By Brian Von Wert
All opinions and ideas expressed here are solely those of the individual expressing them, they do not represent the community as a whole.
First, let me state, I am a veteran, I spent 8 ½ years in the US Navy. In the Navy, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
I am proud of my service; I am proud of every veteran or current military service member today. I respect what they have given up for their country. When joining the military, we give up our current lives and accept a greater good. This may include, but is not limited to, missing birthdays, wedding anniversaries, or funerals. This may also include leaving behind every one you know and everything you own, knowing that there is a very real possibility that you will never see them again.
I served on submarines (USS Alabama SSBN-731, and Uss Omaha SSN-692) and was deployed on many patrols. During those patrols, you have no communication with the outside world, except what the captain may deem worthy to tell you. Often times, personnel would learn about a family death months after it happened, because the Navy felt it was not in their best interest to tell you about it mid mission.
This is just a small indication of the things you give up serving your country.
I learned Pride, Commitment, and Integrity in the Navy. I learned to follow the chain of command; I learned to respect the position and not the person holding the position. As such, I can say I despise Donald J. Trump but must accept that he is our president.
Now, back to the flag. US Flag Code The flag is a symbol used to represent the idea of American pride. It is a symbol, nothing more, it is not American pride, it is not a sacred cloth to be held up as superior to the values and principles enshrined in the Constitution. My allegiance remains with the Constitution and the rights it guarantees, rather than a symbol.
As I look around I community, I see that the flag is not held sacred, it is used for advertising, it is used for clothing, it is marred with words supporting an individual person. I see flags that are half American flags, and half Trump flags. There are flags that have inappropriate words on them, or letters standing for those words. I see a lack of respect for the flag everywhere I look today. During the last campaign, a person running for president desecrated the flag by selling versions with his name written across them.
To this end, our flag is no longer respected by the common person. I will say again, the flag is a symbol, and that symbol is dishonored everywhere you look today.
The Pledge of Allegiance was originally penned by Francis Bellamy, a socialist minister. The original words were “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Note that a minister created this pledge, and his version did not include a deity. It has been changed twice: in 1923, "my flag" was replaced with "the Flag of the United States of America," and in 1954, "under God" was added.
For the pledge itself.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America”
I do not, I have taken an oath to the US Constitution, not to the flag.
“and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God”
We are not one nation under god. Many of us have different or even no gods.
“indivisible”
I think we can all agree that this no longer applies.
“with liberty and justice for all"
Do we really have or even strive to have liberty and justice for all? Non-white men are incarcerated as a rate far exceeding white men for the same crimes, removing their liberty through injustice. The liberty to manage your own body is under scrutiny if you are female, or trans. Is there really justice when people are not treated equally under the law? A wealthy man can get away with stealing state secrets, while others spend time in prison for lessor acts. Do we really have liberty and justice for all when the LGBTQ communities are targeted for harassment by our government? Where the unhoused can be chased from city parks and streets, camps can be dismantled, instead of offering them shelter? When children go to school hungry and wrack up lunch debts, but not all children, only those from poor families.
Now please explain to me why I should recite the Pledge of Allegiance when it does not stand for any of the things I stand for. When I disagree with nearly every phrase in it?
I support the US Constitution, I accept it as my guiding document, not some piece of cloth someone made up as a symbol of pride.
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