What the Pledge of Allegiance means to me as an American: A Grateful Reflection

Whether you classify yourself as a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Socialist, if you were born in the United States and meet the Constitutional standard for citizenship, you’re an American. And like family, while we sometimes argue and bicker privately within the walls of our home, if someone from the outside tries to harm one of us, we come together to protect, defend, and support one another neutralizing any outside threat. Then, sadly all too often, we go back to arguing amongst ourselves. To the rest of the outside world though, we remain a strong and united front. This is why the Pledge of Allegiance is so important.

“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.”

For most Americans reading this post, you still remember growing up and reciting this pledge not only every day in school, but at almost every public function you attended. Whether it was at a Boy Scouts meeting, a church gathering, or civic event, we could count on standing together for a few seconds, removing our hats, placing our right-hand over our heart, and together, unified, reciting this short, but powerful, daily reminder of who we are as Americans.

With that said, let’s break down this beautiful pledge that has been revised and modified over the years to embody exactly who and what we are, or should be as Americans today.

“I”… Not others, not a vague group, not an abstract concept, but I (me, you, our name here- David Pasqualone)…

“Pledge”… I promise, swear, give my word, my name, my reputation, my character, my oath…

“Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America”…  dedication to protect, defend, and uphold the American way of life based on the Constitution and God’s law; with my life if necessary. That the flag represents and embodies these freedoms and life concepts of freewill, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…

“And to the Republic”… a reminder from our founding fathers that in their wisdom and foresight they created America as a Republic, not a Democracy that can be swayed by corrupt politicians and the temporary whims of a deceived public…

“For which it stands”… acknowledging and agreeing that the United States Constitution, and the foundational beliefs upon which it was written, are what we stand for as a nation, and individuals who comprise our great nation…

“One Nation”… a declaration that like family, like our founding fathers, even if we disagree with one another in private, to the outside world we stand united as One…

“Under God”… not autonomous of God, not as it’s convenient based on the days social agenda, and certainly not wiser than God’s word (the Bible); we are thankfully, gratefully, and through freewill submitted and obedient to God first as a nation, and individual. Recognizing that the separation of church and state does not mean America is absent of God, but that we embrace his principles as set forth in the bible as a nation and give people the choice individually to choose their path …

“Indivisible”… we pledge, give our oath, to stand together as a nation and uphold these core and common values. To stand united against the world despite what is going on within our own walls…

“With liberty and justice for all.” … Liberty and Justice. Freedom, honesty, and truth. True unbiased equality. We commit to strive to find the truth in each situation and judge our nation’s people by the truth. To give every man, woman, and child not only the right to choose their path, but to ensure they have the freedoms to do so as long as it does not go against the core fundamentals of our Constitution, or God’s word in which America was built upon. That despite someone’s culture, nation, or belief system, we judge everyone based on the same standards. That we recognize that there is only one race, the human race, and that all of mankind is created equal. Not just within America, but that there is beauty, truth, and value throughout the whole world (all people).

Repeating this pledge daily and engraining its core concepts and truths into the minds of our nation’s people is one of the key reasons why America has been so great, for so long. It was a constant reminder and moral compass of a single-minded and unified people. Not a perfect country, but a free and just nation working together to find truth and support it.

By removing the pledge from schools, society, and other public stages, it’s not only opened the doors to corruption and confusion of who we are as a nation, but it undermines the importance and values of America, the Constitution, and our pledge to one another. Hence, we find ourselves where we are today as a nation.

Humbly, yet Unapologetically Yours as an American,
David Pasqualone

PS
Pledging ourselves to God and/or the ideal which is America is a positive thing; a group united, one nation under God, the proper chain of command. Pledging ourselves to a flawed human is greatly unwise. Remember this horrifying clip from a political campaign in 2012 where several famous people (not smart people) pledged themselves to Barak Obama, and not the USA (many could argue this is treason. Especially when presented along side Obama’s communist resembling logo). Food for thought here for sure: https://youtu.be/Pb51PtIT5tM

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