Commentary: Mooney's Class
Antelope Valley Press
Edward Mooney, Jr.
June 27, 2005

TITLE: Every word in the Pledge - Part I.

Whenever I recite the American Pledge of Allegiance I try to actually think about the words. Sometimes rote repetition drives the meaning of a phrase from our hearts. I worry that we're doing this to our old school exercise. I recently realized that many adults rarely say these words.

Next Monday is Independence Day. We need to remember why we have a country. I believe the Pledge can remind us. I know we focus on barbeques and fireworks this time of year, but please take a moment this week to consider the words in this column.

Every week I'll examine a different line of the pledge. Maybe we can all rediscover this interesting little "promise".

Let's start with "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America." I'd like to point out that the word the pledge begins with is "I", not "we". This is significant. I believe that I'm not joining a group when I say this. I'm pledging this for myself only. This comes from my heart.

And what about the word "pledge"? The American heritage dictionary defines this as meaning "to make a solemn binding promise". Wow. Solemn and binding are heavy duty words. There's also the word "promise" in there. That means I will lay my honor on the line and say that I believe in something. Consider also that I make this promise in front of everyone. I do no wish to hide my allegiance. It's there in the open. There's a catch, though. I have to be willing to stand up for what I believe in. Bear in mind that "pledge" basically means, "lay it on the line".

The next word is pretty weighty, too: "allegiance". Consider that the opposite concept of this is "treason" or "betrayal". Again, the dictionary defines allegiance means loyalty and belonging. When I say this pledge I am claiming that I am loyal to whatever follows the word "allegiance".

If you've never considered this before, ponder the fact that you are pledging allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, the most effective symbol of human freedom in the world. I'll delve into this more in my next column, but realize that I do not pledge allegiance to the President, or Congress, or the Supreme Court.

The next few words are "to the flag". What does our flag really stand for? Consider our national motto: "E Pluribus Unum", or, in English, "out of many, one". I believe this, like the stars and stripes in our beautiful flag, stands not only for the many states we have, but also for the idea that we can be unified even though we have different views of how our country should be run. I pledge allegiance to unity in the face of diversity.

I think September 11th, 2001, showed the world that we can argue with the best of them about how our country should be run, but no one, and I mean no one, had better attack us. It's then that they discover that there are no Republicans or Democrats - just Americans.

There's that word again - American. It keeps popping up - it's from "the United States of America", like in the pledge.

I can never forget that I can't pledge allegiance to any other flag or country. As a flag collector, I really like the designs of the flags of Denmark and Iceland, and the flags of England and Italy represent my ancestors. I fly them often - I like the way they look. BUT: I shall only pledge my heartfelt and lifelong allegiance to one: the Stars and Stripes.

Each of us should make a conscious decision to pledge our loyalty to one flag. Don't do it just because you grew up saying the pledge. Do it because you willfully believe in the US Constitution.

So, when was the last time you recited the pledge? How about dusting it off now and facing a flag? Please, just once, do it slowly. Think about every word carefully. In case you've forgotten.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America,
And to the Republic for which it stands:
One nation under God, indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all."

Thought for the week: "Be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought. -Henry David Thoreau

Edward Mooney, Jr., of Palmdale is a teacher at Quartz Hill High School and the author of "The Pearls of the Stone Man" and "The Journey of the Stone Man".