It was in regards to the "Pledge of Allegiance", and the thought was:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag"
(snip)

Should it not be:
"I pledge allegiance to the constitution" ?

~ I note that "and to the Republic for which it stands" might have been an easier route to explain it, but what I wrote instead was the following...



Our flag is a symbol, and as such it represents that Constitution - and all of those, and all the work and thought that went into IT and also the creation of the society and government that it represents - by those who refused to be trampled down by governments and/or models of society that took the lives of individuals for granted, as if all living people were merely "CHATTELS" that could be used as slaves and had no rights at all.

It comes into light again in the rights of working people, their quality of life, and the downthrow of companies that had you live in their housing, and purchase from a company store, that owned you - and had your children going to work when they should have been in school.

It represents the availability of schools for basic learning available to all - so that you did not have to be a 'privileged' person in order to read, write, and exchange ideas

It represents an end to usery, and the hope that each and every one of us has a right to expect we can earn a living, have a home, be free of tyranny in any form, such that the vaunted "American Dream" howsoever we imagine it is possible for ANY ONE OF US WHO CHOOSE TO APPLY OURSELVES to the realization of that same dream.

The American Flag is a symbol that stands for the ideas and the ideals of our forefathers and mothers who believed that it was necessary and essential in fact that a way of life ought to be created and guaranteed in which everyone had an equal chance to achieve prosperity and safety regardless of race creed religion bloodlines inheritance or whatever!

(Take it that corporate connections are included in: "WHATEVER")

If the American flag stands for any one thing - I would have to define as this:
The flag of our nation represents the simple basic concept of "FAIRNESS"

A level playing field for one and all....
Bottom line? You can GET UP!


That is my explanation, to the best of my understanding.


I bet there will be a firestorm over this, but I'm okay with it.





*Note please that I DID say to any of us WHO APPLY OURSELVES
(TANSTAAFL)

 

I agree, in principle, to your post. I only ask for a clarification regarding our flag. I appreciate the fact that it stands for Liberty but, outside of that, does it have any other meaning for you?

 

The flag means different things to different people. For myself;

The United States Flag represents a Representative Republic, not a Democracy. (learn the difference, and you'll likely agree that they are far from the same)
We are the greatest nation to have ever been born! We have more freedom and liberty than any other nation period!
With great freedom and liberty comes great responsibility. That's what keeps us from becoming anarchists. (mob rule for those that don't understand anarchists)
Because of our freedoms, we are able to make changes in our government through our elected representatives, and, we can petition our government should we have the need to, without fear of recourse. (try that in a muslum ruled nation)
Many have fought, and died, for the freedoms we enjoy today. It is our duty to honor those people by protecting our freedom and liberty today, and, if necessary, fight for its protection.
Everyone is born in this country with the same rights. We are all equal, with the freedom to become unequal.
When I say the pledge, I pledge to the principles this country was founded on.

 

I think that is cool. With that said, however, I do not understand then why you would not pledge an allegiance to those values that the flag represents.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

OK, I get that some may not want to include God in their citation but, issue would you have with the rest? To me, the flag represents much more than what is stated in the pledge. Or by, Charles Thompson.

I have to say, though, those were, collectively, some pretty damned smart sons-a-bitches...back in the day.

 

Yes it does. Thanks.

 

We are a dynamic Nation. More so now than ever before in our history. Yet, our US Flag remains the same in what it stands for. Yes, I can see were some present it as a symbol. But, it is not as a symbol that I recognize it for. For me, my flag has been a rally point for generation after generation of citizens that have not only fought and died for our constitution but, survived to benefit from all it encompasses. From the first flags of our own American Revolution, to the shores of Tripoli, to Mount Suribachi, to the outposts in the jungles of Viet Nam, to the Flags that flew over the skeletons of the World Trade Towers and those buried under them. My flag reminds, no, DELCARES to, the world that not only are we still here but, we stand strong and united under the umbrella of this flag.

My flag has energized many to move forward. To continue on in the worse of conditions. It has emboldened heroes. If the flag falls, another picks it up. If it has been desecrated a new flag flies proudly in its place. My flag represents my home. A place that I will defend to my death.

My flag honors those that have served their homeland well as it drapes over their coffins.

I am getting older and certainly more emotional about these things. Or, perhaps, I have learned more of the sacrifices made that protect us and this flag. When I hear the (my) Pledge of Allegiance, or hear my National Anthem...well, lets just say that when I look to my flag I often look through very wet eyes.

For me, those Stars and Stripes are not a symbol but, more of a means of communication and recognition that we are, still, these United States Of America. Our soldiers wear a facsimile of their flag on their uniforms to identify to all...who they are. Who they represent. Every Nation, and I dare say, every individual, in the world recognizes us by our flag. It is iconic.

When I salute this flag, I salute all of America, Americans and our history of survival and our dedication to liberty and freedom. All of the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

The American Flag represents me and I, represent it. I can only hope that I have served it well.

#ad


From the World Trade Towers

 

One of the scenes I dearly love from "The PATRIOT"