Letter: Problems with the pledge – Concord Monitor

Published: 2/12/2021 12:01:20 AM

In his Feb. 7 letter, Charlie Stepanek sees the country as being in need of a common source of unity and inspiration. He goes on to suggest that we all recite the Pledge of Allegiance, which he quotes.

Count me out.

As a substitute teacher in several school districts, I am called to engage in this ritual every morning. But I amend the pledge in two ways.

First, I drop under God. This wasnt in the pledge when I first learned it. And some historians suggest that the introduction of under God in 1954 was done during the Cold War, as a way to differentiate the U.S. from the concept of Communist state atheism. I refer you to Wikipedia for a fuller discussion.

And while a New Jersey judge ruled that hearing under God in the Pledge of Allegiance does not violate rights of atheist students, I prefer my pledge to be religion-free.

Second, I find it incorrect to assert that our nation under God or not has liberty and justice for all. If there is one thing that we should have learned in 2020 its that our nation does not provide liberty or justice for many.

I wish that it did. But until it does, Ill leave that phrase out, while hoping that in spite of Trump and QAnon it remains indivisible.

TOM CHASE

Northwood

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Letter: Problems with the pledge - Concord Monitor