Mooney's Class
Edward Mooney, Jr.
Antelope Valley Press
July 18, 2005

Title: The Pledge: Final Thoughts

Over the last month I've worked through the Pledge of Allegiance, hoping to
inspire all of us to more fully appreciate this idea that we call America.
In summary of previous columns, we've discovered that we pledge our loyalty
to the flag, and to the Constitution.   In addition, we're a unified
country, and we allow all people to freely practice their own religion, even
if it doesn't agree with our own faith.  All of this is radical in the
annals of world history.

But none of this is as radical as the last line of the Pledge of Allegiance:

"...with liberty and justice for all."

Consider the word "liberty".  We may say its definition is "freedom".  Yes,
it does mean that, but look deeply at this explanation: "liberty is the
absence of outside control".  So, remember that the enemy of liberty would
be anyone who wishes to control someone else.  Thus, fascists are the enemy
of liberty; only those who believe as they do would be allowed to exist.

Indeed, real liberty allows a diversity of beliefs and practices - as long
as they don't interfere with the liberty of others.  In class I often use
the example of driving on the right side of the road as a "true law" - if
one drives on the left then one threatens the rights of others very clearly.

Thus, liberty cries out for respect for others.  That's an aspect of liberty
that few wish to acknowledge, it seems.  We must respect others to make
liberty work.  So many of us wish to have freedom without responsibility.
That condition is called anarchy, which leads to repression of the worst
kind: the government of fear and "might makes right".  In anarchy, the
theory goes, the most ruthless, immoral and strongest of us all would gain
power.  They would simply eliminate any who oppose them.  Sound familiar?
Yep, the world's seen many, many dictators like that.

True liberty cannot exist without respect for others.  If you cannot respect
the rights of others, you do not believe in liberty.  You're an anarchist or
a dictator.

Moving across the line, read the word "justice".  I believe that few can
truly define that word.  Look at "justice" this way: we are all responsible
for our actions.  If our actions cause harm to others, we must make
restitution.  Justice is simply that - making things right.  If you drive on
the left side of the road, you assume all responsibility for what happens.
Consider this concept in your actions.

Now here's a truly radical part of this week's pondering: "for all".
Anti-liberty means justice for those who can afford it, or for those who we
like, or for a certain class in society.  No, we are to have justice for
all.  This is the most incredible aspect of our society, and it sets us
apart from all earlier forms of government: we have no classes in our
courts.

There you have it - the Pledge of Allegiance.  Maybe It would help if I were
to re-write it in modern English.  I would say:

I give my loyalty to the flag of the United States of America,
And I freely state that I believe in the Constitution, which the flag stands
for.
I live in a nation that cannot be divided.
I respect each person's right to his or her own faith.  I believe the realm
of God exists, and that our government has no control in that place.
I believe that all the blessings of freedom and justice belong to all of us.
I believe in America.

We're not done yet: write your own interpretation of the Pledge of
Allegiance.  Democracy, which means freedom of thought, allows this. 
I think we can learn a lot by reading the interpretations of the pledge by
different groups.  After all, we're allowed diversity.  We're Americans.

Note to readers: past columns are now available on my web site:
http://www.EdwardMooney.com.

Thought for the Week:   "The virtue of justice consists in moderation, as
regulated by wisdom"  - Aristotle

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