To: Michael81Dus
To our German friend:
"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."
Notice that the pledge is to a country, not a person (like your historically typical pledge) and the ideals of liberty and justice for all. The indivisable part refer's to our Civil War...
The "under God" part acknowleges the nation is responsible to that Someone greater than any nation....who will judge us all.
When I was in 2ndary school we recited it every morning--therefore most any American will know it by heart...at least of a certain age (unfortunatly many schoolkids don't any more...thanks to the liberals).
As to the military pledge, I don't know that by heart, however, significantly it pledges loyalty to the U. S. Constitution (implicitly with its Bill of Rights), again, NOT to a person or office (like the President).
Fascist and Communist loyalty pledges were almost always to particular persons or offices, this is what sets the American pledges apart. We pledge to a country and the ideals, principles and laws which make it great--and to which we continually aspire.
To: AnalogReigns
Thanks for the explanation. The PoA changed during the times, I can conclude from your words.
You were referring to Hitler: from 1920-1934 the military oath was sworn to the Republic (so it is today again). On the day, the last democratic elected President died (1934), Hitler changed the oath, and enforced all servicemen to swear unconditional obedience to him.
I have the oath, the soldiers of the GDR had to speak. It´s a long text and ends with "if I violated this solemn oath, I want to be punished by the severity of the laws of the workers- and farmers republic and the contempt of the working people." LOL "the contempt of the working people"
227 posted on
03/26/2003 10:35:19 AM PST by
Michael81Dus
(I´m German, please excuse my bad English!)
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