Why pledge allegiance to the flag instead of the country?  We pledge our allegiance to a piece of cloth then?
596951
The original pledge was "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty, equality and justice for all." \n\nIn the original version, the flag does not belong to the nation; it belongs to each of us.\n\nThe revised language has the unfortunate effect of separating "us" from the flag. It makes the flag more distant, flying high above our public buildings or hovering in the corners of our classrooms. \n\n"My" is more intimate, more immediately meaningful and more likely to remind us that each of us has some ownership of our national ideals.\n\nWith or without "my," Americans never pledge allegiance to the flag alone. It is always a symbol for something else. The flag, my flag, your flag, stands for a particular form of government.\n\nI prefer the original version and it is the one I have taught my 5 year old son. In pledging allegiance to "my flag and the republic for which it stands", he is pledging allegiance to something personal, "his" country not "the" country.
624419
Some people regard it as a sign of disrespect.\n\nThey are basically saying that it makes it easier to wipe your ass with it when you run out of toilet paper.\n\nI think all flags should be respected.
274538
Are national flags simply signs serving some utilitarian function? What do they symbolize? “Nationalism’s chief symbol of faith and central object of worship is the flag,” stated author J. Paul Williams. The Encyclopedia Americana says: “The flag, like the cross, is sacred.” The flag is the symbol of the State. Therefore, bowing down to it or saluting it is a religious ceremony that gives reverence to the State. Such an act ascribes salvation to the State and does not harmonize with what the Bible says about idolatry.\n\nThe Scriptures clearly state: “Salvation belongs to Jehovah.” (Psalm 3:8) Salvation is not to be ascribed to human institutions or their symbols. The apostle Paul admonished fellow Christians: “My beloved ones, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14) The early Christians did not participate in acts of worship of the State. In the book Those About to Die, Daniel P. Mannix observes: “Christians refused to . . . sacrifice to the [Roman] emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag.” So it is with true Christians today. In order to render Jehovah exclusive devotion, they refrain from saluting the flag of any nation. By doing so, they put God first while maintaining respect for governments and their rulers. Indeed, they recognize their responsibility to be in subjection to the governmental “superior authorities.” (Romans 13:1-7)\n\nDo such patriotic symbols and ceremonies really have religious significance?\n\n“[Historian] Carlton Hayes pointed out long ago that the ritual of flag-worship and oath-taking in an American school is a religious observance. . . . And that these daily rituals are religious has been at last affirmed by the Supreme Court in a series of cases.”\n\nWith reference to patriotic ceremonies, what does secular history say about the attitude of those known as early Christians?\n\n“Christians refused to . . . sacrifice to the emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag or repeat the oath of allegiance. . . . Very few of the Christians recanted, although an altar with a fire burning on it was generally kept in the arena for their convenience. All a prisoner had to do was scatter a pinch of incense on the flame and he was given a Certificate of Sacrifice and turned free. It was also carefully explained to him that he was not worshiping the emperor; merely acknowledging the divine character of the emperor as head of the Roman state. Still, almost no Christians availed themselves of the chance to escape.”\n\nHas the neutrality of Christians meant that they are not interested in the welfare of their neighbors?\n\nCertainly not. They know well and conscientiously endeavor to apply the command repeated by Jesus: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:39) Also the counsel recorded by the apostle Paul: “Let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.” (Gal. 6:10) They have been convinced that the greatest good that they can do for their neighbors is to share with them the good news of God’s Kingdom, which will lastingly solve the problems facing mankind and which opens up to those who embrace it the marvelous prospect of eternal life.
1103890
NO.\n\nBecause the very idea that the flag symbolizes is the freedom to do what I want, say what I want, and protest what I want.
920671
I am most proud of our UNITY.   \n\nYes, even though we fight, differ, and quarrel among ourselves religiously, racially, and economically,  we are strong against outside adversaries. We forget our personal differences, and meet problems head-on as a TEAM... a truly UNITED force.\n\nKnowing that my neighbors and strangers are there to protect me, to protect our land, and to protect our future rights and privileges makes me very PROUD to be a citizen of the United States of America.\n\nI think your question is an excellent refresher for citizens of ALL nations to consider about their loyalties to their country. \n\nThanks for asking.
