There seems to be a disconnect between professing patriotism and practicing it. Some would demand everyone wave the flag, no matter the cause. Others see patriotism as “the last vestige of the scoundrel.” I think both miss the point. Patriotism is not blind support of “my country, right or wrong.” And the scoundrel is someone who wraps himself in patriotism without an honest examination of the circumstances.

Both sides of this spectrum offer nonsense. 

The latest stupidity from one side of the spectrum is to ban the Pledge of Allegiance from school. 

What idiocy!

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is not some blind commitment to obedience. It focuses on the symbolism represented by the flag. After all, flags are symbolic of the ideals they represent.

A true patriot who understands the meaning of the pledge would never seek to prohibit its use in school or anywhere else. A true patriot with a fundamental understanding of the symbolic nature of the flag would see no problem standing and reciting the pledge next to someone who chooses not to do so.

That is what freedom means.

Those who would have the pledge banned because of some perceived burden on those who choose not to are no different than those false patriots who would demand everyone recite it in blind lockstep.

Both are tyrannical and in opposition to the spirit of freedom..

Recite the Pledge, but take the words to heart. Or choose not to, but take the words to heart.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands…

The republic for which it stands: freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom from religion, freedom.

Nowhere does it demand you recite it, but it does demand you respect it.

Instead of banning the Pledge, we should be requiring students to read it and understand the foundational ideas. They do not have to stand there, as many do, and go through the motions, but we owe them a fundamental understanding. Reciting it doesn’t make you patriotic; choosing not to doesn’t make you unpatriotic. In both cases, there is a fundamental disconnect in understanding the concept. 

While we are at it, we should require everyone to read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Here is the bill I propose.

Every student starting with Grade 5 shall be required to read the Pledge of Allegiance, The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution at the beginning of the school year.

Shouldn’t the fundamentals of education include the basics of understanding the nature of our form of government and the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen?

So do this,

Read the Pledge.

Read the Declaration of Independence,

Read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Understand why there are amendments because of differences requiring compromise, And understand why refusing to compromise is a dangerous, unpatriotic, and unAmerican practice.

We’d all be better off if those elected officials, wasting time with such nonsense, demonstrated, whether they can recite it by heart or refuse to, their own fundamental understanding of the underlying principles of the Pledge of Allegiance.