Defending the Pledge of Allegiance

The most inspiring article concerning the Pledge of Allegiance came to my attention recently. No message, written or spoken, could ever exceed the beauty it conveys. Those who are against the pledge, I dare say, will mellow. Those in favor will be lifted in spirit and joy. Read on. -- Paula E. Kempe, Cape Girardeau

By Megan Gilligan ~ Of Oklahoma

I was listening to a radio talk show. A man called renouncing the Pledge of Allegiance and informing everyone that it should not be required of our schoolchildren to recite it every day.

I wonder why this man continues to live in this country. He doesn't want anything to do with it, thinks the government is corrupt and refuses to recite the pledge.

No one has to recite the pledge, because you live in a country that's the land of the free. We will fight for your freedom, die for your freedom, send our boys across the seas to make sure you have a safe place to live, but don't worry. You don't have to associate with us at all.

We will let you have your own religion, your own sexual orientation, your own beliefs. You can live in our country, soak up our welfare, our health care and our right to be innocent until proven guilty.

I'm a little annoyed by people who live in our country, immersing themselves in all of our benefits and all of our freedoms, but refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I am sick of "It's against my religious beliefs." Because you live here, you can practice any religious belief you want.

Maybe America has its faults. Maybe we have a bunch of crazed terrorists plotting how to destroy us. Maybe there is still corruption. Maybe American isn't perfect. But it is free. As a matter of fact, you're free to do just about anything you want, and we will still let you live here, which is more than I can say for many of the other countries making headlines today.

I will proudly pledge myself to the country that's enabled me to have anything I want. I will proudly declare my love for the country that's allowed me, a female, to have every advantage as a male, that lets me live the way I want to live, pray the way I want to pray and believe what I want to believe.