The Original Pledge of Allegiance - ExChristian.Net

Amazon.com Widgets

The Original Pledge of Allegiance

.: posted 6/29/2002 ::: by webmdave :::

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands- one nation indivisible-with liberty and justice for all."

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 reigious 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."

Should we continue to affirm this concept? Why or why not?

Add this page to:

3 Comments:

Concerned teenager wrote:

I refuse to pledge my allegiance to anything other than what I feel is right for me. Although I do prefer living in the United States over any other country, and I am thankful for many of the things that our government allows me to have, I refuse to "pledge my allegiance." This excessive patriotism is what leads many people to fight in wars they disagree with.

As for one nation under God, I do not believe in a supernatural being whom I've never seen, heard, smelt or touched. By the way, this nation protects the rights of people to be of any religion (or none) that they choose.

As for indivisible, I guess people justify that by America's military strength. Past Americans seemed to have no trouble dividing the land by taking it from the Indians they slaugtered, raped, pillaged and enslaved.

Liberty and justice for all... BULLSHIT. Everybody has a different idea of liberty and justice, and it is incredibly pretentious for any nation to claim such a thing.

Take the pledge out of schools. Stop brainwashing America's youth, and just teach them like your supposed to.

posted: December 02, 2005 EST

Anonymous wrote:

As for one nation under God. If it were not for God this country would be like so many third world countrys, NOTHING!! God is the foundtion this country was built on. And if any thing should happen then GOD should be let back in the schools. You can deny HIM now but in HIS word it says "EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TOUNGE CONFESS"
It will happen and i pray that GOD has mercy on your soul. IHS ALWAYS

posted: November 27, 2007 EST

Astreja wrote:

If the above anonymous post is indicative of the current state of American schools, they should take out the Pledge and use the time for remedial spelling.

Schools are for education, people! Not for forced public displays of piety or patriotism.

posted: November 27, 2007 EST

The first 200 comments appear here under the article. If over 200 comments are posted, click on the "newer" and "newest" links on Post a Comment page to continue reading the latest comments.

Post a Comment | Create a Link | Post in the Forums | Permalink

Subscribe to this post's Comments (Atom).
Subscribe to every post's Comments (RSS).
Quickly catch up on all recent comments posted on ExChristian.Net on the Recent Comments page. Or, keep track of comments on individual topics by using .