No Secular Prayers – Why I Don’t Like the Pledge of Allegiance
(The following is a transcript of a quick comment by contributor John Mill that aired on the AH Radio Show on 08/25/12 )
This is John Mill with a Quick Comment. I’ve spoken before about the soiled history of flag worship in the United States, that is, turning the Pledge of Allegiance into a prayer of devotion to the Christian God. I don’t object only to the insertion of the divisive words “under God,” which turns the Pledge into an oath not just to the United States but to a God in which I don’t believe.
I object to the Pledge of Allegiance for the same reason I object to any loyalty oath: First, a loyalty oath places the burden of proof for disloyal acts on my shoulders, rather than on the state or nation where it belongs. Second, a loyalty oath is coercive conformity to a state-sponsored creed, which abrogates my rights under the First Amendment of the Constitution. It’s saying, in effect, “I swear to defend the Republic, which guarantees me the right not to swear such things.” Third, a loyalty oath is naïve: the very first lie a disloyal American will tell is that he is a loyal American. I cannot imagine anybody bent on the destruction of our system of government suddenly saying, “Oops! I pledged not to destroy our system of government!”
Specifically, swearing or pledging allegiance “to the flag” smacks of idolatry.* Swearing to support “the flag” makes the physical flag itself an object of veneration, a sacred symbol divorced from the principle of free conscience it symbolizes. This makes it easier to pass foolish laws making it illegal to burn an American flag in political protest – and if the First Amendment guarantees nothing else, it guarantees this.
On the other hand, to take Thomas Jefferson somewhat out of context, I believe that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance “neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” But it does violate my conscience. I oppose the Pledge of Allegiance because patriots don’t need it and traitors won’t heed it. No politician scoundrel ever failed to wrap himself in the flag. You can judge my loyalty by my actions.
* Which the Jehovah’s Witnesses argued before the Supreme Court in 1940 (Gobitis) and won, in a reversal on First Amendment grounds, in 1943 (Barnette).
* …which the Jehovah’s Witnesses argued before the Supreme Court in 1940 (Gobitis) and won, in a reversal on First Amendment grounds, in 1943 (Barnette).
August 25, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Great comment!! A very minor point … the Pledge says that one pledges allegiance to “the flag of the United States of America and to the nation for which it stands” – i.e., the nation is explicitly included, not just the flag. I don’t dispute your basic thesis at all, including the problem with making the flag anything more significant than a symbol of the nation. It’s a symbol, not a sacred object, of which there are none in our secular nation. Symbols can become the focus of protests and criticism as well as loyalty. Your comment is a masterfully succinct summary of an underlying issue for all oaths of loyalty
August 26, 2012 at 6:15 am
Actually, Chuck, it says “and to the Republic for which it stands” – then goes on to define that Republic as “one nation, under God,” etc. But the way it’s phrased, “I pledge allegiance. To the flag. Of the United States of America.” etc, most people don’t think beyond the first two phrases. But thank you for your kind words.
August 27, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Well said John!
August 27, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Somewhere buried deep in the bowels of Fox archives, is “The Judge” Napoltano agreeing with Michael Newdow on the insertion of “Under God,” and “In God We Trust” truly being a violation of the words, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” I cannot remember if the Judge was filling in for Beck, or if it was on his own show. (I used to force myself to watch them.) I have been searching for it for years, since I was stunned to find him in actual agreement with me.
Nicely done, JohnMill.