Article: Pledge to the People of America, Not to a Nationalist Symbol!

In Mesa Arizona, City Councilman Tom Rawles refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag until the troops come home from Iraq, bringing back into the news and nationwide public scrutiny the purpose and validity of the 'Pledge' as widely discussed in 2002.

A veteran complained of the nefarious use of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by unscrupulous politicians for blindly following the Commander-in-Chief on when, where, how and whom we bomb, invade and threaten.

"Whether citing "under God" or not, a pledge to a symbol reeks of cultism" (First published in Flak Magazine's June, 30, 2002 issue.)

As a former member of the US Army Occupation of Nazi Germany, I can say that intimidating people to recite a pledge of allegiance to a flag, any flag, anywhere, which unscrupulous and undesirable politicians can wrap themselves in, is insanity.

Remove the word "flag" and pledge allegiance to "the nation" and that would be fine. "The nation" of the United States is almost synonymous with 'the people of this nation, which we can all always be in favor of even when government leaders might lead it astray into perfidy and criminal actions.

Whether citing "under God" or not, a pledge to a symbol reeks of cultism. Is it intelligent to set an example for all the world's children in a compulsory "Sieg Heil" to the flag of their nation?

True democrats are being lured into a debate on semantics which only strengthens the ultra nationalism which the corporate state apologists and religious fundamentalists wish to promote.

No pledges to the state please, and of course not to its symbol which has flown over many a "My Lai" as well as over honorable actions in its purposful role of identifying government buildings, ships and planes.

Allegiance to one's family, one's community, one's nation of people and not lastly to the family which is Mankind. Not to any flag, anywhere, anytime.

Sincerely,
jay janson
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Now as an addendum or gloves-off paraphrased "Pledge" really from the heart is the more keenly felt and honest letter to the editor from one of another era:

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
which flew over "My Lai",
and to the war crimes for which it stands,
unpunished,
unrepented,
in spite of God,

with guilt and complicity for all.

from an anonymous Patriot who "served" in "Nam."