What does the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ mean?

In formulating New Year’s Resolutions for 2015, let’s consider the meaning and power of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

“I” means you, the person pledging. You can’t abdicate your civic responsibility to elected officials just because they think like you; or expertly stroke your prejudices with rhetoric; or appease your selfishness with government funding.

“…pledge allegiance to…” means promising relentless commitment to furthering the purpose of (e.g. our form of government). Assuming irrevocable responsibility for making your promises good is the meaning of honor.

“…the Flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands…” means the set of principles that intangibly defines what our nation is and makes it exist, as represented by our flag — its tangible symbol. These intangible principles are naturally paramount to a tangible symbol like a flag. This is because flags were developed to rally soldiers in the stress of combat, to help direct them when many were ill-educated or are out of direct contact with command, and to focus team-membership by symbolizing the spirit of comradeship naturally developed by military efforts. But a symbol can never be a true substitute for its reality. This is clearly explained by the Bible, for example, in its prohibition against idol worshiping.

“…one nation under God, indivisible,…” means We the People joined together cooperatively in self-evident subordination to Providence, the Creator, Nature, or the Author of All (terms our Founders used to bypass religious contention). It is a civil abomination to confirm loyalty through the coercion of man-made religious tests, instead of recognizing or encouraging contributive efforts driven by ethical conviction and community purpose.

“…with liberty and justice for all.” means our form of government is a promise to everyone that the purpose of cooperative human society is achievable by our nation. Liberty permits the pursuit of happiness when channeled by justice. This is true justice—not revenge, retaliation, or racist-like bullying. James Madison (ref. Federalist Papers No. 51) indicated this by declaring:

“Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society.”

Consequently, America’s awesome marriage of liberty and justice, as limited by natural human imperfection, is ultimately capable of accomplishing national tasks that military and law enforcement coercion can only begin or just dream about.

So isn’t it strange that Americans are coaxed to repetitively give the Pledge of Allegiance when they should have meant it the first time they gave it? And why is government so insecure as to harp on law and order, patriotism and national security every time the subject of government accountability is raised by citizens?

Consider these reasons why. Liberty— particularly when empowered by the religious conviction that spiritual existence stands superior to corporal existence — is ungovernable by physical means (torture, imprisonment, etc.). It naturally submits to rational justice empowered by citizen involvement, however. Unfortunately, it can be truly said that most government officials treat people as animals to be managed “for their own good” with indoctrination, propaganda and coercion — starting in school. Thus, mental independence and critical thinking by people is naturally suppressed, and mental and physical submission/subservience by people is naturally sought after. In contrast, the great leaders of history have accessed, through simple persuasion — not manufactured events and half-truths, the allegiance and mind power of many individuals. This gained them the individual and community initiative toward goals that cumulatively enabled the movements of such leaders to achieve the impossible.

Thus true allegiance can’t be obtained by coercion, bribery, fear-mongering, or prejudice appeasement. True allegiance is marked by ordinary people doing extraordinary things under their own power toward the goals they have pledged themselves to. By promoting principles that ordinary people recognize will serve their efforts to achieve civic goals and individual satisfaction, leaders empower true allegiance.

That these concepts were recognized by our nation’s founders is exemplified by this observation from Thomas Paine: “An army of principles will penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot. It will succeed where diplomatic management would fail. It is neither the Rhine, the Channel, nor the Ocean that can arrest progress. It will march on the horizons of the world, and it will conquer.” (Reference: conclusion to “Agrarian Justice”)

So please consider the intensity of your allegiance to our constitutional republic. Its future is literally being created here and now in the minds of you and your fellow citizens. Miracles are needed to draw our nation back from the awful self-destruction that reality shows it is headed toward. Are you game?

Stuart Thompson lives in Wasilla. Contact him at lookitover@att.net.