Even if I can’t persuade anyone else, I can at least renew my own pledge.
A couple of years ago, my daughter told me that she was the only one in her classroom who stood and recited the pledge of allegiance during morning announcements in middle school. Others, she said, either remained silent or didn’t pay attention. In her view, the teacher didn’t make a big deal about it because of a perceived battle that wasn’t going to be won anyway.
I was shocked.
Maybe I’m naive, but it never occurred to me that the pledge would be seen as optional for young people. I said the pledge every day of my school life when I was growing up, and so did every other student, as far as I was aware.
I was thinking about my daughter’s story much later, when I happened to be sitting across the table from a teenager at a lunch event. I asked him if he said the pledge during school. He said no because it was “boring.”
Again, I was shocked. His answer didn’t seem to leave much room for discussion.
Before we get too critical of the rising generation, however, I should point out that adults are also lacking in patriotism.
After a surge following the attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001 — with a peak in 2003 of 70% of U.S. adults saying they were “extremely proud” to be an American — our national pride has been declining. We hit a low of 38% in 2022, and we’re sitting at 41% in the Gallup poll as of 2024.
Why are Americans less proud of their identity than they used to be?
Undoubtedly, part of the reason is due to disagreements with how politicians gain and use their power. Some of it may be due to a perceived decline in respect internationally.
We shouldn’t confuse nationalism with patriotism. While patriotism is uplifting and motivated by love and respect, nationalism is motivated by a sense of competitiveness or aggression. A nationalist promotes his nation’s interests at the expense of others; a patriot promotes his nation’s ideals, with the good of others always in mind.
There is a difference also between being in favor of lawful citizenship, as opposed to being anti-immigration (or anti-immigrant). Some who are alarmed by mean-spirited anti-immigrant sentiment may overcorrect by throwing out their patriotism as they protest nationalism.
What of it? If we become a less patriotic nation, maybe we are still OK?
I would argue that losing patriotism is not OK.
Patriotism is respect. It’s reverence. It’s awareness of the debt of gratitude that we owe not only to the Founding Fathers, but also to those who followed them from generation to generation, establishing more and more firmly the safety and peace that we now enjoy, as well as the economic prosperity that, despite the widening disparity between the wealthy and the poor, is still remarkable. When we fail to acknowledge the good done by others, we risk becoming a shortsighted, selfish people. We lose our sense of worth. We lose the confidence that emboldens us to defend the moral high ground, even if it becomes unpopular.
Increasing the patriotism in our society, schools and families is a goal that we must strive to achieve. How is it to be done? Here are a few ideas.
1. RENEW YOUR OWN PLEDGE.
For most of us, it’s easy to say the words without thinking about them:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
But, when I’m in a room of adults at a civic event, and I concentrate on the words, I feel goose bumps almost every time. Here we stand, regardless of our backgrounds, socioeconomic status, political views or religious beliefs — united. Our differences are insignificant compared to what unites us: We believe that we are under God. We believe that we should support each other and be indivisible in at least one thing — our quest for liberty and justice. And we believe that not only do you and I deserve liberty and justice, but so does everyone else. These great blessings are for all.
If I can’t persuade anyone else, I can at least renew my own pledge and recognize that everyone is on his own journey.
2. DON'T VILIFY THE OPPOSITION.
One political party might think it’s best to pursue justice by increasing funding for the police. Another party might think it’s best to pursue justice by increasing oversight of the police. If we can resist the urge to demean those who disagree with us, we may have a chance to persuade. At the very least, we can return to something we have in common: We have all pledged allegiance to this great country, and so we know that our motives are pure. Therefore, when you or I come up with different solutions to the problem, we can trust that we are, at least, both in the pursuit of solutions.
The other side of the aisle is not the enemy.
3. INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION.
My daughter’s story about the apathy for the pledge should give us all something to think about. Florida statutes give school districts the ability to put policies in place to require the pledge, with parents having the right to exempt a child, but only with written consent. This is something we should review in local schools.
Is the pledge of allegiance being enforced?
It’s pretty tough to force someone to pledge allegiance to anything without that effort backfiring.
The better path is to inspire. Some questions to consider when talking to your children or grandchildren:
What do “liberty and justice” mean to you?
Why would it be ideal if “all” enjoyed liberty and justice?
What can we do right now to help our nation get closer to those ideals?
4. THINK OF OUR IDEALS AS GOALS.
The history of the United States is full of bravery, yes, but also full of hypocrisy. Our leaders and heroes were and are flawed. It’s human nature to be disappointed when we see how far short we fall when striving for our ideals. But it’s become more and more of a trend to be not just disappointed but disgusted.
The truth is, we may never see a day when there is truly liberty and justice for all.
Let’s try anyway.
In church on Sunday, the congregation sang, “America, the Beautiful” as one of the hymns. I felt inspired to be in a small pocket of the community, as we sang, in unison a plea — a prayer — that God would assist us in achieving our “patriot dream.”
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Despite our flaws, that dream of cities “undimmed by human tears,” living in a spirit of brotherhood, is what makes America beautiful to me.
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