Why I Love the Pledge of Allegiance

Alan K. Simpson once said, "There is no 'slippery slope' toward loss of liberty, only a long staircase where each step down must first be tolerated by the American people and their leaders."  One person and one act can rob the rights from many others.  Take, for example, the recent fallout from a Falmouth, Massachusetts town meeting where Melissa Freitag (filling in for the Board President that evening) chose to read a poem before the meeting, then decided to "forego" the Pledge of Allegiance.

With that simple utterance, she took away the rights of every individual in that room.  And, considering that the town had officially made it part of their meeting rules over two years ago, it's actually stunning that one person could choose to supercede the law....and it was tolerated.  That's how it begins.  When Fox News asked several residents what they thought about it, you got two very different opinions.  One gentleman voiced the concern that it's a slippery slope when we begin removing symbols of our democracy such as the Pledge.  Another lady responded that there were more important things to worry about.

I agree.  The more important thing to worry about is how does one person come to power who can remove the rights and wishes of the larger community?  Some might say, it's just the Pledge....not a big deal.  What difference does it make if you stand and honor a flag with a few simple words?  Well, pose that question to the thousands of individuals, parents, spouses, loved ones and friends of troops who have gone to fight to defend that very symbol and what it stands for?   Ask that question of a Gold Star parent whose child died to uphold that red, white and blue symbol of freedom and democracy around the world?   Ask a veteran who put his life on hold while he went to serve his country.  Ask a child who misses their parent because they're serving in some distant land.   And, by all means, go and ask that of a hero who is missing an arm, a leg, their sight, or their sanity for that "not so important" symbol!

And so, the next time you think that saying the Pledge of Allegiance means nothing, try to remember the price that has been paid for that flag....over and over again.  Freedom isn't locked in a box, or a stagnant thing,  but instead is a living, breathing, evolving entity that is the heartbeat of this beautiful country.  Remember that for many of us we've never had to pay anything.  It's been given to us as a gift by those who have sacrificed so much, and the very least we can do to say I'm proud and grateful for that gift is to stand, put our hand over our  heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance.  I always have...and by God, I always will.   No one person will ever take that right from me.  Rights can only be stolen by those who allow it.

As always............live an inspired and patriotic life!