By Mary Mostert, Analyst, Banner of Liberty (www.bannerofliberty.com)
October 11, 2001
Tomorrow is the 509th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. It is the 109th anniversary of the first nationwide recitation of Frank Bellamy's newly written Pledge of Allegiance as part of the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day October 12, 1891. And, it is one month and one day after the worst and most deadly attack of the United States in American history.
In a perfectly timed effort designed "show our patriotism by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at a single time and with a unified voice" President Bush's Secretary of Education Rod Paige has asked that America's 52 million students simultaneously recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Paige has contacted more than 100,000 public and private elementary and secondary school principals to encourage "students, teachers, parents and other proud Americans across the country to join me in showing our patriotism by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at a single time and with a unified voice this Friday. Together, we can send a loud and powerful message that will be heard around the world: America is 'one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'"
Times for the united "Pledge Across America in the nations schools are: EDT 2:00 PM; CDT 1:00PM; MDT 12:00; PDT 11:AM; Alaska 10:00 AM and Hawaii 8:00 AM.
The Pledge Across America, was announced the same day that another story about schools and the Pledge of Allegiance was in the news. The School Board of Madison, Wisconsin met on Monday apparently to try figure out a means of circumventing a new Wisconsin State law that requires either the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance or singing the national anthem each day in schools. They voted to not allow recitation of the Pledge and not allow the words of the national anthem to be sung, but the music played without words.
Bill Keys, the board member who introduced the No-Pledge resolution said it was "out of concern for foreign students, language such as 'under God' in the pledge and militaristic themes in the national anthem." Also, board members said Monday they wanted to "do as little as possible to foist a mass mentality on students."
Several teachers and parents had been behind the opposition to the pledge. Keys said it was his "intention to ban the pledge as a class recitation."
An editorial in the Capital Times paper, clearly annoyed that hundreds of patriots from around the country loudly protested the school board's lack of patriotism said:
"In places like Madison, where there are differing opinions on practically everything, forcing people to conform to something that's deeply personal just didn't sit well. Despite the rhetoric fanned by the holier-than-thou talk show hosts and others who act as though they are the true font of all wisdom, it has nothing to do with being a true patriot. It's a symbol, nothing more, nothing less."
This bizarre behavior has caused people all over America to wonder just what kind of a place Madison, Wisconsin is. Last December the Madison School Board voted to condemn the Boy Scouts of America for not allowing homosexuals to become scoutmasters. That was before those who hate freedom destroyed the World Trade Center. This time Madison's School Board's disdain for America's freedom created a nationwide outcry and a deluge of angry calls and e-mail.
Just what IS the symbol that is represented by the Pledge of Allegiance which the Capital Times so contemptuously dismisses? The symbol actually goes back to the Declaration of Independence. Until July 4, 1776 the American Colonists pledged their allegiance to the King of England. The Declaration ended that allegiance with:
"WE, THEREFORE, the REPRESENTATIVES of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, DO, in the Name and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly PUBLISH and DECLARE, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connexion between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved;
Having absolved themselves of all allegiance to the British Crown, what then? Did the Americans have no allegiance to anything? What made them a nation?
The Civil War taught America that the only thing that united them were the principles spelled out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln, in an effort to pull the divided Union back together proposed an amnesty plan for the rebellious leaders of the Confederacy. He believed it required them to pledge their allegiance to the principles on which the nation was founded and would have welcomed the rebels back into full citizenship if they would but swear once again their "Allegiance to the United States, and to reinaugurate loyal State governments within and for their respective states."
That oath read: "I, --------------------, do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all acts of Congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed, modified, or held void by Congress, or by decision of the supreme court; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion having reference to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the Supreme Court. So help me God."
In the years following the devastating Civil War, that oath of allegiance, and the painful aftermath of the murderous conflict, prompted decades of patriotic, unity supporting programs which culminated, in 1892, with the first nationwide recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
In a monarchy, a traitor was one who did not support the King. In the new American Republic, a traitor was one who did not support the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the Laws made by Congress, the decisions of the Supreme Court and the proclamations of the President.
Unfortunately, few people and many groups, such as the ACLU, in America today, seem to have much comprehension of the importance of the symbols of liberty, such as the flag or a pledge of allegiance. The ACLU proudly list a long string of court cases in which they have championed the "rights" of those who do not wish to express allegiance to the flag, which is a symbol of the country.
While they are technically correct that dissidents have the right to oppose the principles and the flag that is their symbol, they do not have the power to also force everyone else to believe they are loyal citizens. The ACLU, and people like Bill Keys who want to ban the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, would like to have it both ways. They would like to prevent others from Pledging Allegiance, or if that is not possible, to at least be disruptive and disrespectful of the rights of others during the Pledge. Yet, they still want to be considered as "patriotic" as those who willingly pledge their support of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence through their recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
So, folks, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, when the time to pledge allegiance to the flag in your time zone, find a flag and participate with millions of Americans across the land in dedication to the principles upon which this nation stands.
Since September 11, as the President has said, you are either with the terrorists, or you are against the terrorists. It's no longer acceptable to tear down freedom, or destroy groups such as the Boy Scouts of America that proudly teach allegiance to moral standards and to the Constitution while pretending to be a loyal American.
To comment: mmostert@bannerofliberty.com
To visit Save Our Scouts - http://www.saveourscouts.org
To learn more about the National School Celebration - http://www.celebrationusa.org/ourhistory.htm