I was recently asked to serve as a den leader in my son’s Cub Scout troop. As most people know, the scouting program has a heavy emphasis on patriotism including regular flag ceremonies. And this is where the issue lies. I am not comfortable saying the Pledge of Allegiance. In the past I have had a great love for the flag of the United States of America and felt a great swelling of pride as I firmly recited the pledge. I was active and passionate in my civic duty and political participation. I applaud those who feel that way and encourage them to continue as long as it has that special meaning for them.
However, over time my political involvement and studies have opened my eyes to a different perspective on the topic and it is one I feel I cannot go back on now. The following are reasons I have lost my comfort in saying the Pledge of Allegiance:
The History of the Pledge
The Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, who is described by LDS
political/religious author, Connor Boyack, as “a self-avowed 'Christian socialist' (who loved to preach that 'Jesus was a Socialist') whose primary intention in creating the pledge was to encourage children to worship the State and revere centralized authority.” The Pledge of Allegiance and its widespread adoption in schools was a big part of Bellamy’s effort to achieve his ends. The children were to use the Bellamy Salute (pictured on the right) as they made this pledge. His ideas, including pledging and saluting were later adopted by the Nazi regime, (which is why the salute was changed by congress to placing the hand over the heart).
Idolatry
The flag means different things to different people. Back when I used to fervently recite the pledge it meant the sacrifices the founders of the nation made in order to free their posterity from the bondage of King George. I still believe this is a noble and worthy thing to honor and remember. But after learning the history of the Pledge I really began to question what I was actually pledging to.
As part of my study I learned that when the pledge was first brought into the schools, several Jehovah’s Witnesses ended up in law suits because they were punished for refusing to say the pledge. They viewed it a form of idolatry and it is against their doctrine to swear allegiance to anyone other than God. I also learned that the original Pledge did not contain any references to God. The phrase “under God” was not even thought of until 1948 and was not officially adopted by Congress until 1954.
Could making an oath to a flag be a form of idolatry? The flag itself is an object; a piece of cloth. Yes, a symbol of something more, but it is still an object. Could it be a golden calf of sorts? The ancient Israelites felt lost in the absence of Moses and sought a substitute to worship. The golden calf quickly replaced their worship of the true God. Could the flag represent a similar phenomenon? The more I thought about this the more I realized that at the same time I was reciting the pledge with passion I was also most likely to look to the state rather than the teachings of Christ to solve problems. I found myself supporting things that I do not believe Christ himself would encourage and things he specifically preached against. I had been lost in my patriotism and was blind to how I was not applying the teachings of Christ.
Corruption
My next reason is similar to the last. The Pledge does not only mention the flag but also includes, “to the republic for which it stands.” While I strongly believe in the principles this republic was founded upon, the nation is not what it once was and I cannot swear allegiance to it in good conscience. There is much the government of the United States does today I am strongly opposed to. Even when the Constitution was first adopted its success was still reliant upon corruptible and infallible men. John Adams is famous for the statement, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Benjamin Franklin also admitted a weakness stating that it was, “a Republic, if you can keep it.”
The Pledge was first introduced in the late 1890’s and was not formally adopted by congress for widespread use until 1942. In other words, the Pledge did not even exist until over 100 years after the United States was founded. The founding fathers never recited or revered it. After reading many of their words and ideas I have my doubts about whether they would approve of the pledge either.
Indivisible
The original Pledge of Allegiance continued on to state, “one nation, indivisible”. This is something that I simply do not agree with. Although many people consider that the Civil War settled the indivisibility of the states, I still hold to the idea enshrined by the Declaration of Independence that “when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce [the people] under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”
Surely those of who are familiar with the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and even other Christian and Jewish faiths, as well as many ethnicities and minorities can sympathize with a need to escape an oppressive government. From the slavery and exodus of Moses and the Israelites, to the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri, to the Japanese internment camps, there are many examples of people being oppressed and unprotected by their government.
The United States of America
Lest anyone accuse me of not caring about the country because these opinions and for not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, I will now list the reasons that I do love this country. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have been very involved in the political process and try hard to be a good citizen and a good neighbor.
First, I believe that God’s hand played a role in the founding of this nation. It is prophesied of in the Book of Mormon and great blessings have been pronounced upon it if the people here remain righteous . This nation has been prophesied to house the New Jerusalem —a Zion where we can live as they did after Christ visited the Nephites—with no poor among us and everyone loving and serving God and one another . What a great blessing!
The founding documents of this country and the discussions surrounding them contain ideas that I hold dear and are very committed to: religious freedom, freedom of speech, rights to pursue our own ideas of happiness unobstructed by government, etc. The Constitution, while imperfect, is an amazing document that sought to bind the power of governments rather than binding the rights of man. This was a new and important step towards true freedom in this world. These things are things I can support. But even with all this, my allegiance goes first and foremost to my God.
Another beautiful thing about this country is that it enabled the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. It would have been incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to restore the church in any other place. God prepared this place and the people here to restore and spread the Gospel throughout the world. This is a great blessing to the entire world. But even now the conditions that allowed for the restoration of the church are being eroded. Our religious rights are being threatened by our own national and local governments. This is a huge reason that while I love the country, I cannot swear allegiance to it. It is God I will follow regardless of what the nation does.
As I mentioned above, I fully believe that anyone can recite the Pledge of Allegiance and not be guilty of idolatry or any other vice. It is a personal statement and they can focus on whichever elements of patriotism it means to them. For some it is the sacrifice of soldiers of the Revolutionary War who shed blood for our freedom. To others it represents the Constitution. To others it means other admirable things about our nation. I admire those who stay true to themselves in this way. It simply is not my way and I wish to be true to myself.
In conclusion, I would like to share the words from the hymn, O Thou Rock of Our Salvation which express the banner I do wish pledge my allegiance to.
O thou Rock of our salvation,
Jesus, Savior of the world,
In our poor and lowly station
We thy banner have unfurled.
***
Then, O Rock of our salvation,
Jesus, Savior of the world,
Take us from our lowly station;
Let our flag with thee be furled.
Written by Michelle L. King
