Myself?
My family?
My personal moral code?
Yes, to all of the above.
I do not pledge allegiance to any flags, nor any republics for which they stand. Unlike many of the people I know, I never thought much about the pledge when I was in a position to protest saying it myself. During my schooling, I stood and mindlessly mumbled out an apathetic oath to the stars and bars every morning. I dropped “under god” right off once I began embracing my atheism, but I still stood and muttered along with everyone else in the room.
In hindsight, I wish someone had taken the time to discuss the pledge with me, and to let me know that I could decide for myself whether or not I wanted to participate. My parents were politically uninvolved in most respects, and I’m sure it never crossed their minds. I’m sure they would have explained the pledge the same way my mom continues to explain other parenting decisions today — “it was just what you did at the time.”
While they’re at home, my kids will likely learn about the pledge for their own information, in a capacity where we can discuss exactly what it means, its evolutions over time (particularly the addition of “under god”), and how they feel about repeating it. If for some reason, they end up schooled before we can have this kind of discussion, I will ask that they be kept out of the pledge while they are learning about it at home. They can take the attendance to the office, visit the bathroom, or do any number of other, more valuable things during that time. My children will not be used as parrots for the government’s patriotic agenda.
We are not patriots. There may come a time when I love the country I live in, or at least when I feel less ashamed to admit my nation of residence, but there will never be a time when it is appropriate for young children to drone out a pledge to this, or any other, flag.
