Do I think the phrase "One nation under God" should be struck from the pledge of allegiance?

No. I think we should scrap the whole thing. My students always ask me why I don't say the pledge of allegiance, and the answer is very simple: I do not pledge my allegiance to flags, or the republics for which they stand. I pledge my allegiance to ideals like democracy and human rights. Ergo, when this republic (like all republics) puts its own narrow interests ahead of those ideals, I cannot be loyal to it.

I propose this new pledge instead:

I pledge allegiance to the ideals of
human rights, democracy, peace, and justice.

I will keep my mind open to new ideas and reject fanaticism of all kinds.

These are my duties as a member of a world community, with responsibilities and obligations to my fellow humans.

Now that's a pledge I would make once a day.

Sorry today's post is so short -- I'm off to Go! More tomorrow, promise.

TImeWaster™

Check out these cool false perspective photos! Fun stuff, courtesy of b3ta. (Check out that one about the SpongMonkeys!)

Today I'm listening to: Urban Cuban!