 |
| |
|
|
|
Sorry it has been awhile since my last blog, but since there probably are few who notices since everyone else is busy and Pleo doesn't get much traffic, i'm sure my apology is for nothing. Still, for the one or two people who read the foolishness I put up here, ... Sorry.
So, I am one to seek deeper underanding. I often wonder the history behind certain traditions and as such, I looked into the origin of our country's Pledge of Allegiance.
According to the sources found thru this article on wikipedia. The pledge originated NOT with the founding fathers, nor any of the notable presidents of our country's history. The pledge was first written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, christian socialist, and cousin of the Socialist Utopian novelist Edward Bellamy. He wrote the first form of the pledge and published it in a popular children's magazine, "The Youth's Companion" in 1892. The original pledge went like this:
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
What I noticed about this, and probably you too, is that it says nothing about God. Maybe it is odd that the Baptist minister chose not to include the tie of God to his country. I suppose without reading any personal writings of his, I could speculate all day as to why. But let's see how it became a part of the pledge. The article does say he wanted it to be short and simple, a means of unifying the people of this country. After president Benjamin Harrison gave proclamation of its use, it became official. In 1923 they added the words "to the flag of the United States" so that immigrants knew which flag they were pledging to. In the 1940's there was much of a fuss about requiring students to recite the pledge in schools. This met resistance by Jehovah's Witnesses who viewed the pledge as idolatry (saluting a flag as an idol) and the decidion was reversed in 1943 because it violated the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech. Here is the pledge by 1923:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."("of America" added after 1924)
The Knights of Columbus believed the pledge needed a tie to God and sought this intensely throughout the 1950's. The convincing and motion for the addition came by way of George MacPherson Docherty, a presbyterian minister who preached a sermon relating to the strength of Sparta being in their hearts and similarly, we are truly powerful through our unity 'under God'. This sermon stirred Dwight D. Eisenhower, the president and recent convert to the Presbyterian faith. Though he was raised a Jehovah's Witness, his recent conversion may have to play a large part in the fact that he immediately pushed the adoption of 'under God' to the pledge. The motion went about and became a bill and was passed in 1954 only 4 months later. And thus the pledge has been to this day.
"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."
What is interesting about the evolution of this statement of allegiance is that there are definitely pros and cons to its inclusion of the words 'under God' and I realize that many out there have very strong feelings one way or the other. Well, I'm not here to persuade you either way, but to equally present the case to let you decide what is best fitting this country.
(pro), I think that Dr. Docherty had it right-on when he said our strength ought to be in our hearts rather than our weapons or other might. A country which does not unify is no stronger than the weakest of weapons, and a country which does not honor God is sure to fail. Idyllic as it is our country is no more 'one nation under God' than it is 'one nation of (insert political party preference here)' Yet, as history shows, the more reverence a country's people have for God, the more strength this unity pays off. Families are more solid, stronger, and supportive. Soldiers are courageous and patriotic. This of course is not without exception, but I speak in generalities and in trends. We ought to want to be a nation 'under God' simply because our strength stems from that principle. The other idea is that if we remove 'God' from our pledge, we denounce him as a country, yet another step of decline in this nation's morals. Certainly we don't want to encourage this already increasing problem. Reminding people that we believe God brought us to greatness may well be a key to opening the eyes of the unbeliever. With the courts prohibiting prayers in public schools, we are quickly losing ground on Christian influences in our country.
(against), Even though a verbal admittance and adherence to God as a nation can be a powerful tool, it also undermines the foundation of our nation. The first amendment sets forth the idea of a separation of church and state along with freedom of speech, press, and the right to peaceably assemble. The reason the founders established this amendment was because it was how we came to be. Pilgrims flee England in search of freedom from persecution, freedom to worship as they had faith. People came here in search of freedom to say what they wanted without being jailed, to publish information without being shut up by the government. These were the very things that were fought for in the Revolutionary War. So, it is not surprise that the founders wanted to protect these rights. No doubt, many of our founders had faith in God, which led them to victory, but they still insisted on that separation. Even now, as godless as our society has become, some insist we must ahere to that unity 'under God' even though there is no such unity. What's more, we leave it in our pledge and on our money, only to be mocked by the unbeliever. Removing it will help align us to the principles of the constitution, a document quickly being forgotten and trampled over by our leaders. Better yet, why should we want to appear to the world as hypocrites? We put God on our pledge and print it with our money, but are the example of corruption and godlessness to many other countries. Why do we allow this? Shouldn't we want to reserve this unity for a time when it is truly a NATION UNDER GOD? It certainly is not one right now. While I personally would love to keep the statement of unity in the pledge, I know that it isn't what will motivate my fellow citizen to pursue faith. Societal traditions and decrees cannot make people unite under any faith. So why insist that we make everyone say 'under God' in our country's pledge?
Thanks for reading, I encourage you to do your own reading, research, and make your own opinion about the subject after better understanding how we got to were we are.
May God Help us,
BCM
|
|
| | hide comments | | | |
|
|
|
Don't forget that God is still in control.
Maybe I'm cynical about the whole situation, but I believe this recent election is just more evidence of the declining moral standard in the US. No nation lasts forever, that is assured of. Preachers go across the world trying to spread the gospel, yet we couldn't need it more here at home. People want the government to be responsible for everything. Not just keeping them safe, but to feed and clothe and bail us out of any disaster, even if it is our own faults. The spirit of pursuing and attaining our goals through hard work, knowhow, and perseverance are being given up on by many. It's just too hard. It's just not fair. So America is giving in to more and more socialism. Make Joe Plumber pay for my poor state!
We cannot change our situation by being angry or upset or indifferent. We can no longer sit and hope things will improve. We must talk to people. Tell them of the truth in all ways. Talk to our fellow brother or sister. If the economic situation continues to plunge, hard times are ahead. But maybe those hard times will bring about some sensibility in this generation. It did just that for our ancestors. At any rate, as i first said... God is still in Control.
Pray.
-bcm |
|
| | hide comments | | | |
|
|
|
My wife has pneumonia this week. It is not a fun sickness. She has antibiotics to counter the infection. Hope she gets well soon. Work is very very busy, and school is too. I can't wait until next fall. Doing well in classes thus-far. Midterms over with and on my way to finals.
Could use a prayer or two. Life is tough.
-BCM |
|
| | hide comments | | | |
|
|
|
We had our first yard sale yesterday, and hopefully today. It went well yesterday, made some good money.
Also had a bad allergy attack. Sore throat, runny nose, the works... Two benadryls helped a little to sleep through the night.
But this morning we have rain and hopefully it will pass soon and we'll get a little more sold before the end of the day.
-bcm |
|
| | | | |
|
|
