Posted on 07/31/2013 1:46:33 PM PDT by lowbridge
I can no longer, in good conscience and in keeping to my faith in God, recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
This is a choice which I have abided for nearly a year. At various times I have felt led to articulate my reasons for doing so. Indeed, this past fall a friend helped me to record a video about my decision to never again say the Pledge of Allegiance (we filmed it at Guilford Courthouse Battleground, in front of the statue of General Nathaniel Greene, for what it’s worth).
Recent events have brought me to a place where at last I am compelled to write about why I’m not only refraining from the Pledge of Allegiance, but have come to see it as representing too much of what is wrong with America, and even in dire opposition to the vision of the Founders.
I first learned the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school. At that age, one absorbs and trusts everything the teachers expects one to learn. For years, decades even, I spoke the words without really knowing what they meant, much less where they came from. In fact, how many Americans do know where the Pledge came from?
I didn’t know until about ten years ago, and that was the beginning of my questioning the Pledge and whether, as a follower of Christ and a citizen of this country, it was something I should invoke.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy: a socialist, and arguably a racist and anti-Catholic. But none of those are germane to my individual illumination about the Pledge.
(Excerpt) Read more at theknightshift.blogspot.com ...
I can see where the author’s coming from. But he’s too extreme.
I proudly say the pledge, or sing along with the National Anthem, or salute the flag, or fill up with patriotism from a historical and traditional viewpoint.
Am I proud of my Country today? Would I even recommend my kids join the military?
These are questions that even the most conservative patriots must answer.
We all have allegiances to “men” and human relationships of various kinds.
The key is to keep your priorities straight. God is first. All else follows on that. Keep God first and the rest will find their proper order. Any conflict between your first allegiance to God and any of your other human attachments, and you already know what to do and where to stand.
For most of us, allegiance to the “flag” was allegiance to the founding principles. Because America without the founding principles and without God at the head, is not the America we swore allegiance to.
>>I proudly say the pledge, or sing along with the National Anthem, or salute the flag, or fill up with patriotism from a historical and traditional viewpoint.
>>Am I proud of my Country today? Would I even recommend my kids join the military?
I made the decision to not say the pledge or salute the flag anymore about a year ago. A symbol is just that...a symbol. It can mean something good or something bad. Until recently, the flag was a symbol of good and hope but today it is a symbol of a nation gone bad. We elect communist’s into office and half of the people cheer and hold out their hands for a payoff.
I wish that Obama had changed the flag as part of his “fundamental transformation” so I would be able to proudly desecrate his flag. I won’t salute or pledge allegiance to the flag anymore, but I also won’t desecrate it for its history.
My only nation now is the kingdom of God and all Christians have to realize that America has become Babylon. We may have to live here, but we don’t have to worship its idols.
If a minister did indeed say this, he drastically misunderstands both Scripture and the law.
If federal officials do such a thing, they are no longer functioning as such, because their office prohibits them from doing such things. Therefore they have morally and legally reduced themselves from the status of law enforcement officials to criminals and should be treated as such.
The practical results of using force in self-defense against federal or other LEOs is, unfortunately, a whole other issue. You are very unlikely to come out of it alive and free, regardless of what they did to deserve it.
But defending my wife and children is one of those hills I will cheerfully die on.
More specifically, not only was the Pledge written by a socialist, but consider the following. With wording like "one nation" and "indivisible," the Pledge is arguably anti-state sovereignty, pro-big federal government propaganda, possibly intended to dilute the idea of the federal government's constitutionally limited powers.
In fact, Thomas jefferson had indicated that the idea of "one nation" is basically how foreign nations were to think of the United States.
"The true theory of our Constitution is surely the wisest and best, that the States are independent as to everything within themselves, and united as to everything respecting foreign nations." --Thomas Jefferson to Gideon Granger, 1800.
Also, regarding the display of flags, socialist FDR is pretty much the one who inspired federal code to glorify the national flag. But consider the idea of the national flag being the prominent flag when other flags are displayed arguably does not reflect the federal government's constitutonally limited powers, just as the Pledge does not reflect the fed's constitutionally limited powers.
I think your amendment to ‘the Pledge’ is a good one! As to the ‘God’ in the Pledge, the way our Forefathers intended is far from that now, especially without your personal amendment to it! It is not the same somehow...now that the ‘Usurper-in-Grief’ has deemed this nation to be no longer a ‘Christian Nation’ and he addressed the entire nation this way! How would we know which God it would be referring to, Allah, God (of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) or god of whomever? So, that’s one of the reasons I very much like your amendment....”for which it stood...”!
I love this Nation also, many in my family has fought and paid a price to keep it free, to include my son that was seriously injured fighting in Iraq and received a Purple Heart! Thanks be to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he is still standing in the U.S. Army now for the freedom of this Nation!
Well said, Marron. I agree: God, family, country. I pledge my allegiance to my country (we,the people) no matter what fools are temporarily running it.
TC
I can no longer, in good conscience and in keeping to my faith in God, recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.The Obamas and other jihadists say the same thing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.