It’s about patriotism, not religious beliefs

As children, we recite the Pledge of Allegiance before we even know what the words mean. When we begin to reach an understanding of what we are saying, many children and teenagers begin to see the pledge as little more than a jingoistic mantra intended to brainwash our nation’s youth into conformity.

I do not agree with this idea, but I do understand why so many of my peers hold the pledge in such low esteem. I believe that the pledge was intended to be an affirmation of our patriotism, not our religious beliefs. With the words “under God,” the pledge made it impossible for a person to verbally ally themselves with the flag, as well as with our nation, without expressing their belief in God. Many people, many patriotic citizens of merica, do not believe in God. The idea that their allegiance with our flag, the symbol of what this country stands for, is conditionally based on their religious beliefs is absurd, not to mention contrary to the very ideas that our nation was founded upon.

The pledge is weakened by this hypocrisy, losing both meaning and respectability by attempting to inexorably attach religion to patriotism. God resides in the hearts and minds of His followers, not in our public schools.

Arlington