Why do we have no good choices for president?

The Pledge of Allegiance has an interesting history.

It was penned in 1892 by Baptist Minister and Socialist Francis Bellamy. It was originally worded:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Bellamy wanted to put “equality” in the pledge but he knew that the idea of equality for everyone (women and negros included) was too controversial.

In 1923 some feared that immigrants might imagine “my flag” to be the flag of their homeland rather than the American flag so “my flag” was changed to “the flag of the United States of Amierica”

Prior to WWII those reciting the pledge extended their arms toward the flag. This was eliminated because of its similarity to that NAZI salute.

In 1954 the words “one nation under God” was added to the pledge. Some thought this would help root out Russian spys because they thought an atheist could never say such a thing. Others felt that when reciting the pledge about how great our nation was that we needed something to remind us how small it is compared to God.

Today people still try to change the pledge. Some liberals want to follow Bellamy’s wishes and insert “equality” into the pledge. Some pro-lifers like to tack “born and unborn” to the end of the pledge. Some secularists want to remove “one nation under God” from its words.

I think that any pledge should be eliminated entirely. There is something bizare about forcing or coercing people into saying how free they are.

thedudes right. But I agree with ya. Every candidate sucks the big one. If there was an independant that was able to gain enough publicity I would vote for em.

‘As much as I hate seeing someone wrap themselves in the constitution and burn the flag I hate it far more when someone wraps themselves in the flag and burns the constitution.’

That is really great. I am going to have to remember that one.

Communist talk? You’re kidding, right? Having a choice whether you want to make a pledge or not is what this country was built on. The flag is nothing but a piece of cloth. It is the ideas of liberty, democracy and justice that represent everthing this country stands for. Forcing people to say a pledge, or demanding they show respect for a piece of cloth are the antithesis of what this country stands for. Stop getting hung up on the symbolism and start defending the ideas that built this country.

…a useless kudo to both jimahl and filletofspam.

Loyalty pledges have no place in a nation that values liberty.

I agree with jimahl, The flag while being a powerful symbol is just a piece of cloth.

Then again when legelsators after 9/11 pointed out to George W Bush that the things he wanted to do were unconstitutional Bush said, “stop throwing the constitution in my face, it is just a GD piece of paper.”

Ignoring the fact that it is parchment rather than paper this shows Bush’s priorities. He elevates the flag while turfing the constitution.

When I was in a discussion about flag burning an anonomyous poster made a great point:

“As much as I hate seeing someone wrap themselves in the constitution and burn the flag I hate it far more when someone wraps themselves in the flag and burns the constitution.”

First of all, these are false rumours and dont you think having to swear by the bible goes against the seperation of church and state anyways?

I can think of many more important things for a good citizen and patriot to do besides blindly pledge allegiance to a flag:

1. Vote.
2. Drive the speed limit.
3. Treat your fellow Americans well regardless of their race/religion/sexual orientation.
4. Adopt a pet or spay/neuter the ones you have.
5. Work while you’re at work and play around while you’re at home.
6. Read up on American history and Constitutional law.

We do have some great Leaders all over the country but they’re smart enough not to enter the arena of politics for numerous reasons (salary cut, attack dogs who are constantly out to destroy you, your family, everything you hold sacred, etc) - even if they have to make it up - don’t blame them for staying away.

Just listen to Obama. He is a very good choice. The moron who posted the question is too ignorant to realize that the email in which he read all of that was bogus, and none of it is true. He did swear in on the bible, and he does pledge alleigence.

But I agree with filletofspam, it is all a bunch of nonsense.

o my … well you know. what is this about communizm talk? the cold war is over.

I do agree that nither canidate is a good choise

None of the presidential candidates for Republican OR democrat fit your description…

how can you not pledge allegiance to the flag, thats communist talk. the flag represents everything our country stands for

Do you want a candidate to serve your interests or what he thinks is his God’s interests? Because the two might not be the same…

Personally, I find the idea of an unconditional pledge of allegience, in a nation which prides itself on liberty, to be absurd and offensive. That’s the type of behavior you expect in tyranical states, not free ones.

Are you kidding me? These are the best candidates we’ve had running, from both parties, in a very long time. It’s a fascinating election year, interesting to see the campaigns develop, what issues have arisen and been debated…and most of all the voter turnout.

Get past the flag and Bible thing…as others have pointed out, that’s a nasty rumor.