Preview

why the pledge should be revised

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
603 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
why the pledge should be revised
“Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should Be Revised”
In Gwen Wilde’s essay, “Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should Be Revised,” the author strongly believes that the pledge of allegiance should only be used for the sole purpose of patriotism. She includes in the essay the original pledge of allegiance, which was published in 1892 and did not include the words “under God.” In 1923, the pledge was revised for the first time replacing the original words, “my flag” with “the flag of the united states,” only to be revised the following year to “the flag of the United States of America.” In 1942 the US congress officially sanctioned the pledge. Finally, In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the addition of the words “under God” to the pledge of allegiance, which brings us to the authors argument of why the pledge should be revised. Gwen Wilde, says “In my view, the addition of the words “under God” is inappropriate and they are needlessly divisive –an odd addition indeed to a Nation that is said to be “indivisible.” I agree with the author and believe that the words “under God” can cause hostility or disagreement between fellow Americans. I believe the pledge should be revised. I know that when I recite the pledge I do exactly what I am saying and feel proud to say it. I believe in God, so really I have never had a problem saying the entire pledge of allegiance. I do remember though, when I was in grade school a boy in my class did not recite the pledge of allegiance because of his religion. As Gwen said, “In short, the pledge which ought to unite us all, is indeed divisive.” Therefore, by revising the pledge of allegiance and omitting the words “under God,” many patriotic Americans, new citizens, and school children will be able to pledge allegiance to our flag aloud and proud instead of having to remain silent.

“On Racist Speech”
In the essay “On Racist Speech,” by Charles R. Lawrence III he states that he has spent the better part of his life as a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Charles Spurgen Johnson was the son of Charles Henry Johnson a Baptiste minister. They were pretty much lucky to be a little more upper class .Charles Spurgen witnessed a lynching at twelve years of age from intoxicated white men. He watched how his father stood alone brave and didn’t feel threatened he was a role model for his son as well as many other African American. This line stood out to me from the reading “Muse” “Johnson thus grew up with both a deep hatred of racial injustice and an understanding of the limits of individuals bravery in confronting it”. This part stood out to me because most African Americans weren’t brave enough to stand up for there right the they feel they were beneath these people. As far as his son…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I recall reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” every Monday and Friday morning to render respect to the Flag of the United States of America. It also include “One Nation under God.” (UShistory.org, 2017). Then, I read that Mr. President Obama ban the Pledge of Allegiance from any Federal funded school or work area under the executed order number 13738. First, I will discuss three things that connects President Abraham Lincoln and Baptist Minister Mr. Luther M. King Jr. Secondly, how the position power and the era that separates them. Thirdly, what attract my attention of President Lincoln’s address in his second term inauguration and Dr. King’s letter while he was Birmingham jail.…

    • 136 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    had a lot of past experience with white supremacy, along with having a religious father. His past experiences with discrimination against himself and his family, Combined with his Father’s religious ideals of equality, are most likely what influenced him to fight for racial equality, and this influence was likely further influenced by his time spent in college becoming a pastor.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    At presidential debates, sporting events and at schools The Pledge of Allegiance is recited. Since these events are important in context they are seen as a statement, describing what it means to be an American however many citizens are challenging the pledge because it contains two words that some, like Gwen Wilde, do not believe in. Gwen Wilde, the author of Why the Pledge of Allegiance Should Be Revised, is one of the few Americans protesting the Pledge because it contains the words “under God”.…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Pledge of Allegiance is one of the most common morning traditions throughout American public schools. The expression of loyalty was altered and modified four times during its existence to be muttered, yawned, or delivered by millions of students. The first composed version stated “ I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" (Robinson). The most current addition of the Pledge adds the phrase “under God,” implying “monotheism and control... God who interferes with events on earth guiding the U.S. in the direction that he wishes.” Requiring and promoting the Pledge with this new addition of words erupted criticism and legal disputes in the United States.…

    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    This was said by Captain Black, he is talking about teaching kids to memorize this and say it all of the time, long before they even figure out or begin to figure out what it means. As long as they pledge allegiance, who cares if they know what it means. We teach them how to say it as well as make them say it often, because they need to know how to do it. All we want them to do is pledge, whether they know what it means or not.…

