For reasons unknown to me there is still a debate raging in various parts of the country over the Pledge of Allegiance. One particular debate that caught my eye is going on in Eugene, Oregon where the City Council has decided that instead of not saying the Pledge of Allegiance at all they're going to recite it four times a year (around July 4th, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Flag Day).
I was born and raised in a military community where everything that has to do with your country is treated with the utmost respect and we take every opportunity possible (even playing the National Anthem before movie showings) to express that loyalty and respect. With that said, how anti-America do you have to be to not want to pledge your allegiance to the greatest country in the history of mankind? I don't care if you're an Atheist and don't believe in God, you can simply skip those words. I don't care if you morally oppose for some other crap reason. If you are a red-blooded, American citizen with all of the rights and privileges that come along with it you should be happy, joyous to be able to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
And now the Mayor of Eugene Kitty Piercy is saying, “If there’s one thing the flag stands for it’s that people don’t have to be compelled to say the Pledge of Allegiance or anything else.”
Since when has Old Glory been a symbol of "do whatever the hell you want"? When did our Star Spangled Banner become a free pass to disrespect everything the Founding Fathers thought it stood for? The American Flag, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are not bits of historical literature that are meant to be bent, skewed and walked all over until they mean whatever you want them to mean. They are the written evidence that men acknowledge and respect the concrete principles of liberty, justice, honor, commitment, and loyalty.
I'd like to motion that the Eugene, Oregon City Council be removed from office and deported until they can pass the Citizenship Exam that all immigrants are required to take. Along with that, if they do pass they must recite the Pledge of Allegiance just like every other naturalized immigrant who is proud to be a part of a country that allows for free speech, and freedom of religion; a country that actually has unalienable rights when so many others are rioting in the streets for those basic rights.
Take a look at the Pledge of Allegiance, recite it in your head. Now take a minute to wonder what our country would be like if more of us actually believed in those words. What would happen if Americans actually pledged their undying loyalty? What would happen if the Pledge inspired everyone to be pro-American? It makes me heart so incredibly heavy that people believe the words of the Pledge are just something school children should recite at the beginning of the day. Everyone, and I mean every single one of us, should remind ourselves on a daily basis (right after you thank God for another beautiful morning) of how grateful we are to our country and then remember that our loyalty is the least we can offer in return for our rights, freedoms, and liberties.
The day that the American Flag stands for anything other than liberty, justice, honor and bravery will be the most sad day in history. But as long as there are a few Americans who are willing to stand up and say, "I love my country and everything it stands for, not just the parts that suit me" then that day will never come.
There is no "compromise" for the flag or the Pledge of Allegiance; as soon as you compromise on those things you compromise your rights, and you weaken the integrity of everything this country stands on (or at least used to).
Lastly, I'd like to say that I do 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 every single American... even the ones who don't deserve it.
I was born and raised in a military community where everything that has to do with your country is treated with the utmost respect and we take every opportunity possible (even playing the National Anthem before movie showings) to express that loyalty and respect. With that said, how anti-America do you have to be to not want to pledge your allegiance to the greatest country in the history of mankind? I don't care if you're an Atheist and don't believe in God, you can simply skip those words. I don't care if you morally oppose for some other crap reason. If you are a red-blooded, American citizen with all of the rights and privileges that come along with it you should be happy, joyous to be able to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
And now the Mayor of Eugene Kitty Piercy is saying, “If there’s one thing the flag stands for it’s that people don’t have to be compelled to say the Pledge of Allegiance or anything else.”
Since when has Old Glory been a symbol of "do whatever the hell you want"? When did our Star Spangled Banner become a free pass to disrespect everything the Founding Fathers thought it stood for? The American Flag, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are not bits of historical literature that are meant to be bent, skewed and walked all over until they mean whatever you want them to mean. They are the written evidence that men acknowledge and respect the concrete principles of liberty, justice, honor, commitment, and loyalty.
I'd like to motion that the Eugene, Oregon City Council be removed from office and deported until they can pass the Citizenship Exam that all immigrants are required to take. Along with that, if they do pass they must recite the Pledge of Allegiance just like every other naturalized immigrant who is proud to be a part of a country that allows for free speech, and freedom of religion; a country that actually has unalienable rights when so many others are rioting in the streets for those basic rights.
Take a look at the Pledge of Allegiance, recite it in your head. Now take a minute to wonder what our country would be like if more of us actually believed in those words. What would happen if Americans actually pledged their undying loyalty? What would happen if the Pledge inspired everyone to be pro-American? It makes me heart so incredibly heavy that people believe the words of the Pledge are just something school children should recite at the beginning of the day. Everyone, and I mean every single one of us, should remind ourselves on a daily basis (right after you thank God for another beautiful morning) of how grateful we are to our country and then remember that our loyalty is the least we can offer in return for our rights, freedoms, and liberties.
The day that the American Flag stands for anything other than liberty, justice, honor and bravery will be the most sad day in history. But as long as there are a few Americans who are willing to stand up and say, "I love my country and everything it stands for, not just the parts that suit me" then that day will never come.
There is no "compromise" for the flag or the Pledge of Allegiance; as soon as you compromise on those things you compromise your rights, and you weaken the integrity of everything this country stands on (or at least used to).
Lastly, I'd like to say that I do 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 every single American... even the ones who don't deserve it.
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In Other News, well, this really isn't other news just a continuation of my previous thoughts.
Move to the Middle East. Move somewhere that you aren't so damned privileged and the local citizens consider you as beneath them where you have to ask to be allowed to stay in country every 30 days and while you're there you are expected to obey some very specific rules with no leniency if you don't. And then tell me you don't passionately wish you could be back in your own beloved country despite whatever amount of ridiculous is going on there right now.
Unless you already have a grateful heart in your chest and thankful words in your mouth for the privilege you've been given to be American and live in America...Do it. Or shut your mouth.
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