Pledges and Oaths

After much dizziness, walking about, and nearly twelve hours of sleep brought on by bodily and mental exhaustion, I finally remembered what I wanted to write about a few days ago.

As an Atheist, I’ve been following the whole debate regarding the Pledge of Allegiance in the public arena of the United States for some time. My personal opinion is that the phrase “Under God” was not a part of the original pledge, nor was it meant to be, so to steadfastly pretend that it somehow has meaning within the pledge is not only incorrect but blatantly selfish, inflammatory, and a rather amusing attempt on the part of the exclusivists to be overbearing on those not in line with their viewpoints regarding religion being actively promoted by the state at the taxpayers expense.

It’s the political equivalent of a person with the mental maturity of a two year old sticking out his/her tongue with thumbs in ears while saying “Nyah nyah – nyah nyah nyah” in a mocking gesture at having majority rule over an issue.

I don’t think I even need to get into the “One nation, “Under Enter god substitute” arguement, because it’s been made in so many places before. It does stand as a glaring indictment on the whole thing that, if such a thing were to be enforced, there would be a public outcry, the likes of which haven’t been seen. I think that something along those lines would be the tipping point in getting a good number of people to get the crux of why people do have an issue with this whole thing.

Personally, I’ve been thinking (when I haven’t been forgetting to write about it) over the past few months about it even more. One of the few shows I actually watch on television has had a great deal to do with the topic of civics lately. Craig Ferguson, who recently obtained his citizenship, has been candid about studying for his test and often with the joking admonishment that most people born in the USA would be kicked out if they themselves had to take it.

It really made me think, I have to tell you. For the most part, I had the answers to the questions he’d throw at the audience as an example of what he’d been studying up until that point. The audience…not so good.

Even with that, I didn’t like that I could only recount some 60-70% of the data I should know as a citizen of my own country. I made it a point to watch, study, and learn as much more as I could regarding US Law and History as well as Marylands. I also made it a point to be the most annoying bastard on Earth as far as those around me were concerned because I began peppering them with the same questions.

As it turns out, with some of them, Civics wasn’t even stressed in school. One of the most basic bits of education you could possibly have to know the laws and history of your own state and country and it wasn’t stressed. Evidently, whoever had drawn up their schedules for school thought it more important to worry about whether they could type, sew, and set a table, than whether or not they even knew when Election Day was. Euripedian, I swear.

Anyway, as I was saying, I’d been watching the Craig Ferguson show (profile) and following his saga to become a citizen. It finally got up to the point where it was the day of the test and, thankfully, by that point, my average in questions answered had gotten up to 80-90%. It’s still not something I’m proud of but it’s better and can be improved upon.

Needless to say, he did pass and was scheduled to take his oath (I got to to topic of this thing eventually lol), a few days later. Another bit of embarassment for me. What was the Oath of Allegiance in the United States? What were the words? This was another “unnecessary” bit of information they’d skipped over when I was in school, sadly.

So I watched and I listened while they all stood row upon row and said the oath. These are the people that the xenophobic, racist, bigoted jackasses look down on and not only are they, the people swearing the oath, moving past the bigotry but they’re also more knowledgeable about the very country than the aforementioned xenophobes who are natives to it.

Queue the irony parade someone, will you?

Then it dawned on me: Why don’t we use the Oath instead of the Pledge? I like the Oath. It’s a hell of a lot more inclusive which, in this growing multicultural society, some people (*cough* xenophobes) are just going to have to grit their teeth and get used to. It’s swearing Allegiance not to a flag, which has changed multiple times within the scope of this countries history, but to the Constitution, which is the law of this land and the founding bedrock of what joins us together as a nation of people. It’s also open religiously, socially, and is politically neutral.

Solemnly, freely, and without mental reservation, I hereby renounce under oath all allegiance to any foreign state. My fidelity and allegiance from this day forward is to the United States of America. I pledge to support, honor, and be loyal to the United States, its Constitution, and its laws. Where and if lawfully required, I further commit myself to defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, either by military, noncombatant, or civilian service. This I do solemnly swear, so help me God. (link)

Anyway, it’s just a thought. Ten to one, someone will agree while others are pissed. It’s their right and I don’t hold it against them.

I guess, if nothing else pops up prior to 9:00am, that this will be my last post for an undetermined period of time. I’m going to be doing A LOT of knitting between now and the time I come back.

Have a great one everyone!