[Vision2020] New pledge of alligance written by a 15 year old in Arizona

[Garrett Clevenger]

Donovan writes:

"I think everyone that refuses the pledge should not
be allowed citizenship. If you don't like this
country, there are 100s of others to choose from."


It's ironic, in order to promote patriotism, that we
should be subjected to something so unpatriotic.  It
reminds me of the PATRIOT Act, something that at its
core usurps our Constitution and thus is unpatriotic.

Just because people like myself are not comfortable
reciting the "pledge" does not mean we do not love our
country.  In fact, I consider myself as patriotic as
anyone.  I'm also a Matriot, though, and my love for
the planet, and all the life here, makes me believe
that is just as worthy of fighting for.  It's hard for
me to accept that the US is somehow the only country
God has blessed and protects and that is worthy of our
concern.

Should people be required to take a lie-detector test
to insure that they really believe the pledge they are
reciting, too?

Why is the pledge allegiance, as currently written,
the standard to submit to?

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States
of America"

It seems like it would be better to pledge allegiance
to the Constitution.  But as soon as you pledge
allegiance to the Constitution, having to submit to
the pledge becomes a contradiction.

The basis of the Constitution is to insure government
cannot force citizens to conform to whatever the
standard is of the day.  The First Amendment insures
free speech and having to submit to the pledge
violates that right.  The first Amendment also insure
religious freedom. 

Since Christians, Jews and Muslims accept the Old
Testament, which says in Exodus 20:2–17:

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in
the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that
is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship
them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God,
punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the
third and the fourth generation of those who reject
me"

the government would be violating their First
Amendment right by forcing them to violate some of
their religious Commandments.  How could these people
in good faith submit to a flag?  That seems like a sin
as defined by the 10 Commandments.

"and to the Republic for which it stands.  One nation
under God"

Since the pledge references God, having to submit to
it contradicts separation of church and state.  It is
unconstitutional for the Government to promote the
"establishment of religion."

"indivisible with liberty and justice for."

Who doesn't want that?  Well, it seems many of the
same people who are enraptured by the pledge are the
same people who deny equal protection under the law to
some Americans, and disregard the Constitution.

As soon as those who love the pledge and who also deny
other Americans their Constitutional rights recognize
their hypocrisy, because of their bigotry, in denying
people equal rights, liberty and justice, I'll be more
open to not thinking their blind obedience to the
pledge, and not the Constitution, is worthy of my
respect.

Considering people use their religious views to deny
other Americans their rights because these people do
not conform to their religious views, when they recite
the pledge, it makes me cringe and reminds me of the
fanatics of the Nazi regime, and our own McCarthy era.

Not something I am eager to conform to.

Not to say that everyone who loves the pledge fits the
above description.  I know there are many who can
recite the pledge in good faith who I support.  That
is their right, and I wouldn't dare suggest these
people shouldn't express their patriotism as they see
fit.  In fact, I'm glad the pledge isn't completely
usurped by those who I see as hypocritical.

As the theme song for Team America says,

"America, f*** yeah!"

gclev