No citizen of a democracy should ever utter the word "allegiance" with respect to the state, particularly to such as marshal symbol as a flag. What's truly troubling about the Pledge is that it's not just a piece of Americana, embedded in social culture, but is actually written into our laws. This kind of hollow expression becomes an excuse for neglecting real patriotism: attending town meetings, staying informed about issues, discussing and debating in the public arena of ideas, running for office, doing public service, petitioning, writing letters to representatives, volunteering, etc. Active involvement in the structures that make our country great mean far far more than swearing fealty, performing a salute, or waving a pennant. Symbols are important, vastly important, for our cultural imagination, but the Pledge of Allegiance is exactly the wrong type of symbol for our polity.

perhaps we should have USA themed prayer rugs instead so we can bow down toward DC 5 times a day?

Well said. But what boggles my mind the most is that the only citizens who are regularly expected to recite the Pledge are 1) schoolchildren (whose loyalty to their country is hardly a concern and who rarely have a clue what they're saying when they robotically repeat the Pledge each morning), and 2) sports event attendees, whose loyalty, at least at the beginning of the game, is primarily directed to their home team. Meanwhile, the rest of us get up, go to work, and progress through our days without once being asked to stand, put our hands over our hearts, and assure random listeners that we will not betray our country. Am I supposed to be comforted that my six-year old and the guy screaming obscenities in the bleachers are loyal Americans? It's just beyond absurd.

Exactly momma

I don't think that the Pledge of Allegiance = Oath of Fealty. It simply means that we are pledging to be Americans and to hold to the priciples under which our great counrty was founded. If you read more into it, then that is your individual problem.

Now to point out what bothers me. Like the Dixie Chicks, everyone has a right to express themselves in any manner they choose, however, each individual must understand that their action have consequences. They may not end up in jail or before a judge but when their job is dependent upon public opinion, you should REALLY watch what soapbox you choose to jump on. Obama made a decision & unfortunately, it may hurt him politically. Yes he, technically, broke the law but like all Americans, he was not arrested for his indescression. And he shouldn't be, however, he will pay for his decision becasue the American voters will judge based on how they feel about his actions. My personal opinion? I think he messed up. I believe in showing respect & at the very least he did not show proper respect, something he cannot afford to do during a Presidential campaign.

He didn't put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem. He complied with political correctness during the Pledge.

The Pledge was originally written as a commercial by the American Flag Company. "Under God" was added by statute to distinguish the US from the "godless Communists" during the height of the McCarthy Era. Hanging onto such a misbegotten idea from a misbegotten period of this country's history is ridiculous.

I don't recite the Pledge. My allegiance is to Christ and my conscience alone. My country is frequently screwed up. I'm not going to Pledge to follow the flag, just because some monkey in the White House decides to send it into battle for no damn reason.

so easy for people who are not asked to sacrifice.....

Maybe your Pretzeldunce should start asking the American people to actually sacrifice for his game of War President. Rather than burdening my grandchildren with the costs.

I often wonder how the Green Mountain Boys felt about swearing on the King James Bible to uphold the Laws of the George the Third or whoever it was sitting on the Throne? Or how Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson felt about such ceremonial, at best, outward shows of belief.

Let free thinking peoples advance their cause. It's about time.

Lol!!!

Re: "sports event attendees" recite the Pledge of Allegiance before "the game"? Really? Wow, I had no clue.

Boy do you need some heavy Bible study....

Dude where do you get your facts? American flag company advert> the Pledge of Allegiance? You really are a whack job. I hope no one else in here takes you seriously and I pray to Christ you don't have a job teaching children.

Oh, by the way heres the real deal on the pledge of allegiance:On September 8,1892, the Boston based "The Youth's Companion" magazine published a few words for students to repeat on Columbus Day that year. Written by Francis Bellamy,the circulation manager and native of Rome, New York, and reprinted on thousands of leaflets, was sent out to public schools across the country. On October 12, 1892, the quadricentennial of Columbus' arrival, more than 12 million children recited the Pledge of Allegiance, thus beginning a required school-day ritual.

At the first National Flag Conference in Washington D.C., on June14, 1923, a change was made. For clarity, the words "the Flag of the United States" replaced "my flag". In the following years various other changes were suggested but were never formally adopted.

It was not until 1942 that Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance. One year later, in June 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that school children could not be forced to recite it. In fact,today only half of our fifty states have laws that encourage the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom!

In June of 1954 an amendment was made to add the words "under God". Then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower said "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

But what would you know about the American flag, being patriotic and serving your nation Wolf?

I don't know anyone that doesn't need Bible Study. I actually led one at my home last Friday. We had a very intense discussion of Flesh v. Spirit and Romans 7 - with reference to Corinthians, Colossians and Galatians.

So, rather than slam me for stating that my allegiance is to God rather than the whims of the monkey in the White House, why not actually address the issue at hand?

I clearly recall reading one of many essays on the Pledge around the time of Newdow's lawsuit that demonstrated that the Pledge was initially popularized by the American Flag Company in their advertising and that it appeared to have been written by the Company. I appear to be mistaken in this regard. It happens occasionally.

I think it is curious that the author was a "Christian Socialist," though.

In any event, that error doesn't change the fact that I'm not going to pledge my allegiance to a symbol of this country, when that symbol can be used for harm just as well as good. I will evaluate and decide the wisest course for me on every issue. I follow neither flag, nor party, nor man.