On any subject involving the United States I like to look back at how it was in the beginning. The “pledge” did not exist. The original pledge was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist preacher / Christian Socialist in 1892.
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" replaced “my flag” some think to avoid confusion between the US flag and the flag of the country from which people were immigrating.
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
When Congress adopted the pledge in 1942 the words “under God” were not part of it and did not appear until 1954. In an effort to sift out Communists in their midst they added these words.
The Pledge was designed to be recited in 15 seconds. As a socialist, Bellamy had considered using the words equality and fraternity but decided against it – knowing that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. I have never read anything concerning the reason for Bellamy to not include the words “under God” but I can speculate that some on the committee did not consider them appropriate.
For nearly 200 years citizens of the United States had no pledge.
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
http://alumcave.blogspot.com/
“it is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning."
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