FIRST-PERSON: I pledge allegiance . . .

Baptist Press ^ | Jun 26, 2002 | John Yeats

[twntaipan]

FIRST-PERSON: I pledge allegiance . . . By John Yeats Jun 26, 2002

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP)--"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."

Amazing how 31 words can be . . .

crafted to speak volumes to people. Whether old or young, tall or short, light or dark complected, bushy headed or folliclely impaired, all who love our "God blessed" America conjure up special images as we say the Pledge of Allegiance.

For some people, hearing the . . .

pledge takes them to the grave of a loved one who laid down a life for our freedom. Others remember standing at attention beside a classroom desk while placing their right hand over their hearts. Others recall a crisp military salute while Old Glory was raised up the flagpole as the dawn simultaneously broke over the landscape and a bugler played reveille.

D. K. Webb, author of a new . . .

book by Howard Publishing called I Pledge Allegiance, addresses the powerful emotions that percolate up in our souls when we realize the weight of the words in the Pledge of Allegiance. Webb also addresses the need for every generation to become vigilant in the process of protecting the freedoms belonging to every citizen of this great nation.

In 1892 when Francis Bellamy,

a Baptist minister, composed the first pledge, there were only 21 words. In 1924, the words "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. Then in 1954, under the Eisenhower administration, the two words "under God" were inserted by an act of Congress. Eisenhower said, "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

You would think after the . . .

terrorist events in Oklahoma City, New York City and Washington that Americans would have a whole new perspective on the values of our freedoms and the symbols of our nation's identity. Yet, in a recent poll taken on the streets of a Midwestern city, only one third of the people could accurately recite the pledge.

Is it possible those who don't . . .

know the pledge never attended the opening exercises of a traditional Vacation Bible School? Could it be their education process somehow skipped the section on patriotism? I don't know, but something is certainly amiss when so many cannot articulate one of the simplest symbols of our nation's identity.

What must we do to instill . . .

within the heart of every student, every young adult and every parent a renewed sense of gratitude for the privilege and honor of being one of the chosen few of Earth's citizens to live in the United States of America? Most of the world goes to sleep hungry or oppressed by a tyrannical government. The number of people who cannot bow their head in gratitude to God for their meal without fear of reprisal is astronomical. Many peoples of the world know nothing about freedom to worship and freedom to distribute news information.

Of all the people in America,

evangelicals are the ones with the most to lose. If the heel of tyranny or the venom of institutional secularism crushed our freedoms, evangelicals would be the first to feel the oppressive restrictions on sharing our witness. We must be ever vigilant in our protection of our freedoms.

So when the pledge to the flag . . .

is announced, stand tall in respect for this symbol of our blessed nation that experiences incredible freedoms under God's authority. --30-- Yeats is editor of the Baptist Messenger.

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[twntaipan]

This appeared today--not sure if was a result of the decision.

[Grut]

I have no trouble with the words "under God" being in the Pledge of Allegiance since they're just piousness (i.e., like Bill Clinton's white Bible), not religion; on the other hand, I don't have any problem with taking them out, either.

But how do those of us who believe in a right of secession handle that "indivisible" bit?

[GalvestonBeachcomber]

I think that I first learned the pledge in 1940-41 when in 1st and 2nd grade. My memories of the pledge was that it did not at that time include the words "under God." Those words were added later than 1940, but when I don't know.

The United States was truly united in those war years. We took things like toothpaste tubes, oils, aluminum foil or tin foil to school for recycling. Alamo School had a huge Victory Garden with all manner of vegetables grown. Defense Stamps were purchased for 25c per week--saved until they could be exchanged for a savings bond.

My point is that the pledge meant something and we did our small part to contribute.

[TxBec]

One nation under God