In my recent musings, I came across a number of things that may be considered when thinking about our "one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." I ask you as an American, what do you think about when pondering the meaning of each word within the quotes? Does that accurately describe the: "We the People…" the American republic for which those words stand? That's the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag. But what does it mean?
The true reason for allegiance to the Flag as stated by Francis Bellamy, the author of the Pledge, is the "Republic for which it stands." The "Republic" is the concise political term for the Nation – the One Nation – which the Civil War was fought to prove. To make the "One Nation" idea clear, Bellamy felt that it must be specified that the Nation is indivisible. In 1892, while penning the Pledge, the author was thinking about milestones in the birth and growth of the American nation from the Declaration of Independence, to the drafting of the Constitution, to the Civil War. Bellamy was focusing on the essence of "We the People" as a nation.
There's actually no requirement that anyone should say the Pledge. But neither is it required that everyone stand when the Star Spangled Banner is sung at the beginning of many American sporting events. Since 9-11 we've even added America the Beautiful to baseball's 7th inning stretch. Why? The sports fan is not required to stand and sing, but it's not uncommon for the seated fan to receive condescending stares during the "America" rendition. To sing or not to sing (or efforts to express patriotic superiority) in that situation is an assertion of the American Constitutional First Amendment right called the Freedom of Speech.
Most Americans know that everyone has a Freedom of Speech right to say what they want (up to the point that the speech may actually hurt someone else) but shockingly, I find most Americans take for granted the ability to speak one's mind. Consider the fact that most Americans are unaware of the other free speech rights guaranteed under theFirst Amendment even though they practice such rights every day.
Can you read the First Amendment and fully tolerate the way in which Americans practice their rights? Here is what it says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Do you believe in freedom of the press or do you want limitations on what the press may report? If the reporting is on your own family's affairs you might want some limitation on such speech, but if the reporting is on the President's family or affairs, you might instead say that the press should not limit investigative reporting speech. Some talking heads believe that certain special interest groups should be limited in what they do or how they should act, yet such comments are usually hypocritical and constitutionally uneducated. How can a person suggest the NRA's or ACORN's speech should be limited and yet defend his or her own unfettered political expression?
Then there's religion. Congress cannot make laws respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibit the free exercise of religion. This pair of rights confounds American fundamentalists who wrongly state "We are a Christian nation." Really? If that's right, then what is the implication about non-Christians? The Constitution states the extremes of religious establishment and prohibition of religion by Congress are not permitted. Rather, religious toleration, as seen in America's past, is the result when the establishment and prohibition extremes are removed. By the "free exercise" clause above, Congress states citizens are free to practice their own religion. Remember that colonists came to America seeking religious tolerance and freedom from religious persecution? So why be less tolerant now? The current political example of state-sponsored morality and religious fundamentalism is found in Iran. It's a theocracy and has been for 30 years. How is that working for them?
The next time when pledging allegiance to the Flag or singing about the "land of the free and the home of the brave," I respectfully suggest keeping in mind that our founding Americans fought, died, sacrificed, and communicated thoughtfully about issues. They placed their entire uncertain future on the line when signing the Declaration of Independence 233 years ago. It was 15 years from that Declaration to the Congressional ratification of the U. S. Constitution during which this American nation took on a battled, bloody, and extreme course of action to "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity." We are the posterity that benefit from Americans' past sacrifice. Maybe upon such reflection these hard-fought rights will not be taken for granted.
We are blessed people as Americans but we're not perfect. In fact, our forefathers drafted the Constitution "in order to form a more perfect union…" Out of respect for the birth of our nation and the millions of Americans who lived before we were born, I suggest a common understanding of the Constitution and greater tolerance of the rights of all fellow Americans.
Happy Birthday, America!
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