I see the US falling given its departure from the direction our forefathers so very carefully forged out of their bitter experiences.
Thank you again for reminding us just what is at stake.
I hope that those who read this will ponder the sentiments expressed within it as we celebrate the 234th anniversary of our Independence from the tyranny of complete authority of a national government.
I hope that those who read this will ponder the sentiments expressed within it as we celebrate the 234th anniversary of our Independence from the tyranny of complete authority of a national government.
Nah.. They will go watch fireworks, eat popcorn and hot dogs, and Monday morning go back to their slave jobs, and ask "when does my free Obama care start, who is going to save social security, why are these roads full of pot holes, why can't Johnny read and balance a check book? etc, etc.
P.S. Good post PrintSmith, good luck!
If you want to be, press one. If you want not to be, press 2
Republicans are red, democrats are blue, neither of them, gives a flip about you.
