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I just finished the history of the Pledge of Allegiance. There were some interesting facts. Some I knew. Others were new (to me). I learned a few things.
Here’s what learned:
- the pledge was written by socialist
- it was written over a century after the Constitution was ratified, in 1892
- it was written as a marketing campaign
- part of a flag giveaway promotion to increase magazine sales for The Youth’s Companion
- it did not include any reference to God
- Under God was added in 1954 after an lobbying campaign by the Knights of Columbus
Here’s the pledge as originally written:
‘I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’
When we fight over the Pledge of Allegiance in this country, we’re fighting about a one liner written by a Baptist preacher who was kicked out of his church because of his socialist messages. It was written to give schools a reason to use a flag that was given away as a promotion to sell “The Youth’s Companion”.
It’s funny how we fight to maintain traditions … especially when we don’t know where they come from.
