Jim Croteau: If only we all kept our Pledge of Allegiance

Despite all the changes in Florida’s classrooms, there is one thing that remains the same. The Pledge of Allegiance that is recited daily in our elementary classrooms reflects a set of values that we seem to have forgotten as adults. Perhaps we need to stop and think about the oath that we once valued so highly and how it relates to all the restrictions that our governor and the Florida legislature has put in place.

The pledge was written in 1892 by a socialist minister, Francis Bellamy. If it were penned today, the word “socialist” would send shivers up the conservative Republican spine. It was originally intended for children of any country (“allegiance to my flag”), started with a military salute followed by an arm extended toward the flag. In 1923, the words “my flag” were replaced by the phrase “the Flag of the United States of America”. In response to the godless Communist threat, in 1954 congress added “under God”. During World War II, the salute that too much resembled the Nazi salute was replaced by the right hand over the heart during the whole recitation of the pledge.

Let’s reflect a bit on the words that we often say, but rarely think about. First, is the “pledge”. It is meant as an oath, a commitment, something that one is willing to stand up to. Today, pledges don’t seem to stand for much as politicians of all stripes say one thing and do whatever it takes to get elected or re-elected. For example, our governor pledged to make our universities free from all restriction on speech, especially conservative speech. He then works with the legislature to prohibit gender studies, African American History courses and diversity and inclusion programs.

“To the Flag” gives one the sense of the history that our flag stands for: the stripes for the original states, the stars for the current states. The color red symbolizes hardiness and valor, the white, purity and innocence, and the blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. Today we are fighting over how to talk about that history, often choosing to ignore what is difficult or uncomfortable. We are forgetting to learn from that history which could help us live up to the specialness those colors represent.

Ours is the flag of “The United States of America and the Republic for which it stands.” In the minds of our Founding Fathers and those who served in our many wars, the Republic was worth fighting for. The “United” states seem to be in disarray today as Red and Blue are battling each other, and several states threaten to leave the union. Distrust of our central government and loyalty to state over federal has kept us fighting over differences rather than what unites us. Florida is not California. But Florida, like California, needs the power and resources of the federal government to keep us safe from domestic and foreign enemies and help us in times of disasters.

The unity theme continues with “one Nation under God, indivisible”.  We are not godless according to Congress, but we are also not one religion. The recent focus on a Christian nation keeps us from appreciating other religions whose members reflect charity, moral behavior, and civic responsibility much more than we give them credit for. But the phrase also gives one a sense of special status as a nation united in purpose and faith that can be a light to the world. Calls to step back from NATO, the UN, climate treaties, aid to developing nations would take us out of that leadership role. Calls by the governor to restrict what and how our state colleges and universities can teach or discuss reduces the opportunity for our students to be future leaders in an ever increasingly diverse world.

The last phrase “with liberty and justice for all” is the most significant but, today, seems to be only the territory of the “woke”, continually demeaned by our governor. Florida and other red states, with permission from the Supreme Court, are enacting legislation reducing freedoms in the election, medical, educational, and business arenas. Restrictions are increasing on who and how one can vote, reproductive and gender care, what can be said in the classroom, and any attempt at addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace or universities.

When one hears the governor speak of eliminating birthright citizenship and draconian restrictions on immigrants seeking asylum or employment, one wonders what the future criteria will be for being an American.  Knowing and saying the Pledge of Allegiance is today a requirement for becoming a citizen. Should saying it, believing it and acting out its promise be a requirement for keeping one’s citizenship, not to mention leading our state or country?

Jim Croteau is a retired Leon County educator and community services administrator.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Jim Croteau: If only we all kept our Pledge of Allegiance