One Nation, Under God?
By Sheepie
@Sheepie (3112)
United States
November 30, 2008 7:59pm CST
If you do not live in the United States of America, you may or may not know about our Pledge of Allegiance. Well, every single morning in school, for all the grades, children must stand up and chant "I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"
Now, as kindergarteners being 5 and 6 years old, we didn't know what half of that meant, though we were told to memorize it. I still don' think I could explain it to someone, it would be kind of like "We are loyal to our country and .. stuff" So basically, it's just... because. Maybe the kids of the past understood it because they would speak old English.
Anyway, what is debated a lot is when we say "One Nation Under God." Truly our country has many Gods, many religions, many different ideas. Some of us don't believe in any God at all! So does it really make sense for us to include this line?
When I was a little kid, we all stood up and said it, then we might sing the national anthem. Well, going into middle school, they didn't make us all say it, but we had to stand up. Then after that, we would only all stand up in the beginning of the year, and eventually we would stop standing up. So, it's not as though we're really being forced to, but I know in kindergarten it's more likely that you have to.
As for me, I'm perfectly okay with people talking about the Nativity and stuff. No problem, if I'm not involved, and nobody is telling me what I could do, that's fine. But this is one thing that I have a problem with. Children are chanting this, and they don't even know what it means. It's like brainwash. I just find it a little unsettling. I would really rather they take that line out, because it's so much more personal. It's something that they're telling young kids in public school. These kids come from all different homes.
I just think maybe we need to change it. It wouldn't be the first time it's been changed anyway. I don't think it takes anything away from any of the people who do believe in God. It's just taking away from the kids who don't. I mean, the message I feel as though we get from it is, "Our proud country believes in one God. Oh, except those other guys, but they don't really count."
But what do you think?
2 people like this
14 responses
@lvaldean (1612)
• United States
1 Dec 08
It would do you good to learn history -
Francis Bellamy wrote the original pledge, it was published September 8, 1892. It read as follows:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1923 the it was changed:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Again in 1954 it was changed, this time in direct response to the perceived communist threat the words "Under God" were added:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
2 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Old English? Are you kidding me?
"I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America,"
That's pretty straightforward, don't you think? Allegiance means loyalty incase you didn't know.
"and to the republic for which it stands:"
A republic is a country not lead by a monarchy, which is what the founders of this country fought for us to become.
"one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"
The republic that our flag stands for is that of ONE nation, guided by God, that is not divided and offering liberty and justice for everyone.
Reciting...not chanting which is repetitive...the Pledge is an old tradition but there are thousands of new Americans who would disagree with you about it's importance. Teaching our children at an early age to love this country is not wrong in my opinion.
As far as your objection to the words "under God" based on your contention that this country is made up of people who have many different religions. The Founding Fathers were Christians yet there is no specific religion mentioned in the Pledge. By whatever name He is called, the majority of religions in this country believe in a God so I fail to see that phrase as offensive to anyone...except for those who do not believe in God at all and, if those are the "other guys" you're talking about, you're not going to find much support there.
So, no, I don't agree with you. If anyone is soooo offended by the Pledge that they want to opt out their child from reciting it, fine, that should be an option but the idea that the minority who find fault with it have more rights than the majority who support it is ridiculous.
@Sheepie (3112)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Small kids have no idea what any of those words mean. And by the time they're my age, they just ignore it. I don't really see how that counts as teaching us to love our country. More often than not we learn to feel as though this country sucks because of our problems, and we don't really hear about our strengths so much.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I don't know what kind of school system you went through but my grandson started learning about the history of the country in kindergarten, just like my kids did and just like I did. He understood it very well and still understands what he's learning. The Pilgrams, Thanksgiving, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere. We have a rich history that should be learned about and understood. If you don't learn about how your country came to be how can you appreciate the sacrifices that so many made? Maybe if you weren't so busy ignoring things you would have heard about our strengths instead of our problems.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I already read your other response, oh radical jedi, and it doesn't matter to me when it was added. I object to it's removal unless it is put to a vote and the people of this country vote to have it removed. I don't agree with letting a minority view dictate what happens to the majority.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Yeah, I do not like "The Pledge of Allegiance" and I think that it is ridiculous to make people recite it because not everyone believes in God. Some people are Atheist, some are Agnostic, and some are Polytheist. Not every person believes in God, and they should not be forced into believing in God. I would not force my students to say "The Pledge of Allegiance".
