"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands;
one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."
by:
Rev. Francis Bellamy
(1855-1931) Baptist minister, Christian Socialist
Source:
The original words and accompanying ritual of the Pledge of Allegiance was first published in the September 8th, 1892, issue of The Youth's Companion, a popular weekly magazine published in Boston.
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If we're going to pledge allegiance to anything, let it be the Constitution. The notion that we are somehow owned by the state is obnoxious; we own the state and it exists to serve our needs rather than the other way around.
 -- Frank, Oldsmar		 
Allegiance: the obligation of a feudal vassal to his liege lord

Liege: a feudal superior to whom allegiance and service are due
 -- Bob, Reston, Virginia, USA

 
While the flag is just a symbol, it is as good as anything else... and please note, a Baptist minister... a Christian... and no mention of their God in that pledge... seems our predicessors knew a thing or two about what this country used to be about.
 -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US		 
"I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the Liberty for which it stands, One Nation, subdivided, with Equal Rights and Justice for All."
 -- Bill the Libertarian, Sarasota, FL		 
He was a socialist. The pledge of allegiance is just about the most unamerican thing since paying taxes.
 -- Devon, Edmonton, AB		 
 -- Anonymous 
If we could get our representatives to live by the oath they take instead of the moeny they take in campaign contributions the pledge might mean something.
 -- Scott T., Boise ID		 
 -- Anonymous 
In a nation where freedom of the individual is of the highest merit in its founding documents, why would we require by law that our children recite an oath of servitude to a symbolic representation of the nation? I'd gladly pledge myself to what this nation is meant to represent, but the moment we enforce such a pledge, the concept of liberty is rendered meaningless.
 -- Chris, Hewitt		 
 -- Ben, Orem, UT 
My allegiance is to myself. False patriotism is a tool of looters.
 -- Justin, ELkland		 
To start with a Christian Socialist is an oxymoron, a most literal contradiction of terms. "whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4: 4) "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13) To the corporeal being, Christianity asserts that each and every individual is a sovereign heir to the the King of Eternity, born with inalienable right and equal to all other heirs before the law as a faculty of birth. Socialism is of the world, and a religion of mammon. Socialism does not recognize the individual's nobility; it deals primarily with compelled compliance, license, victimless crimes, larceny with impunity, and all other forms of tyranny against the royal sovereign. A pledge to his flag, with a government for which it stands, is a commitment to demonic servitude. There is no government of law, liberty, or justice under such ill perceived government or pledge.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Church is more than 50% a social club. Church and religion is all about socialism or people living and getting along together. The Republic for which the flag stands is one and the same thing as the Constitution. I mean really guys get a grip. The significant the thing about the original is it did not include a reference to God. It also does not by omitting that exclude God. It is simply silent on that issue. In 1881 God was a part of American life in a greater degeree than maybe today, mentioning Him in this regard would have been unnecessary and probably an offense to most. Just like the Founding Fathers generally left their religion and others religion alone when talking about public and national policy. The Preacher had it right and we should take the Eisenhower era phrase "Under God" out of the pledge. Leaving it out did not make us ungodly and putting it in certainly does not make us godly.
 -- Waffler, Smith		 
Waffler, your comment seems to be one, if not the most ignorant and shallow definitions of socialism I've ever seen or heard. Please explain. Are you saying that all socialism is, is "people living and getting along together"? There is no more to it than that? I just smiled at the rest of your reasoning.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
"Pledging allegiance" to the flag, as expressed in this quote, is a short step away from worshiping it, as some Americans already do. I'm not religious, but I'll still point out that such overblown reverence amounts to idolatry, which god condemns. The flag is a piece of cloth, no more and no less.
 -- Laura, New York		 
A "Christian socialist?" Not possible. Jesus never said "Force thy neighbor to be a good Samaritan at the point of a govt. gun or sword." It will take many expensive suits hanging along Penn. Ave. to fix this mess if it can be fixed, and an extended "Liberal"(amerikan communist insurgent) season. Don't understand? Start here: http://www.willowtown.com/promo/quotes.htm and don't miss this: http://www.willowtown.com/promo/blogfp.htm
 -- Anonymous, Taylor County, Kentucky CSA		 
 -- Anonymous 
Mike socialism with a small s and Socialism with a large S may be two different things. People in tribes, villages, and nations have and do many things together. What do you call that? Some call it socialim and some collectivism. Socialism with a big S which may include totalitarianism, dictatorship and lack of freedom, is something different.
 -- Waffler, Smith		 
I'm with you Reston - its always amazed me that Christians and Jesus are directly appose to each other.
 -- RBESRQ		 
 
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