Pledge of Allegiance — Yankee Propaganda?,  by Rev. Steve Wilkins

 

The issue here is not should we be thankful for our country or should we give honor to those to whom honor is due — clearly we should. The issue is not the legitimacy of individuals "pledging allegiance" to a nation — under proper circumstances this may be appropriate.

The issue is should the Church, which is made up of folk from every people, tongue, tribe, and nation (a truly trans-national and multi-cultural institution — in the right sense of the term), pledge its "allegiance" to one particular nation? It wasn't that long ago that such a thought would have been abhorrent to God's people. Not because they were unthankful for God's blessings upon their country and not because they didn't love their country, but because they would have viewed such an activity as a compromise of the spiritual integrity of the Church — which does not belong to any nation and is not beholden to any government. This distinction is lost on most modern Americans. Most, I'm afraid, view the Church as indebted to the State, existing for the good of the State, and established to promote loyalty to the State.

Sadly, this is just the sort of thing the "Pledge of Allegiance" was designed to instill in the people of this country. It was originally written by Francis Bellamy (of the famous Bellamy family). The Bellamys were prominent socialists (Edward Bellamy, cousin to Francis, wrote the famous 19th century work of socialist fiction Looking Backward). Francis wrote this pledge in connection with the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. It was first recited at the National School Convention in 1892. Francis' plan was to have the school children recite this as a form of indoctrination (much like the tactics Hitler later used to indoctrinate German youth). [It was originally recited with the arm outstretched, hand pointed, palm down — identical to what the world would later recognize as the Nazi salute]

By this means (Francis hoped) the children would learn to think of the nation (in its new, post Civil War form — i.e. "indivisible") as the proper recipient of their ultimate allegiance. They would give reverence to the nation and never again think of it as a "voluntary union." The nation began to be viewed like unto God Himself (i.e. "indivisible", worthy of our deepest trust and highest commitment). We would become one people who would all be devoted to promoting the one nation as opposed to our individual, familial, or religious interests. [btw, the phrase "under God" was not in the original — that was added in 1954 during the Eisenhower administration — Francis did not believe in God]

We have indeed become such a people. The vast majority of our fellow citizens view the Government as the one indispensable institution. They believe in it, trust in it, and depend upon it. There is no longer any analogous loyalty to the family or the Church (neither of which is viewed as important to our well-being) — only the State holds that revered position in the minds of most Americans.

Now even the Church views it as part of its duty to "pledge allegiance" to the nation. Methinks something is badly amiss.

— J. Steven Wilkins

 

Copyright 1998, J. Steven Wilkins.

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