Changing the Pledge of Allegiance

Changing the Pledge of Allegiance

The tradition of including a reference to God, in the Pledge of Allegiance, faces constant challenges with the ever-changing face of America. Part of this is due to an ever-growing culturally diverse population that has different beliefs. Groups such as atheists, agnostics, Jews, and other religious minorities bring their own opposition to the reference of God, which was not in the original writing.

In 1892, over 12 million school-aged children hustle to their first class. The bell rings the classroom doors close and thus the school day begins. Before they open their books, the children stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, and begin to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag from a copy of “The Youth’s Companion.”

The words that comprised the first written Pledge of Allegiance dated October 11, 1892, were "I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all." (Home of Heroes) Thus the Pledge of Allegiance tradition was born.

That version of the Pledge of Allegiance became a time-honored tradition within America’s Grade School system up until 1954. Two events occurred in 1954 that changed the pledge. First, the Knights of Columbus petitioned, and won, the right to add two additional words, under God, which converted it from a simple pledge to a nation, to what some call a prayer. (Knights of Columbus) Second, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today (ushistory.org)

However, even today, various groups evaluate the implications and impacts of the addition of those two words. Some of the views expressed range from discontent over the relevance of the word "God" in the pledge to gender bias because "God" represents a male. B.A. Robinson clearly iterates five of these viewpoints.

1) A deity exists. Traditionally, God is viewed as at least omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (with infinite powers). Many religions add other attributes, such as all-loving.
2) Maleness: "God" implies a male deity. There is no room in the Pledge for any female deity/deities who are normally called "Goddesses."
3) Uniqueness: The phrase implies monotheism: that there is only a single deity who one who rules over America.
4) Omnipresent: The phrase implies that God rules over all of America, and is present everywhere.
5) Control: Most Americans probably believe that the phrase indicates a God who interferes with events on earth, guiding the U.S. in the direction that he wishes. (Author: B.A. Robinson)

Robinson further states, "That is the situation today for millions of Americans who do not believe they are 'under' God. Some find God within their own hearts. Others believe they are part of -- not under -- a sacred universe. Still others do not believe in God at all. Yet every day the religious beliefs of these patriotic Americans are violated by our government in schools, in public meetings...anywhere the Pledge of Allegiance is led and spoken." (B.A. Robinson)

Seeing that most of the objections are of a religious nature, reverting to the original pledge will remove any religious affiliation. The words "under God" may represent the fact that one religious belief is taking precedence over others worship beliefs, which may not include "God." Additionally, this now means to some that the oath to a country no longer depends on an oath to someone’s god. In essence, when you remove the words “under God" in the pledge it may remove the perceived imposed religious prayer and instill a greater sense of a pledge to the republic.

It may be however, that some groups are not satisfied with the separation of church and state, and that the removal of the reference to God will offend them. Most of those offended appear to reside in the Christianity community. It may however, also offend those who have only known the second version since they have made it their own tradition since childhood and feel a particular tie to it.

Whether the nature of the debate, in this time-honored tradition, is religious or not, the controversy rages on. There are those who believe that if the pledge does not revert to the original phrase, it will affect the overall patronage of our children. Children may continue their own form of protest by adding their own words or refusing to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance (Moonbattery). Moreover, there have been many lawsuits, school and state policy changes, on continuing the tradition of reciting the pledge. David L. Hudson Jr. a First Amendment scholar wrote

"In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a resurgence of patriotism has swept the nation. Public schools have helped fuel this patriotic zeal by placing an increased emphasis on the pledge. Several state legislatures have either considered or passed laws requiring the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. For example, Colorado passed a law in 2002 that required all public school students to recite the pledge unless they had a religious objection or had obtained parental permission to abstain from the oath. After Colorado’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter challenged the law in federal court, the Legislature in March 2004 enacted a revised statute to allow students to opt out of the pledge." (David L Hudson Jr.)

With this change, opting out is no longer a sign of protest per-se, but a right to adhere to one’s own religious beliefs. This satisfied many parents, schoolchildren, and the community to which they belong.

Communities play a significant role in creating the tradition of the Pledge of Allegiance. A community of schoolchildren recited the first pledge, a community of Christians changed the pledge, and communities of other religious affiliations are acting to change it once again. Communities, diverse as they are, typically come together to create new ideas which may initiate traditions for current and future generations such as the pledge of allegiance. Each of these communities holds a common bond and according to Brooks, "Some nations are bound, in all their diversity, by a common creation myth, a tale of how they came into being." (187)

Over the centuries, people have come together and been torn apart by traditions and others viewpoints. People have laid down their own lives to protect their very beliefs. Traditions help create communities and belonging and feeling connected to a community is important. David Berreby wrote an essay called "It Takes a Tribe," in this essay he wrote "Human beings will give a lot, including their lives, for a group they feel part of for "us," as in "our nation" or "our religion." (120)

It may not be a life, but someone recently lost their job by supporting their belief. According to TCPalm.com, a Home Depot employee was terminated on October 23rd, 2009. The article said that "Keezer says for 19 months, ever since he started working as a cashier at The Home Depot in Okeechobee, he’s worn a button with an American flag on it that reads: “One nation under God, indivisible.” "Keezer sees the quotation, taken from the pledge of allegiance, as his way of supporting American troops at war, and of expressing his Christian faith." (The Palm Beach Post)

Along with the religious aspect of the tradition of the pledge of allegiance, is the political side. While some groups fight to keep it, others prefer to abolish it all together. With a political agenda in hand, they choose to circumvent the democratic process attempting to maintain control of the judiciary by ensuring that only judges that share the same agenda are confirmed. There are twelve items on their agenda and removing the pledge of allegiance ranks as number five. "The battle for America’s future has begun."Liberal groups such as the ACLU, People for the American Way, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State are already organized, set to spend whatever money and time necessary to block any nominee who does not meet their litmus test." (American Family Association)

Traditions come with many challenges that affect communities, cultures, politics, values, and beliefs to name a few. For the tradition of reciting the pledge of allegiance to the American flag, if the words “under god” remain, people may see a continued resistance. On the other hand, there is no less resistance from others if they remove those words. However, while the debate rages on, schoolchildren across America still partake in the tradition of pledging Allegiance to the American flag.


Works Cited
Berreby, David. “It Takes a Tribe" Remix. Ed. Catherine G. Latterell. Boston: Bedford/ St.Martin’s, 2010. 119-124. Print.
Brooks, David. “Our Sprawling, Supersize Utopia.” Remix. Ed. Catherine G. Latterell. Boston: Bedford/ St.Martin’s, 2010. 184-193. Print.
First Amendment Center.org http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=17035
Home of Heroes http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html
Independence Hall Association - US History.Org http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm
Knights of Columbus http://www.kofc.org/rc/en/about/activities/community/pledgeAllegiance.pdf
Moonbattery:Sept 27, 2007 http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2007/09/boulder_student.html
Peyton Cooke Pledge of Allegiance statutes, state by state First Amendment Center
Religious Tolerance.org (Author: B.A. Robinson)
Stop Liberal Judges http://www.stopliberaljudges.com/default.asp
The Palm Beach Post http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/23/home-depot-employee-fired-for-wearing-under-god-flag-button/