The American Pledge
For months we have been seeing posts on Facebook and all the
other social media sites (for years overall) about the topic of removing the
word “God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. My question is, why? Because not all
the people don’t believe in the Americanized Christian persona of “God”? Before I get into a rant let me state a few
basic facts.
1.
Who can name one of the most predominate reasons
for British/European Migration to the “New World”? Anyone? Religious Freedom!
That’s right people of the US, Religious Freedom. The ability to worship as
one pleases without threat of persecution or government intervention. Remember?
Isn’t that why the Pilgrims (Puritans) risked life and limb to cross the
Atlantic during hurricane season? Apparently everyone has forgotten that little
tid-bit of information.
2.
Fact number two- Do to the above statistic,
there are a multitude of offshoot, shall we say, philosophies,
that fall under the umbrella of Christianity. Each one, essentially, claiming
to be “God’s chosen people”. The “God”
referred to in the Pledge, who’s “God” is he/she? The Catholic’s, the
Baptist’s, Presbyterian’s? And in step with that fact consider this; he/she is
also the very same “God” referred to in both the Jewish and Islamic faiths.
Yes, they all retrospectively, worship the same “God”. (When I say Islam, I don't mean the fanatical version of the terrorist's world, I mean the every day ordinary people who worship quietly along side the rest of us.) They may each have a different
perspective of traditions and even an alternate view of who or what Jesus was, if one at all,
but they all share the same roots.
3.
There are also people, American Citizens, who
believe in other forms of “God”.
Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, the Native American belief system, Taoist,
Humanist, Baha’i, to name a few. Are these people all any less American than
the rest?
4.
And then we come to the Atheists. The “I don’t
believe in anything” people. Well, I hate to tell you all but that concept is not completely true. You do believe
in something. Yes, you do. If you sit and think about it real hard. I’ll bet
you believe in your own self-worth, your social values , work ethics and morals. Those things
by the way are influenced by the whole of society which in turn is influenced
by all of the above belief systems.
So here’s what I propose, and those who are trying to
deprive this country of , by attempting to corrupt, one of its most valued freedoms LISTEN UP.
Instead of
trying to force “God”, in any form, out of the Pledge why not make a small
subtle change? Add four simple letters- A-L-L and S. The line in question would read
as follows;
“One nation under ALL GodS, indivisible
with Liberty and Justice for ALL.”
no matter what we believe spiritually we are above all AMERICANS
no matter what we believe spiritually we are above all AMERICANS
Just my opinion- we do still have that right, I
believe.
