League of Loyal Americans

What began as a progressive socialist minister’s effort to indoctrinate schoolchildren in 1892, has turned into an affirmation of patriotic devotion for conservatives and a nightmare for the minister’s progressive socialist heirs.

Baptist minister Francis Bellamy’s original version was sparse and loosely defined. The cousin of socialist utopian novelist Edward Bellamy, he wrote the pledge for a children’s magazine to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. Supposedly, the idea of the pledge was to promote the magazine and sell American flags to kids, in league with the National Education Association. This is Bellamy’s original pledge:

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

That same year, the pledge was slightly modified, although modern grammarians would have allowed the original to stand:

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

In 1923, the pledge was better defined, with “the” replacing “my” and adding "of the United States" so that you knew you weren’t just pledging your allegiance to any old flag:

“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."

Just a year later, in 1924, just in case anyone didn’t understand which United States were being honored, the words “of America” were added:

"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."

Then, thirty years later, in 1954, in order to make sure the oath had the stamp of Divine Providence, God took His rightful place in the pledge:

"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."

Congress officially recognized the pledge as the official national pledge on June 22, 1942. The pledge went through a battle in the Supreme Court. In 1940, in Minersville School District v. Gobitis, the Court ruled schoolchildren could be compelled to say the pledge. In 1943, the Court reversed its decision in West Virginia State Board of Education, saying it violated First Amendment Rights.

Along with the Pledge, Bellamy added the rite of a salute that would later resemble the Nazi salute. Pres. Roosevelt replaced it with the hand-over-heart gesture. On June 14, 1954, the words “under God” were officially added, amending the Flag Code enacted in 1942, after a Presbyterian minister gave a sermon on Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and his use of the words, “under God.” Docherty had though the pledge was missing something that would make it uniquely American.

The pledge has undergone many challenges by atheist groups and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who consider such a pledge idolatry. In the most recent ruling, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the words were of a “ceremonial and patriotic nature” and did not constitute an establishment of religion.

Still, the Progressives rail against the use of the pledge, particularly with the words “under God” included. Historians argue that in the meaning of Abraham Lincoln and his times, the phrase meant "God willing" - that is to say, in modern lingo, "if God's okay with it" or "as long as God thinks it's a good idea."

At a debate sponsored by the Illinois League of Women Voters between Democratic incumbent Rep. Melissa Bean, GOP challenger Joe Walsh, and Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer, the audience protested loudly when the ILWV moderator Kathy Tate-Bradish refused to include reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as part of the proceedings

Videotaping was not allowed at the debate. Still, someone managed to digitally record Republican Joe Walsh’ reaction to the public rebellion. The audience’s reaction is inaudible and Walsh seems to be nodding in agreement, when in fact, he was nodding in agreement with the audience.

With Walsh in the lead, his hand over his heart, the 300-member audience stood up and recited the Pledge of Allegiance anyway. Tate-Brandish scolded the crowd afterwards for disrespecting her, claiming that not reciting the pledge in no way disrespected the American flag. She blamed the outburst on the Walsh. LWV executive director Jan Czarnik (a former ACORN Project Vote worker and member of People for the American Way) also condemned the recitation as “a phony patriotism issue.”

Both women have been members of the progressive movement. Ms. Tate-Bradish was an active supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and even hosted campaign events for the then-Senator in her own home.

An Island Lake resident and U.S. Air Force veteran named Joseph Ptak claimed responsibility for requesting the Pledge to be recited at the debate, calling it a “proper way to begin the event that was in a high school and had student participation.” Many veterans were in the audience that evening and he objected to his sincerity being questioned.

Though Liberals and Libertarians (like my father) may accuse American flag-loving Americans of jingoism, they just can’t seem to douse America’s passion for her star-spangled banner. They tried burning it in the Sixties, sewing it onto the backs of blue jeans, and committing all manner of flagocide. But it only deepened America’s love for their flag and what it represents.

The fervor has gone through cycles. Flag-waving was popular during the Bicentennial. Then it enjoyed a resurgence with the election of Ronald Reagan. Then it waned again for awhile, though the ember never died.

Then came the 9/11 attacks. The passion for the American flag blazed forth as it hadn’t done since perhaps the end of World War II. American flags were everywhere. They hung from every light pole in my town. They hung from overpasses, fire trucks, and hometown porches. In Wildwood, that weekend after the attacks, the annual Firemen’s Parade was cancelled. So the New Jersey firemen got up an impromptu American Flag Parade. Americans would never again take their flag – or the Pledge of Allegiance – for granted again.

They just needed an excuse to keep on waving them. The grief for 9/11 had to subside sooner or later. But just in time, along came the Tea Parties, and Old Glory was once again in her glory.

The Supreme Court ruled that you can’t force someone to recite the Pledge, which is true. The Pledge can only come from the heart; it shouldn’t be forced, although there’s nothing at all wrong with teaching schoolchildren about patriotism and love of freedom by having them learn the Pledge of Allegiance. Perhaps they only recite it by rote when their young, but practice makes perfect for the day that will come when they’re mature enough understand the significance of the Pledge and recite it out of affection and respect, not blind obedience.

Those 300 audience members in Illinois were not schoolchildren. They were not compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. They volunteered to recite it; they requested to recite it. When they were refused, they defied the edict and recited it anyway, from memory and from their hearts. Then they applauded. Later, they were scolded for their bad behavior and disrespect for the moderator.

At that debate, America literally stood up to bureaucratic tyranny and socialist shrewishness. The very fact that they rose up against despotism said as much about their love of America and freedom as reciting the Pledge itself.