I’m not sure why we need “Flag Day.” Maybe, someone can explain.
Here in the United States, we already have multiple national holidays to honor the war dead, veterans, and the armed forces. We also celebrate Independence Day, which is coming up about three weeks from now (July 4th). Don’t misunderstand me — I’m totally on board with Memorial Day and Independence Day. I’ve written countless articles in support of these tributes. But “Flag Day?” It just seems, well, redundant.
I also have a big issue with “pledging my allegiance” to a flag. I don’t feel comfortable making a false promise. If I do make a pledge, it should be sincere. But I will not pledge my allegiance to a piece of cloth nor any land, nation, government, or leader.
Let me be clear. I have no problem with taking pledges. To truth. To honesty. To try to be better, and do better. To principles of fairness. To justice. There are many good things I can pledge my allegiance to. However, a piece of multicolored fabric representing a place and a government isn’t getting my unwavering devotion, even though it presumably represents the highest ideals and though I do share a common respect for the history and institutions in this nation that have done some extraordinarily good things.
Moreover, I will absolutely not pledge allegiance to one nation “under god.” That’s a violation of secular principles and an insult to the roughly 25-30 percent of Americans, including myself, who openly profess no belief in imaginary sky wizards and miracle ferries. Forcing that vow on tens of millions of Americans is abhorrent (and unconstitutional).
That said, today is Flag Day, and I can’t change that. However, what I can do is share something I wrote about the man who penned the “Pledge of Allegiance.” The article originally appeared HERE on my site a few years ago.
Here it is:
QUESTION: CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS MAN?
Here are a few hints:
— He born on May 18, 1855, in Mount Morris, NY. He lived much of his life in Rome, NY.
— He became an active member of the First Baptist Church, where his father was a minister. He also became a minister and author.
— He once ran for the office of Governor of New York State, but lost.
— He was a self-described “Christian Socialist” who (in his own words) championed “the rights of working people and the equal distribution of economic resources,” which he believed was inherent in the teachings of Jesus.
— While speaking as a minister, he was once removed from the pulpit in Boston for preaching out against the evils of capitalism.
— Later in his life, he left the ministry and stopped attending church altogether, reportedly because of the racism he witnessed there.
— His career as a preacher ended because of his tendency to describe Jesus as a socialist. He taught classes with topics such as “Jesus the socialist,” “What is Christian Socialism?”, and “Socialism versus anarchy.”
— Today, he’s widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the early American socialist movement.
So, who is this person?
His name is Francis Bellamy.
Who? So, what was he best known for?
FRANCIS BELLAMY wrote THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. *
So, next time you think the principles of democratic socialism are anti-American, try this: Say your pledge and remember the words and wisdom of its author.
__________
Footnote: Bellamy wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance, which did not contain the words, “under God.” He believed in the absolute separation of church and state and did not include the phrase “under God” in his pledge, which was added in the 1950s, 25 years after Bellamy’s death.