[Vision2020] City Council and the Pledge

[Joan Opyr]

On 21 Jan 2006, at 21:11, John Dickinson wrote:

> Hi again,
>
> Having mentioned that the pledge of allegiance became a part of every
> council meeting only after 9/11, I thought it would be clear that we no
> longer needed to have the pledge at each council meeting - just as we 
> have
> stopped many of the patriotic activities that were daily common 
> activities
> then. I think we were all helped in that tragic time by the sight of 
> flags
> flying at almost every house in the country. As a nation, we were 
> united in
> the best of what this country stands for, our essence was being 
> attacked. We
> needed to tell everyone we knew that we are good people with high 
> ideals and
> that we did not deserve to have our essence torn from us.

Dear John and other Visionaries:

I take the Gary Cooper approach to the Pledge of Allegiance, i.e., I 
said it; I meant it; I'll let you know if anything changes.

Tom's recitation of the oath of military service seems an especially 
apt parallel to me.  The Pledge of Allegiance is an oath, a vow, and I 
fear that mindless and rote recitation only cheapens it.  Melynda and I 
took our wedding vows on September 14, 1996.  By that time, we had 
already been together for more than four years, but in 1996, we stood 
together in the UCC Congregationalist Church in Pullman and promised 
before God, before the Rev. Dr. Kristine Zakarison, and before our 
assembled friends and family to love, honor, and be faithful to one 
another 'til death do we part.  Nine years and four months later, I 
remember the exact words of my vows, and I honor them.  I have never 
broken them.  I don't need to look them up or repeat them to myself, 
Melynda, or anyone else to keep me from going out on the razz, hustling 
up the babes.

I am a citizen of the United States.  I have not in the past nor will I 
in the future renounce my citizenship or pledge allegiance to a foreign 
country.  A lot of people say things they don't mean.  They take oaths 
of office and then break them.  They promise to support and defend the 
Constitution and then, behind closed doors, under the cloak of national 
security, they tear the beating heart right out of that living document 
and stomp all over it.  It's in actions, not words, that we must look 
for honesty, integrity, and loyalty.  Richard Nixon took the Oath of 
Office.  Twice.

I wrote my own wedding vows, and I've written my own pledge of 
allegiance as well, one that has real meaning for me.  Here it is:

"I pledge allegiance to the democratic republic of the United States of 
America, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.  I 
promise to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and 
to honor the Bill of Rights, not only in word but also in deed."

You'll note that I don't pledge allegiance to a flag.  I prefer to 
pledge my allegiance directly to the democratic republic for which that 
flag stands.  I also don't mention God.  Why?  Because I know what I 
mean by God, but I don't know what others mean.  I refuse to put myself 
(or my country) under the God of Jerry Falwell or Lou Sheldon.  That 
would violate the Constitution I've sworn to uphold and defend, and it 
would dishonor the Bill of Rights.  I may call upon God to help me 
honor my vow, but if and when I do, it'll be none of anyone's business.

Here's what I'm wondering: is the aforementioned enough to get me on 
the NSA's no-warrant eavesdropping list?  I am perfectly serious, and 
yet I am also flipping Dick Cheney the cyber-bird.  Come and get me, 
Dicky Ticker!

Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment
www.joanopyr.com