[Vision2020] The pledge Controversy

[Phil Nisbet]

I had a say earlier and figured that it was sufficient to the day, but the 
huge volume of traffic on this issue has me scratching my head.

There are some with honest opinions here on both sides.  Chas, for an 
example, is a non-conformist and hates all things related to pledges.  His 
opinion on the subject and his feelings are valid and need to be respected.  
Similarly, those who want the pledge said have solid feelings on the subject 
and valid desires to see the pledge said as a symbol of their own love of 
country and they deserve as much respect as Chas does.

One of the people I had dinner with last night had something very valid to 
say.  He noted that at his age he still tripped over the portion of the 
pledge that was added in the 1950's and that he had an easier time of it 
when it was not there.  He still preferred to have some sort of a patriotic 
opening to a governmental proceeding.

Nancy says that she wants to vary things as opening statements before the 
meeting to set the tone.  I would say that is fine, one meeting the pledge, 
the next meeting the national anthem, the next a brief patriotic poem, what 
ever.  What ever the pick for opening, pledge or song or poem or speech 
portion, it needs to reflect civic participation in the great American 
political process.

This need not have been a controversy had this idea been circulated in the 
first place.  If at the first meeting it had been made clear that that was 
the plan, I do not see the kind of concerns that have been aired.  The 
problem occurs when actions to make changes are made without the public 
being informed, in effect, the public having to discover by word of mouth 
and Listserver that a change has happened without their knowledge.

So perhaps we can get Nancy to post her ideas and she can also inform the 
papers with a list of the openings she intends and the controversy can die 
down.  Heck, she can open a suggestion box for citizen preferred openings to 
council meetings and then everybody can get a crack at picking one.

I nominate,”I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world” 
Socrates, in hopes of getting Chas and his kindred spirits into the idea.

Phil Nisbet

PS  On the other hand there have been one heck of a lot of not very honest 
answers on this subject.  Those of you who expressed things not your own 
opinion just to make political hay know who you are and that is from all 
sides.  Its exceptionally bad when an official plays finger pointing as if 
that offical was not involved.

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