A "patriotic" email I received this morning
I swore I wouldn't make another political poll...
But I just got an email this morning that irked me.
I'll preface this by saying the following:
1) I believe in a higher power, so this isn't some atheists vendetta against theism.
2) While I believe the two words that will be the subject of this poll should never have been added, I am not a 'die hard' for getting them removed. I'd like it if they were, but I'm not pushing the matter - I can live with them there. I'd just be happier without them.
The two words in question: "Under God". Namely in the pledge of allegiance for the United States.
I am of the firm opinion that those two words effectively negated the following word in the pledge: Indivisible. In one act, the nation was divided. Oh, it's true that the majority of Americans believe in a God of some sort, but the crux of the matter is that not ALL people in this country do, and by saying the nation is 'Under God' successfully ostracises the percentage who have no belief in a higher power.
But that particular belief of mine isn't the point of this at all - it's only to give you some idea of where I'm coming from.
The point?
This morning, I received an email from a friend. This email was attempting to be patriotic. It said it wanted to get it forwarded around before July 4th, and had cute little gifs of flags waving, bald eagles, etc... It really was cute. And under a few inches worth of glittery images was the pledge. Which I really don't mind at all.
Except that in this email, the phrase "On Nation, Under God" was underlined.
And the word "Indivisible" was not.
That was all too telling for me. I deleted the email, rather than forwarding it. Had those words not been underlined, or had "indivisible" been underlined, I'd have happily forwarded it.
But I will not condone overt, blatant attempts at further dividing our nation under the guise of a false sense of patriotism. Yes, false. You read that right. Because a true patriot wouldn't be trying to divide us, they'd be trying to unite us. A true patriot would want to stand by ALL people in this nation, not just the ones they agree with. A true patriot would see someone who doesn't believe what they do and say "that's fine, I'll defend you to the teeth, despite that."
Patriotism is loving your country. Period.
It's trying to unite us, not using two words as a weapon against a minority.
I don't care if you say "under God" in the pledge or not. But the second you use it as something to *hurt* your fellow countrymen (and women)? You cease to be a patriot and are only scum in my eyes. You're attacking the very people who should be your 'brothers' and 'sisters' in this great nation.
So what are your thoughts?
He keepeth jobs out of the hands of the people,
He leadeth the country into class warfare and polarization.
He encourageth sloth; he leadeth in deficit spending.
Yea, though I walk in the shadow of economic collapse,
I shall fear no depression, for Obama is with me.
His handouts and foodstamps supplement my income.
He maintainest spending increases beyond insurmountable debt;
He punisheth businesses with excessive regulations;
And giveth the hard-earned fruits of my labor to illegals.
Surely, handouts and stimulus shall follow all the days of his administration;
And I will stay unemployed forever and ever.
Amen
Grow up.
Again, grow up. Blocked until you can figure out how to talk properly with adults.
so Chritians cant start another Burning times and start killing Pagans witches and Athiests
as Part of Separation of church and state we have Freedom of Religion and From religion
this protects all parties
you cant force your bible down my Throat and force me to your religion
and I cant force you to start worshipping Egyptian Gods
1892
"I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
1892 to 1923
"I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
1923 to 1924
"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."
1924 to 1954
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
1954 to Present
"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."
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty, equality, and justice for all.”
Bellamy sadly realized that that would never fly in his day. Even most of the abolitionists, even Lincoln, didn’t actually think that blacks were equal to whites. Bellamy was way ahead of his time in this regard.
2nd "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Final "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."
And patriotism has one definition. What you're thinking about is nationalism - and that's a whole different ballgame.
Patriotism is loyalty to what your country stands for.
And no, patriotism is loyalty to your country, not necessarily what it stands for.
On the first point, it's simple fact.
To explain the second - I am incredibly loyal to America, despite disliking a number of its stances in the worldwide arena, as well as within its own borders. Dissent does not equate to disloyalty - and I consider myself quite patriotic.
In fact, this nation was BUILT on dissent.
So yes - this nation was founded and built stronger on dissent.