How to Interpret the Pledge of Allegiance

Because the Pledge of Allegiance is a solemn loyalty oath, every citizen should understand what it really means.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Read the Pledge carefully, considering every word. Congress made the Pledge part of its code for use with the American flag in 1942.

2. Look up words you don't know in the dictionary; these are words not in use every day.

3. Familiarize yourself with terms such as allegiance, symbolism and pledges.

4. Break the Pledge into simple sentences, then interpret each one separately.

5. Understand that in the phrase "the Republic for which it stands," "it" refers to the flag.

6. Note the phrase "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It simply means that although we are separate states, we are truly one nation by every possible definition, and that our mission as a nation is to ensure freedom and justice for every citizen.

7. Repeat the Pledge with your new understanding.

Tips & Warnings

• Flag etiquette dictates that you stand, remove your hat, and place your right hand on your heart while looking at Old Glory and reciting the Pledge.
• In the military? You're expected to salute the flag while saying the pledge.
• Visitors to our country, as well as those not wishing to participate, should be quiet and respectful while the Pledge is being repeated.
• Only U.S. citizens are supposed to take the Pledge.

[scottmitzi]

on 2/28/2009 I teach in school and I think it goes back to being quiet and respectful during this event, no matter what your political or religious persuasion is. Gatewayto BetterEducation.com has a great poster on the pledge and it's meaning. Thanks for the article.

on 8/8/2006 Please note that there are no legal ramifications for refusing to recite the pledge. The Supreme Court ruled in the 1943 case of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, that no one could be forced to recite the pledge against their will. This overturned the decision made in the 1940 case of Minersville School District v. Gobitis.

on 8/8/2006 Pledge:
"I guarantee to act." (symbolized by placing the hand over the heart). "On this affirmation I give here and now! My education has thoroughly prepared me to understand and accept the values and reasons why I guarantee to act."

Allegiance:
"I freely give my loyalty. It is not coerced from me in any way. I, on my own authority, give it fully, knowing why I do so."

To the flag:
This stands for you and me. People, Americans. The colors in the flag symbolize the highest qualilties and virtues of the human being.

Overall:
The Pledge of Allegiance is a one-sided contract wherein I guarantee my intentions and actions to promote liberty and justice for you. Nowhere in my pledge do I demand that you do so for me.

Finally:
A closer look reveals that our pledge to one another is at work every day of our lives. We have but to understand it at deeper levels, and strive to make it work better.

on 8/8/2006 Learn the history of the pledge. For example, the original version referenced "my flag", not "the flag of the United States of America". It was changed in 1923 because Americans were worried that immigrant might not be bright enough to realize that "my flag" referred to the flag of their new country and not the flag of the country they'd intentionally left behind.

The phrase "under God" was also not part of the original pledge. This was added in 1954 to reflect the Cold War-era notion that religion (and not, say, the repudiation of the economically unsound theory of Communism) was what differentiated the United States from the Soviet Union.

on 3/30/2006 If you decide not to say the pledge, what laws apply to you. Not only do most high schools require you to say the pledge no matter what, their may be legal ramifications depending on location.