Taken from an elist I belong to. Used with
permission.
E Pleb Neestaby Shadowcat
Okay, the title is a bit obscure unless you are familiar with Star Trek (the original series), but suffice to say, it pertains to the Constitution of the United States (the Preamble, actually) and the Pledge of Allegiance.
In today's world, the Constitution and our rights as United States citizens is more or less taken for granted, unless you live in the South and someone is talking about curbing your rights to own as many guns and as much ammunition as you might want to stockpile for…um…keeping gophers at bay — now, I own a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and am an expert shot, keeping such for personal protection in a land that is becoming increasingly whacko, but there are those who think that they need their own personal arsenal…but let's not get into this whole debate just now. The fact remains, we have rights. We may not really know what they entail, and because of this, we don't really know when we've lost them (and believe me, we are losing them piecemeal, especially under the current administration); however, one of those rights is the right to freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. This, then, can also be applied to the other document in this particular Star Trek series, the Pledge of Allegiance - or, "I plegeallegian"
What does the Pledge of Allegiance really mean? Why do we recite it in school? Why do we get in trouble, or why are we considered “rebellious” and/or ostracized by our peers if we refuse to recite it? Are we being “unpatriotic” if we remain seated and silent? Why are so many people so adamant on one side of the fence or the other on this issue?
I pledge allegiance...
This means that you are stating that you, voluntarily, are committing yourself to be heretofore sworn in the unflinching defense of...
...to the flag...
...a piece of cloth/a symbol....
...of the United States of America...
...that represents a country...
...and to the republic, for which it stands...
Okay, now we're getting somewhere. You are committing yourself, unswervingly, to the ever-present defense of your nation (or, rather, the government of your nation), right or wrong.
...one nation...
Fine and dandy...
...under God...
Here is where it gets dicey. We all know that this phrase was added after a Christian minister whined convincingly enough. What about all of those who are not Christian? How about atheists? Muslims? If you are Pagan, which God? Okay, maybe we can concede a bit here and assume the old adage of “all the Gods are one God”, but what of those who, like myself, worship Goddess to the exclusion of the God (even though we may still recognize and/or honor, in part, His existence) ? What about those who don't care to mix religion in the affairs of state, such as with public education? What about...
Okay, we can pretty much write off that part if we really wanted to, but what are we forcing our children to state? That they should be unfailing, ever-loyal patrons of one country or another? I'm sorry, but what if they decide that this country isn't for them, and they belong better in France, or Italy, or the UK, or Botswana?
The pledge is an oath. As Wiccans, we are stating that oath, and then if we should break that oath, what then? As Pagans, it may not make a difference, depending upon our beliefs, but speaking as a Witch, if I give an oath, I am honor-bound to keep that oath...and yet I am finding that I do not really belong in this country, and am making plans to move out as soon as I am able to afford to do so.
So, if I move out of this country, am I breaking an oath that I made in kindergarten? Yes, I am...but did I even understand that oath?
You ask any kindergartener what the POA is, and you'll get some surprising answers...
"And to the Republicans..."
"For Witches' Stand..."
These are two actual ones that I have personally heard.
We don't know what it means, yet we are forced to say it. Forced. We may not think we are being forced...we're pretty young when we first start it, and an adult is telling us to, so...
But this country is the greatest country...or at least one of the greatest countries...blah blah blah...I've heard it before. I don't think it is, so if I don't think it is the greatest, or even one of the greatest, then for me, it isn't...therefore, this argument holds absolutely no water whatsoever. You can think that Jessica Simpson is the most talented singer, and I can think she is a talent-less slut — which of us is correct? You? Me? Both of us?
The answer is...both of us. So, to you this may well be the greatest country, or at least one of the greatest. To me, it royally sucks ass and I want out at my earliest opportunity...
...so am I breaking my oath? An oath I gave from kindergarten through the 5th grade? An oath that I didn't even understand until I was about 16?
So why would we even conceivably force our children to recite such an oath as this? Especially when it contains the phrase, “Under God” if we do not believe as the Christians? And why would we even defend its being included in our schools, when it can be easily interpreted, because of that one phrase, to be religiously exclusive in nature? And why would we ever consider it to be "whining" or "complaining" if we choose to be dissentious about it later in life, when we finally start to understand that it is about giving of ourselves an oath to a country and a government that we may or may not agree with?
Disclaimer
- The views expressed in the article are the author's own, I am not responsible
for them. I do believe that article is worth careful thought, and I'd like to
thank the Shadowcat for agreeing to let my Pagan•Vigil website host the
article.
This isn't my complete library. Eventually I will have all my books online, but since there are several thousand and it takes time to enter the information, I haven't finished it yet.
If your web browser does not show one of these addresses, then this page being used without permission of the author.
The views expressed by NeoWayland are his own and do not represent any other enity. NeoWayland freely accepts individual and sole responsibility for his words and actions.
