The Interesting History of the Pledge of Allegance

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - The Interesting History of the Pledge of Allegance

Posted: 10/21/2001 10:06:55 PM EDT

Go here: [url]http://www.vineyard.net/vineyard/history/pledge.htm[/url]

Written by a socialist.

The refrence to God, which has caused controversy in several school districts since 9/11, is not original to the document and was only added in 1954.

What follows is Bellamy's own account of some of the thoughts that went through his mind in August, 1892, as he picked the words of his Pledge:

It began as an intensive communing with salient points of our national history, from the Declaration of Independence onwards; with the makings of the Constitution...with the meaning of the Civil War; with the aspiration of the people...

The true reason for allegiance to the Flag is the 'republic for which it stands.' ...And what does that vast thing, the Republic mean? It is the concise political word for the Nation - the One Nation which the Civil War was fought to prove. To make that One Nation idea clear, we must specify that it is indivisible, as Webster and Lincoln used to repeat in their great speeches. And its future?

Just here arose the temptation of the historic slogan of the French Revolution which meant so much to Jefferson and his friends, 'Liberty, equality, fraternity.' No, that would be too fanciful, too many thousands of years off in realization. But we as a nation do stand square on the doctrine of liberty and justice for all...

View Quote

Personally, I prefer the October 1892 version: "I pledge allegance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all." Its far more personal in its language, and to me implies a closer linkage between the individual and the Nation.

Anyone?

Posted: 10/21/2001 10:34:33 PM EDT

[#1]

Socialism and communism have old roots in the US. The Progressives at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century were basically socialists, and Teddy Roosevelt (a favorate of many conservatives!) shared quite a few of their ideas (no wonder John McCain likes Teddy sooo much!).

Socialist ideas are very much in conflict with the "radical whig" ideas of men like Jefferson. As such, I like to view them as un-American, but with the length and depth of socialist thought in this country, perhaps this is wishfull thinking on my part.

The Pledge was just one part of a socialist effort at social engineering (not a hidden consperisy, either). How sad.

Posted: 10/21/2001 11:06:18 PM EDT

[#2]

DonS

This is no flame. But I will understand if you dont want to answer to avoid flames from others.

Do you oppose the pledge being used in public schools? And do you think its right for the media (especally Fox News) to be hounding school districts that have banned the pledge?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - The Interesting History of the Pledge of Allegance

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