"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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Reader comments about this quote:
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     
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    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     

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    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     
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    "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     
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    He was a socialist. The pledge of allegiance is just about the most unamerican thing since paying taxes.
     -- Devon, Edmonton, AB     
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     -- 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     
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     -- 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     
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     -- Ben, Orem, UT      
    My allegiance is to myself. False patriotism is a tool of looters.
     -- Justin, ELkland     
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    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     
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    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     
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    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     
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    "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     
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    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     
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     -- 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     
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    I'm with you Reston - its always amazed me that Christians and Jesus are directly appose to each other.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    gag me with a fork!
     -- https://twitter.com/Voluntarysm, ruritania     
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    If you are going to use this malignant pledge please take "under God" out of it.......
     -- Robert, St. Emilion, France     
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    It should be noted that the original pledge included an outstretched hand in a Caesarean salute (like the one used during 'Heil, Hitler!'

    I agree if there is ANY pledge, it ought to be a pledge to the Constitution -- and the Declaration of Independence, for that matter. In fact I have always thought that at age 18 every person should have a chance to sign the Declaration of Independence and make it his/her own personal declaration.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    @Mike, Christian 'socialism' does not seem to be much of a stretch if you ask me -- it is simply organized religion. Whether a king or dictator, it matters not, the religion becomes compulsory by law, as well as all the rules and rituals. And instead of really letting God judge, they judge men as if they were God -- millions of people murdered in hellish ways. The 'common good' is the same argument used by Christians while they oppress and persecute the non-believers. If we were to listen to what the Conservatives spout day and night, it stands clear that they consider themselves in the midst of a holy war against Islam with the Day of Judgement nipping at our heals. More Christian socialism. Same for Jewish socialism. It's about power, pure and simple, and Christians have been conned out of their power for centuries.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    The preaching of Liberty is to them that perish foolishness, but to us which are saved it is the power of God, That is why we have separation of church and state. Watered down truth never convinced any body of true liberty. For I am not ashamed of the liberty of God for it is the power of God unto salvation of the individual and the nation. The depth of understanding is just below the surface of the water of the word. Remember freedom from oppression and tax, (Chophshiy liberty ), of the born free sovereign individual. (eleuthreia liberty, manumission from slavery ). Most all organized Christian religion is threskeia in nature, superficial. There is separation between dead works and grace, for if I must work for my freedom then it is not a gift from God. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. For we are his workmanship , created in liberty unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. The types of liberty are not for private interpretation, they are specific under natural law. Now, one can see more clearly the yoke of bondage perpetrated by ministers of church and state Threskeia religious practice. Christian socialist. Stand fast therefore in the Liberty ( Apeleutheros liberty, access to God ) wherewith God has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you be joined unto them God shall profit you nothing. That is why God sent Paul not to baptize but to preach liberty in all its broadest of scope and depth of knowledge. We are save by the faith of God and in our faith on his finished work supplying us with Liberty. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God. " And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. Amen. God has given us the banner, flag, thirteen bars and stripes,( blood and righteousness ) with the stars above ( angels above ) above in the heavens to guide us. The heavens declare the glory ( knowledge ) of God, and the firmament shows us his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night ( which we are in ) shows knowledge. Liberty does shine in the night.
    So says the watchman ( Amen ) in the night. I do pledge allegiance to our flag, our God, our Declaration, and our Constitution upon which this nation stands for. A thumbs down for the socialist !
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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    Guiding attributes from the hosts of heaven, they influence all things on the earth.
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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    After giving it some thought, it makes no sense for the citizen to pledge allegiance to the Constitution because it is the rule book for the government. Government employees should pledge allegiance to the Constitution - in fact, they are required by law to sign an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. It turns out that a great many public officers have NOT signed that oath -- including folks like Hillary Clinton.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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