Well considering the original was written by a socialist that would fit right in with what this nation is becoming daily. Good riddance. Haven't said it for years and IIRC neither did any Framers say pledges to pieces of cloth.
Sorry, but against my better judgement, I couldn't let this one go by unanswered.
Surely you understand that the Pledge is not to "a piece of cloth" but to what that "piece of cloth" represents. Draw it on paper, paint it on plywood, it's still the symbol of our country.
I see by your profile that your ancestors fought for the Confederacy. So did some of mine--on my mother's side, while on my father's side they fought for the Union. Was the Stars and Stripes, or the Stars and Bars, or the regimental flag for that matter, just a "piece of cloth" to the men who fought under it? Oh, sure, the flags had a functional purpose of letting the soldiers know where the lines of battle were, but do you think that's why the flag was important to those men? Or that those who were given the honor-- and often life-endangering task-- of bearing the colors thought that they just had a "piece of cloth" affixed to the staff?
Do you think when soldiers -- young or old -- are laid to rest, their families regard the flag presented to them as "a piece of cloth"? Hey, why not cut it up and use it to polish the car?
The flag is no more "a piece of cloth" than the Constitution is a piece of paper -- although that's certainly what it is becoming under a judiciary and, to be fair, under executive and legislative branches, that do what they damn well please.
Last year when my son was in a private preschool, he came home one day and was playing in his room when I heard him say the Pledge perfectly from start to finish. I was proud of him. His class said it every day. This year, in a public kindergarten, he has yet to say it once. My wife happened to ask about it and was told, "they are supposed to be saying it, but...." Not really an answer. I don't know if they haven't gotten around to it yet; or, because a good chunk of the kids don't understand English, they're not going to do it; or some administrator in the district, as a a salute to "diversity" determined that it would not be said. But I'm going to find out.
I want my son to have an appreciation for his country and its symbols. The Pledge is a start.
HISTORY OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
I believe it is a good idea to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. It's the only verbal public expression that reminds folks that we are a Republic, not a democracy.
It also reminds folks that our Charter was created by our founders who were inspired of God.
I also believe that our Pledge of Allegiance should be by invitation, not compulsory.
The form of invitation that I used when I am required to lead in the Pledge goes like this:
'Ladies and Gentlemen. (Or whatever is appropriate to the group assembled). I invite you to join me in saluting and pledging allegiance to the Flag of Our County.'
Never had a problem with it. People usually look at the flag when they are making the pledge -- not who isn't reciting the pledge.
This would allow non-citizens and those under religous or political convictions to feel at ease in not reciting the pledge.
We have every right to recite the Pledge of Allegiance whereever our Flag is displayed. And for those who do not want to recite the pledge for whatever reason, we recognize their right not to.