The Pledge of Allegiance

by Jack VanNoord

Currently, the state of Illinois requires every elementary school receiving state funds to lead children in the pledge of allegiance.  This fall, Illinois senate president James "Pate" Phillips is sponsoring legislation requiring all Illinois high schools to also lead students in the pledge.

I just don't understand my friend Libby.  I can't figure out if she is anti-marriage or just slow witted.   

            "Congratulations. I understand your uncle is engaged to be married," I said when I saw her recently.

            "Thanks. But, did you hear about the prenuptial agreement?" she asked.

            "So?  A lot of people get pre-nups these days," I replied.

            "Yea, but not like this.  He has a section in there stating that his wife will declare her undying love for him three times a day."

            "You don't think that a wife should declare her love for her husband?"  I inquired.

            "Of course I do, but it's just that--" she started.

            "You're anti-love aren't you?"  I accused.

            "I am not anti-love, I just think---" she replied.

            "You just said that you thought it was a bad idea for him to require a declaration of affection from her?"

            "I think it is a good idea for her to declare her love for him.  I just think that if your uncle contractually requires it, it looses all meaning."

            "Words are words. As long as she says them, that's what matters."

            "But how will he ever know if she is saying them because she means them or because it's required of her?"

            "That's the beauty of this arrangement.  Even if she begins the marriage not feeling love for your uncle, once she's repeated those magic words enough, she'll come around.  In the meantime, he still gets to hear those sweet little words three times a day."

            "You're warped and my uncle's an insecure megalomaniac who's got major issues," she blurted.

            "Look," I said, "Do you think a wife should love her husband?"

            "Naturally."

            "Do you think that a wife should declare her love for husband?" I continued.

            "Yes."

           "Then what could possibly be the problem with a husband drawing up a legal document ensuring that his wife do what she should be doing anyways?" I knew I had her. That's watertight logic right there, my friend.

She stomped off muttering something about me being impossible.  I interpreted that to mean that she had surrendered to my indomitable powers of logic and persuasion.  I love it when I win.

 James "Pate" Phillips, I understand your desire to ride the current wave of patriotism, but please stop.

You want to use the power of law to force our young people to pledge fidelity to a flag that is supposed to stand for liberty:  are you the only guy in the room who doesn't get the irony in that? How can my government pretend to extend to us freedom of speech when it mandates specified speech at a specified location at a specified time?   

When you the government mandate a pledge of fidelity from our children, I can't help but conclude that what you are really seeking is a pledge not to this country but to the government of this country.

 Allow each school district to decide how they want to handle the pledge, but do not make it a state law.  The law was given to us to punish aggression against my person (murder, assault), my property (theft, trespassing) and to uphold contracts.  That's it.  You make a mockery of the law when you dedicate it to other purposes.   The law does not exist for you to inculcate right thought into our children.

I do pledge allegiance to my country.  And so will my children.  But you gut the pledge of all meaning when you require it by law. 

12-19-2001

Written by Jack VanNoord - West Dundee.