| THE PLEDGE: A WISH LIST AT BEST Conservative syndicated talk show host, Sean Hannity, has advocated that The Pledge of Allegiance be made mandatory for children in the nation's schools. As a middle-class African American male—in fact, as a human being of good conscience--I would take great exception to such a move. The Pledge of Allegiance represents the worst kind of hypocrisy, and it serves no useful purpose other than to brainwash the nation's children. One would think that as a conservative Mr. Hannity would recognize that the very essence of freedom is the freedom of parents to raise their children according to the philosophy they see fit. Therefore, forcing a pledge down the collective throat of America's children constitutes an unconscionable intrusion by government on a family's rights. It would be un-American by definition. In addition, it's a form of brainwashing. What other motive can there be for forcing a child to recite a pledge that he doesn't even understand? As a black man who started school in the 50's, I was forced to pledge my allegiance to a nation that frowned upon everything I represented, and was dead set on thwarting anything that I ever hoped to become. At the same time, so-called "patriotic Americans"--while enthusiastically insisting that we recite The Pledge of Allegiance--simultaneously lynched black men, and bombed black children in church. In addition, the good people of this great "nation under God" routinely formed angry mobs to show up and jeer black children, attempting nothing more than attend school. Annd shortly before that, these same Americans who professed to a sense of "liberty and justice for all"forced black WWII heroes returning from Europe to give up their seats to German prisoners of war. Yet, there I was, standing there reciting the Pledge of Allegiance--"to the republic, and for which it stands"--religiously, every morning. And beyond the pledge being morally disingenuous and a monument to the worst kind of hypocrisy, the entire text is, literally, a lie: ". . . One nation under God." In light of what I've just described, what is that supposed to mean? "Indivisible." The Civil War demonstrated that's a lie. "With liberty and justice for all." I won't even waste the ink to address that issue. So again, other than brainwashing, what other motive could we possibly have for requiring our children to start off every morning chanting a lie like some sort of mantra? Now, I realize that I sound like a wild-eyed radical, but if I do, it's only on this issue. On other issues I've been accused of sounding more like a reactionary conservative. The reason for that is, while I love this country, and love who I am, I love truth more. That forces me to be eclectic in my views. I believe in clear, unadulterated thought, and addressing every issue on its own merit. As a result, sometimes I agree with liberals, and at other times I agree with conservatives. That doesn't always make me very popular, but I'm more than happy to forsake popularity in return for moral and intellectual clarity. I was taught that's what it meant to be an American. Maybe I'm naive, but I took that lesson seriously. I'm in pursuit of truth, not an agenda. For that reason I stand with conservatives on issues like set-asides, because moral and intellectual consistency dictates that if you're against discrimination, you must be against all discrimination. Yet, I stand with liberals in being against vouchers. The mere fact that conservatives want to create an entitlement program sends up a red flag for me, and I'm also certain that a voucher system will lead to a two-tier society (What will happen to blacks and others when private schools raise tuition beyond their reach after the public school system has been destroyed?). So I want to make it clear that I'm speaking out against a mandatory pledge as a matter of principle, and not as an angry, knee-jerk reaction. Proponents of a mandatory pledge contend that our children should be taught to love and respect our country. It is my position, however, that too much nationalism and not enough principle is what led to 9-11 and many of the other atrocities in the world. We need to teach our children and leaders alike to embrace high ethical standards and principles, then, when country follows suit, it will engender the un-coerced love and respect of its citizens. Therefore, The Pledge of Allegiance should not be a pledge at all--actually, it should be reworked and presented as a wish list. If we would simply create a document that wouldn't lie about who and what we are, and focus our energies instead on what we hope to become, maybe then we'll create a foundation that will finally "lift all boats." Eric L. Wattree |