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FLAG: A pledge proposal

| July 3, 2020 4:54 PM

Many people object to athletes taking a knee during the national anthem, saying it disrespects the flag regardless of the cause. We know the American flag can serve as a hallowed sign honoring a dead warrior, and it can be burned to symbolize a political grievance. We normally respect each other’s rights of expression and protest, but when the flag gets involved why do we hold such rigid and passionate beliefs?

I think such intensity comes from decades of repeating the pledge of allegiance, which carries three harms. We pledge allegiance to a piece of fabric instead of the constitution; we seem to vow equal dedication to both the fabric and our government; and we increase emotional attachment to the fabric by consistently repeating the pledge.

Allegiance implies faithfulness to some set of principles. One does not pledge allegiance to a tablecloth; and the table remains more important than the cloth. But by saying just the opposite every day, our nervous system instead feels and acts on that very opposite. Bad habits die hard; so do good ones.

A new pledge of allegiance might help solve these difficult patriotic challenges. The version below would bring mental clarity about alliances, and flexible devotion for our flag. (“Nature’s God” comes from the Declaration of Independence.)

“I pledge allegiance to the republic of the United States of America, and to the vision for which its flag stands; one nation under Nature’s God, with liberty and justice for each and all.”

Something to consider.

DENNIS REUTER

Coeur d’Alene