Take on me

[kyburg]

ACLU's version of the history of the Pledge of Allegiance.

For the record, I believe in God.

For the record, I believe the 1954 version is more constitutional.

For the record, I believe most people think the same thing I do.

And now, I believe I'll have some more Mountain Dew.

Comments

Re: Exactly.

[digitaldraco.livejournal.com]

There seems to be a confusion between the "piece of colored cloth" and what the heraldry on that cloth represents. Interesting.....

I don't have a problem with giving an oath of allegiance to what the flag represents (ie. the United States itself). I do have a problem with the wording of the pledge as-is.

On a similar note (or should that be "tangent?") though, I also find the idea of swearing fealty to a nation just because you were born there rather silly. Granted, I think that among all the nations I could live in I'd probably not stray far from the U.S. of A. for very long (if I ever did or had the chance to). And I think everyone is entitled to devote themselves to a cause they think is worthwhile. However, "worthwhile" is a very subjective term. Which brings us to why...

I'm not blindly loyal to this nation either. Our government and our people make mistakes just like any other. That's part of what makes living here great. If our rule-makers F up, we can question them and replace them.

Though lately even that liberty has become rather circumspect. Hanging chads anyone?

~Draco

Re: Exactly.

[ulesegisa.livejournal.com]

It isn't just because you were born here. Its the promise of citizenship which is 'granted' by birth on our soil. It can be taken away. It is a privilege not a right. If I were to be convicted of a felony crime I lose my right to vote. I loose the privilege of being someone who can make a difference in this countries future which also happens to be my own future. In the modern era that we live in our government has granted us the rights to talk about and fix issues in the governing body by a democratic process. Are there flaw's in the system? Yes... find one that doesn't... find a governing system that is incapable of having flaw's.. I'll save you some time.. It doesn't exist. Swearing an oath of allegiance to a concept that allows us the freedoms we have I believe is a very worthwhile cause. As apparently many who were not originally born on US soil also do (need I explain?). There is a reason for that. Being granted the privilege of being a US citizen, we are protected from the outside world by a militia. We are granted the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are granted rights in a court of law. We are granted the rights to a democratic process when we believe that we have been wronged. There are many other inalienable rights that we are given the freedoms to have .....by our citizenship, which can be taken away if we F-up badly enough or if we voluntarily give them up.

On a military base a person is subject to "UCMJ" (Uniform Code of Military Justice). Basically if you are accused, you are guilty and you have to prove your innocence. You give up your rights as a US citizen when you work on a military base. Only while you work on the base for civilians, 24/7 for enlisted personnel. People who do not have US citizenship are not allowed to work on a military installation. It can be taken away. I can be taken away by the hour if the government so deems it necessary.
I like the system of innocent until proven guilty. I like the system that says I am protected from another country should they decide to break international laws. I like the fact that the US is the greatest world power left on the planet. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with that. Securing the rights that grant us the freedoms that come with citizenship is one of them. For that I swear fealty. Not to a flag but to an ideal. Much like the mythical knights of the round table swore fealty not to King Arthur, but to Camelot.


It looks like the only thing that is being seeing is how things happen inside the boundaries of the US. There is a bigger picture (if that is the case) and that also needs to be factored into the ideals and concepts behind, "what is the USA really? What is it that I am swearing fealty too exactly?" Those are valid questions in my opinion and ones worth addressing.

One of the issues (follow me here this looks like a tangent at first) that the teachers had to deal with in my home town is that there was only one high school. They found that students were almost eager to bag on the only high school cause there was no local competition. There was a lack of pride for the high school because of that as well. Viewing the USA as the only country that matters is like having only one high school. Its easy to bag on it when there is nothing to compare it to or compete with. Scrutinizing our own government for the mistakes it's made without comparing them to the mistakes that have been made in another countries government is unfair. I think if that is done by more people, fewer people will have as many issue's with the US's government than they had. Is it perfect? No. Is it a damn site better than any other government EVEN WITH THE FLAW'S IT HAS? you betcha...:)

Indigo.
piping up again and shooting off his mouth.