I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

(the original Pledge as it appeared in Youth's Companion magazine in 1892)¹

Many Americans born since the early 1940s are surprised to learn that the current version of the Pledge of Allegiance to their flag and country is not the original.  In fact, the Pledge has been modified three times since it was first written and adopted.

1923: The phrase "the flag of the United States" was substituted for "my flag."

1924: The words "of America" were appended to "the United States."

1954: The words "under God" were inserted, dividing "one nation" and "indivisible."

The first two changes serve to make clear precisely which flag and nation are being honored.  The third, however, represents no enhancement of the original, which embraced virtually all Americans.  Instead, by endorsing monotheistic religion, it alienates those millions—atheists, Buddhists, Confucians, Hindus, Wiccans, and others—who honor their country and flag but do not profess belief in a single deity.  In effect it tells them that, because they do not subscribe to the majority religion, their patriotism doesn't count.²

It makes one wonder what's next ... maybe changing "under God" to "under Jesus"? ... or "the republic" to "the Republicans"?  To some, perhaps, such myopic maneuvering is a way of separating "real Americans" (i.e., those having the same beliefs and opinions as the instigators) from everyone else.  But to those excluded by such petty divisiveness, it's an undeserved slap in the face.  And to everyone else it's just one more example of what happens when partisan government committees get to tampering with things which were just fine to begin with.

=SAJ=

[1] Ref: Microsoft Bookshelf 99

[2] It also probably tells us that the religious faith of a majority of politicians is so shaky that it needs the official endorsement of government to prop it up. If that's so, religion's situation in Washington must be truly desperate.

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