The Pledge of Allegiance Facebook Status

I have seen this status posted by several friends today.  They run in different social circles and are not friends with each other.  I've also seen this posted numerous times over the last several months.  I can no longer not comment on it.  Here is the post.

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.

MY GENERATION GREW UP RECITING THIS EVERY MORNING AT SCHOOL WITH OUR HANDS ON OUR HEARTS. THEY NO LONGER DO THIS FOR FEAR OF OFFENDING SOMEONE.

LET'S SEE HOW MANY REAL AMERICANS WILL REPOST THIS AND NOT CARE ABOUT OFFENDING SOMEONE.

First, there is no need to shout.

Second, the comment that "they no longer do this" is a blatant, flat out lie.  43 states currently have laws where the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is required in some shape or form. 

Third, just because it was some how "traditional" that we recited the Pledge when our generation was in school does not make it right.  Contrary to popular belief, tradition and correctness are not one in the same.  If we still went by "tradition," then black people would still be drinking from their own water fountains.  Tradition is a way to indoctrinate the next generation in the ways of the previous generation and are often cited as a way to justify maintaining something that is wrong today.  This is not to say that all traditions are bad, keep the good ones.  Eliminate the bad ones. 

As a side note, the concept of tradition is very strong in the Republican Party. Is not tradition not a conservative trait.  Isn't being a Conservative all about maintaining what was traditional 20, 30, 60 years ago?  The funny thing with Conservatives is that 20 years from now, they will be fighting to maintain what progressives are fighting for today, such as gay marriage, etc.  Anyway...

Fourth, I will make an assumption that the target of those who post this wish to offend non-believers with the "under God" reference.  This is humorous to me because the whole reason for this Facebook post is that those with strong Christian beliefs are offended in their own right.  So, to make it right in their mind, they must offend back.

Fifth, there is an assumption that I am somehow not a true American if a I don't post this and share the same belief in the Abrahamic God that the Pledge is clearly referencing.  I do find that offensive.  Just because I, and millions of other Americans don't believe in the same Sky Fairy as you do doesn't make us less American.  Patriotism is not defined by religious beliefs.

Another side note.  A man who is often praised and cited as being extremely patriotic and is honored quite often is Pat Tillman.  Pat Tillman was an atheist.  Are you going to argue that he wasn't patriotic?

The "under God" part was added during the era of heightened McCarthyism.  It is a relic of fear and propaganda.  Strangely, the country was doing just fine with the pre-under God form.  I believe that the Pledge of Allegiance in its current form is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment.  Numerous lawsuits had failed because those arguing in favor of keeping the "under God" are using the tradition argument for one, and also using an argument that God is somehow generic and not specific.  I already spoke about the absurdity of the tradition argument.  The generic god argument is also humorous to me.  Atheists don't really give a shit which god is mentioned because we don't believe in any god.  Also, if you were to go back and study the history of the current form of the Pledge, you would see that the intent is clearly the Abrahmic God in the eyes of Christianity.

Lastly, there are those who would argue that the Pledge of Allegiance, regardless of the form used, is, itself, unconstitutional.  Requiring a citizen of a supposedly free country to pledge allegiance to that country is somewhat dictatorial in itself.