I pledge allegiance to the Constitution
Of the United States of America
And to the ideal on which it stands:
One nation of individuals
Indivisibly intertwined
With liberty, justice and peace for all.
(P.S. — Pass it on.)
Those Who Know, Chuckle.
I like this so much, and I like the way you really THINK about the words we say and the sentiments we express…pledging allegiance to the Constitution is a much clearer concept to me than pledging allegiance to a flag (no matter how much the sight of same flag touches me and makes me cry under certain circumstances).
I also like the third blessing you’ve added to the final line. If children all over the world every morning recited a wish for “peace for all” would we someday come to work towards that goal?
Thank you for inviting me to think about these things. [You just walked into the room or I would have come up with a far more eloquent word than “things.”] 😉
Ann
THANK you! As you know, “Bob,” I composed this years ago but couldn’t find the original; I think this is how it went. Anyway, it’s how it goes now. You may also recall that I composed it in partial response to the first Sunday-school student I had who asked me (as another has, so far) whether or not the Pledge was idolatry.
“After all, it’s just a piece of cloth,” he said.
“Yes,” I said, “but it’s a piece of cloth which stands for something.”
“Then why don’t we pledge our allegiance to that?” he asked. And he’s right.
As for your “blessing” idea: Amen. Why don’t you write one? (Ann’s blog is at http://sacredwilderness.net/, folks.)
Well, I just might. Didn’t we talk about asking your students, each of them, to write his and her own version of the Pledge? Now there’s a class project waiting to happen…