Each day, all over America, high school students view morning announcements on TV. The announcements begin with a call to "...please stand for the pledge." Then, grudgingly, half-heartedly, the students (not all--some, halfway) rise, and a voice from the speakers is heard. I make my pledge; and some chime in, but many do not...their hearts are not in it. "Let's get this over with," seems to be the mood. I am nettled, but I have never found a solution to this problem.
In my frustration, I have given brief commentary on the importance of the pledge--but it falls on deaf ears. The students sense my lack of will--they are not convinced.
But something is wrong, that is for sure, when we devalue what was once sacred. We have no problem pledging, with sanctimonious pride, our allegiance to "diversity." And we, with nostalgic pride, point proudly, and walk in parades, to pledge our allegiance to the "cultures," of our past. We even make laws that punish "hateful," or politically incorrect speech...but what I don't understand is how little spirit there is to express pride and respect for our nation and the flag it represents. I ask, therefore, when did it become an embarrassment or an inconvenience to show patriotism for America? When did honoring the Idea of America become uncool?
Sadly, If I did not compel my students, by virtue of my authority, most (or all, under the pressure of indifferent, cynical peers) would not rise at all. For those who do rise, some of the compelled place their hands over their hearts, but neither their hearts nor their minds are engaged. At most, it is a parroting of words long ago rendered dull to the heart--droll to the mind.
But perhaps I misread my students. Perhaps their reluctance is thoughtful dissent. No. Perhaps it is thoughtles indifference. That is more on the mark. However, I believe that it is something much worse, and more dangerous--that my students are typical Americans, who have learned somehow that love of this particular country does not matter, that loyalty to America is somehow politically incorrect in a World of Nations. It is, in an ironic and horrible sense, correct to honor one's nation of family origin--but not the nation in which one lives. Somewhere, it has become sign of weakness to stand and pledge allegiance to one nation in-particular, this United States of America, the idea of the democratic republic, in the name of the Creator's notion of life, liberty and justice for all. I say this is wrong, not because patriotism is my last refuge, but because those who came before us deserve our recognition.
But let us reflect on our history, and the reason why it is a noble act to pledge the flag with our hearts and minds.
For us to be here, now, this is what has happened, since 1776:
- According to the Department of Defense, over 651,000 people have given (and continue to give) their lives in battle for this country and its ideals. We owe these men and women our thanks for giving their lives for us. We can debate the merits of those wars; but one thing stands out--they gave their blood for us. That is what the red stripes on the flag are for.
- According to the Population Institute, the total number of Americans who have ever lived since 1776 is 558,097, 837--and growing. We owe them our thanks, for laying the foundation for us. They and our Founders, through their vigilance, perseverance, and just action, made it possible for us to have the life we have today. This is what the blue field on the flag stands for.
- The Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution are unarguably two of the most important political documents in world history. With genius, our Founders crafted two clear, concise documents that laid out the foundation of American Freedom. Those two documents in their philosophic purity--both political and moral--are represented by the white stripes on our flag.
- The stars on the flag, one for each state, represent the heavens and the Divine Goal that inspired our Founders. To this end, the pledge to the flag is a spiritual pledge, given humbly in the presence of a Creator, the Originator of our nation's basic truths: universal human equality--and universal human rights to life, liberty, and happiness.
This is what I believe, and wish my students would believe, with all their hearts: that the United States of America is the greatest, most productive social experiment in history; that it is the last great hope for humanity; and that it deserves our pledge of allegiance each day. I also believe that our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the models for free and democratic societies throughout the world, and are the models for nations that would be free. Most of all, I believe that we should, on a daily basis, honor those who have come before us by standing and honoring them--for after all, there will come a time in the future when we all are gone, and it would be tragically ironic if our sacrifices for the future generations meant nothing to them.
