A veteran complainS 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.

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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 --- 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."

Authors Website: http://prosecuteuscrimesagainsthumanitynow.blogspot.com

Authors Bio:

Jay Janson is an archival research peoples historian activist, musician and writer; has lived and worked on all continents; articles on media published in China, Italy, UK, India, in Germany & Sweden Einartysken,and in the US by Dissident Voice; Global Research; Information Clearing House; Counter Currents; Minority Perspective, UK,and others; now resides in NYC; First effort was a series of articles on deadly cultural pollution endangering seven areas of life emanating from Western corporate owned commercial media published in Hong Kong's Window Magazine 1993; Howard Zinn lent his name to various projects of his; Weekly column, South China Morning Post, 1986-87; reviews for Ta Kung Bao; article China Daily, 1989. Is coordinator of the Howard Zinn co-founded King Condemned US Wars International Awareness Campaign, and website historian of the Ramsey Clark co-founded Prosecute US Crimes Against Humanity Now Campaign, which contains a history of US crimes in 19 nations. Dissident Voice supports this website with link at the end of each issue of its newsletter.