@ClassyCat (1214)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I repeat: "No one is MADE to say the pledge."
It's a matter of choice, and any kid can just
not say it, and no ne can do anything about it.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I don't think people should be made to pledge their allegiance to a piece of cloth. If an adult wants to do it, fine, but don't brainwash the kids. You can teach them to love and respect their country by teaching history and civics.
There are kids whose religion forbids them to say the pledge. There are those who just don't want to do it. I don't think anyone should be compelled to say the pledge and it should be a strictly adult choice or a child's when they know what they're doing.
The pledge reminds me of the minions of Hitler, all raising their hands in salute or people of other countries bowing to a king. I love my country, but I don't agree with forcing people-especially children-to say the pledge.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Spalladino, I do have a problem with anyone being forced into a belief or pretending to have a belief in order to avoid trouble.
I think that we need to guide our children and teach them to respect our country and to respect others but I don't think rote memorization like the Pledge is the way to do it. I have respect for the Pledge and I say it myself, with feeling, but it's my choice. In school I just pretended to say it because I didn't want anyone telling what to do or how to think.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Do you also have a problem with the forced prayer and forced reading and forced singing that goes on in thousands of churches across this country, too? Does all that standing and kneeling remind you of Hitler's minions, too?
1 person likes this
@miwayonly (70)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Well, I know that where I live, no one says the Pledge of Allegiance anymore BECAUSE of that particaular line. I think that if you know and understand what it means and WANT to say it, that you should, but others shouldn't be forced if they don't believe or understand it!
1 person likes this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Honestly, I have a problem with the pledge of allegiance as well, but not because of the God part. Why do we pledge allegiance to the flag at all? Why don't we pledge allegiance to America? I refuse to pledge anything to any object or symbol. I think that Christianity should be free from icons, so why should my patriotism to the country be based on me using a flag as an icon?
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
1 Dec 08
Oh that God would never remove his hand from this country!!! I don't want to be here anymore if my Heavenly Father were not in complete control. We don't always realize the impact of what we desire. I pray that God enlighten your eyes and save your soul, in Jesus name, amen.
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I am an American, and I will ALWAYS say "One nation under GOD". I am not going to let some quack with nothing better to do than complain about something deter me from acknowledging the fact that our nation was founded based on Christian principles. Our founding fathers were not "mooslims" or, Hindu, or Buddhists...they were CHRISTIANS who believed in GOD...
If anyone doesn't like the fact that America is a CHRISTIAN nation, let them leave...
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I don't agree with you about our country being founded by Christian values. No, the founding fathers were not Muslims (and I wonder why you misspelled that word), Hindus, or Buddhists but they certainly were not the best Christians. They believed in God, but most of them had very off views about Christianity, and I would say that they founded the nation as one under God but not specifically the Christian God.
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
1 Dec 08
HiSheepie,
When these word were taught and learned, it was in the old days long ago when America were Americans with no other religion, well maybe jew and imagtants, but they had to become American citzens, that is why those words still there, but now all sorts of people live there and choses their own religion or not. I think it is ok for young kids to say it and should be taught what it means, not just say it parrot fashion and when they are older and wants to make choices, then its up to them.
Tamara
@ShellyB (5241)
• United States
1 Dec 08
What I think is that in general the pledge of Allegiance does not bother me at all or cause me to think deeply like you are.
We have a lot more nonsense that kids chant and repeat with no meaning at all.
I think that in the grander scheme of things, they have always been thinkers and people who do believe in God, but people back then or even now, do not feel they have to be sensitive to these people, therefore we tend to respect religious people but not atheist people.
I try to respect all both religious, atheist and spiritual people.