672106
Make it optional, no need to pledge allegiance to the flag every morning at all, and make the "God" part optional when saying it.  I think it's more important for kids to understand the Constitutional principles for which this country is founded and is the LAW than some abstract references to what the "proper religion" was at the time of its creation.  I can't find a single reference to a "state religion" in that or any document, including all the articles of confederation.  All I see is that Congress shall make NO LAW regarding the establishment of religion or the free excercise thereof.\n\nMeaning to me that people are freely allowed to excercise their right or abstain from referring to God or Gods in a public forum.  On another note, I don't want any reference to religion in school, that's what the home, church, and parental responsibility are for.  If a religious group wants to meet after school, go for it, but don't make it compulsory or degrading.
962358
It is a representation of heritage. Asking southerners to not display it or wear it on their clothing is like asking someone who moves here from Africa or Italy or wherever, not to display their flag or heritage. It's the same thing. So I guess the people who hate seeing the confederate flag should also get angry when people display their state flag or their home country's flag.
803070
Yes. Everytime someone says America is a "Christian nation", everytime I'm forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school, everytime I listen to our incompetent president say "God Bless America". People are also surprisingly intolerant of atheists, saying really random, irrelevant things.
979857
Because of the continual decline of our society. The loud voice of the whining few seems to overshadow the quite rumbling of the vast majority. There is little national pride being instilled into our youth today. They do not understand what the flag means and the costs that were paid to provide people with the right to complain about the word God being said during the pledge.
751753
If you don't want to pledge allegiance to the United States of America,\n\n\nLEAVE,,,,, it is that simple, see how much freedom you get in other countries.\n\nPeace!
67783
I'm as patriotic as the next guy, moreso if the next guy hasn't done 18 years in the military.  I am also an atheist, and I therefore am not all that happy with the pledge as it now stands.  \n\nThe pledge lacked the words "under God" until 1954.  During the height of the Red Scare, Congress stuck those two words into the thing to differentiate us from those "godless commies".  (It seems to me that taking the pledge out of the elementary schools would have done a better job.  The idea that little children should have to stand up and recite a loyalty oath every day seems, well, communist. It evokes images of Chinese children saluting pictures of Chairman Mao.)  Slapping "under God" in there basically made the Pledge of Allegiance a pain in the rear in that I have to pray to/acknowledge a deity in order to recite the thing.  When it comes up (which is rarely as an adult) I just leave those two words out.\n\nWhat's funny is that the pledge existed for 62 years just fine before some religious folks conflated patriotism and belief in Judeo-Christian mythology.  Now if anyone tries to restore the pledge to its original form, they are accused of interfering with tradition.
55643
I'd rather we didn't force our students to pledge their allegiance to anything.  that is the domain of Fascists.  But if we must, I'd prefer children thought more about the Constitution than the flag.\n\nAs for "under God", it was added 60 years after the pledge was first written, by religious zealots that specifically wanted a prayer. And the last I checked, "Godly principles" were all about Kings, something our gov't was specifically designed to prevent.  Unless there is some portion of the Bible you can cite that supports a Gov't not run by a King, shutup about your "Godly" nonsense.
932810
It's meant to insult what the flag stands for. It is an act of defiance. It too is symbolic but it changes no policy.
758714
I agree with you. If a person WANTS to say the Pledge before a meeting (game, class, etc) then they should be allowed to do so. No one is forcing others to join in and pledge -- they are perfectly within their rights to abstain. \n\nIt really p*sses me off when people try to claim that just "hearing" the pledge violates their rights. Well, what about my right to assert myself and my allegiance to my country?? I would think that would trump anything else.
1042696
I think the answer can be really simple.  If the flag is burnt because of the country it represents (in this case, America) then it definitely wouldn't be OK to Americans.  It's the reason behind the action and what it represents.
362813
I think the confederate flag represents a terrible part of america's history and those who fly the stars and bars should be looked at as traitors.  The confederacy stood for slavery yes, but more importantly it stood for a government that ceceeded from the United States to become their own country.
1082577
I pledge allegiance to the flag\nof the United States of America\nAnd to the republic for which it stands\none nation under God\nIndivisible with liberty and justice for all.