We all think and evolve in our own time.
1 person likes this
@jlamela (4898)
• Philippines
1 Dec 08
I am not a U.S citizen, but in the Philippines, we also have an oath of allegiance to our country and our Philippine constitution has the preamble with an ending phrase:So help me God. We have no problem with that. I mean what's wrong if we have that kind of allegiance?it only means that we respect God above anything else because He is a Supreme Being who protect us and our nation.
With children chanting those words, I think it is just right for kids to learn at the very early age about devotion and love for country and God to make them a responsible and God-fearing children in the future. In my country, religion is the most important aspects in our lives and we grow very respectful to elders and other human being and maintained modesty and honesty. In all constitutions of a republic, democratic countries,even constitutional monarchy nations GOD is integrated in their preamble, oath of allegiance and national anthem.
@kuzzon1960 (118)
• United States
1 Dec 08
well i will tell you what i think. as a nation we are programmed to do as the "government" dictates. there was a time when we were one nation under GOD , but it seems the more people that the "govrnment" lets into "our" country, the more we have to change things for them.
we used to be a nation of hope and dreams.our lives were our own and we had a right to believe we could live a peaceful existance and supply our families with the best that our hard earned money could afford.
but who are we now?
we came together to thank GOD for our freedom with a pledge to a flag that represented exactly that, as one nation.
but who are we now?
our money, when first created, gave HIM first billing"IN GOD WE TRUST".
we send our men,women and boys to a war that defends our country so we can keep our freedom and yet we will put a man in the capitol who wants to take it away.
so who are we now?
we put a man in prison for tax evasion , but will let a pedifile roam free with a slap on the wrist and a warning.our lives are that of slaves , albeit only in our minds.we are programmed like computers.we cannot have a bible in school because it is illegal.but pornagraphy is everywhere.
again,i ask you,who are we now?
we looked upon hippies in the 60's as freaks and trouble makers because they had a voice and wanted only love and harmony.the sadness is, they were right in thier beliefs.this is a democracy and we are the result!
if you want to know who we are now, i will tell you.
WE ARE A VOICE WITH NO OPPINION
WE ARE A MIND WITH NO THUOGHT
WE ARE A BODY WITH CONTROL
AND WE ARE A NATION WITH NO COUNTRY
so one little line in the pledge of allegiance should stand as it is
@Autumnrose2008 (1478)
• United States
1 Dec 08
My daughter's school gives them a choice if you don't want your children saying the pledge with the one nation under god then that's your right. They do not force any child to say it. I think that if you remove that one little line from the pledge then you better remove from all of our currency "In God We Trust". Every one knows that America was founded by people escaping persucution based on there religious beliefs, but lets look at the big picture. With out god and religion there would be no laws. All of our laws in the USA are based on the 10 commandments. So if you start throwing god out of our pledge then who is to say that our government does not need to rewrite laws and remove religion from them, or from our money as I stated before. Our Country is a country founded on religion no matter how you look at it. I don't condone nor oppose the pledge but I do have to say that when I stand up and say the pledge with my hand over my heart it makes me feel good to say it and leaving out the one nation under god does not make me feel the same. It does not say that we are one nation under the same God. It says "one nation under God" that to me means any God you worship. Not just my God but all Gods. The USA is a great country as you can discuss this sort of thing and not suffer any back lash from it.
@Autumnrose2008 (1478)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Oh and one last thing. My daughter is not brainwashed or forced to say the pledge and the first thing they taught her in Kindergarten was what the pledge stood for. I should also tell you I am not a religious person to say the least but we are a nation under many Gods and I will fight tooth and nail to keep that line in my pledge and "In God we trust" on my money. I am an American and damn proud to be one.
@Autumnrose2008 (1478)
• United States
1 Dec 08
isn't it great that even as a Kindergartener you still have the right to either stand up or sit down during the pledge? I for one have told my daughter its her choice. She does what she has been taught and how she feels. It is her choice and no one elses to make. I feel that even in Kindergarten our children need the chance to make there own choices. Thank God For AMERICA