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Church vs. State

    • 2756 Words
    • 12 Pages

    One of the most controversial points that is being debated in America today is the argument of church vs. state. Some people strongly believe that “In God We Trust” should be removed from the dollar bill, and “One nation under God” should be removed from the pledge of allegiance, because they feel that that is like forcing a certain faith upon people in a free country. Others strongly believe that we should keep those sayings on the money and in the pledge because it’s sticking to what America’s founding fathers believed and wanted. It is evident that this topic is hotly debated, but it is not yet evident which side is right.…

    • 2756 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    While I agree with you that there are plenty of other issues going on in the world that needs to be addressed; however, I do think that this is one of those issues. I believe that this is a problem because it still stands for a country that no longer represents what those words have to say. Keeping those words in the Pledge of Allegiance only further promotes reasons for people to point out those that are different. I'm not religious at all and I have never been. I was forced as a child to go to church and I was forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day at school. It always made me feel uncomfortable to say under God because I never felt that it represented me and what I thought our country stood for. We can't keep saying…

    • 196 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some think that it was part of something far and unknown. No, actually it is and forever will be a big part in American history. Trying to remove it now is thoughtless, we shouldn't have to relearn to whole pledge because of some small percentage of who either don't believe in God or don't believe in "forcing" students to say it. Removing the words "under God" from the pledge, is going to hurt our belief in traditions. In the same article it says, " 'Most Americans have recited the pledge hundreds of times and are not inclined to memorize a different pledge', he says. 'Changing it may just feel wrong. Most Americans they believe in God or a higher being and feel comfortable having "under God" in the pledge.' " In other words barley anyone wants to learn a different pledge and the current one makes sense to the majority. Furthermore, our nation was built up on religious principles, shouldn't it stay that way? Why should we change it? Also, in an article called "Trump: 'Under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance Is 'a Great Thing' it says, " 'Because that's what we are and that is what we will always be, and that is what our people want', he said." Trump says that we thought of ourselves as living under God, and we think the same way…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    My choice of writing for the Rogerian essay is on the topic of the Pledge of Allegiance in School. “In a decision that stunned the nation, a federal appeals court in June ruled that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional because the pledge contains the words "under God" “ (Chmielewski). The banning of the Pledge of Allegiance is a very large controversial topic because one side believes that while the foundation of our country is religion, the other side believes that the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance is an infringement on our First Amendment right. The Pledge of Allegiance began in 1892. It was a way of showing a sense of celebration for being an American. Since 1892…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Pledge Of Allegiance

    • 225 Words
    • 1 Page

    America is built on the service of who have fought for the freedom. The Pledge of Allegiance is the way to show our respect of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands for, and one nation under God, in divisible, with liberty and justice for all. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools way to honor and remember these people who have fought and to teach children to serve their country as adults. Pledge of Allegiance is the way to show pride and loyalty toward United States. Pledge of Allegiance is basically saying that flag is a symbol of our country, and flag symbolizes freedom.…

    • 225 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Pledge of Allegiance is a ritual that should not be required to be recited in any US schools, the reason why is because it references to false religious beliefs, does not truly promise anything for the majority of America, and ultimately does not make you more “patriotic”. Some people consider the Pledge to be “An outdated and unnecessary ritual with a constitutionally questionable reference and false promises of liberty and justice for all” (Tucker). It has become an artifact of the past and really does not promise liberty and justice for all, people just recite it because they have to and really don’t mean anything they recite. Many say that the Pledge makes you more patriotic, how though? “Is San Fransisco any less patriotic because…

    • 284 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pledge Of Allegiance

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In closing, I do not believe that it matters how long “under God” has been in our Pledge. I think that it plays such a big important role in our nation and taking out this phrase would result in the shift of our country. I think without the phrase “under God” people would forget to thank our founding fathers for all their hard work and dedication. We as a nation need to show our gratitude and let history live in the present. I know for a fact that “under God” should be kept in our Pledge of…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The first reason some people claim the words should be removed is because of their belief that the words violet the constitution. The constitution says in the first amendment that you have the freedom of religion. If the U.S. tries to establish an official religion then it would violate the constitution.…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Pledge of Allegiance was written to fit any person in any country but the in 1945 the U.S. adopted it and changed it twice to fit our country but it wasn’t used in the morning to start the day for fifty-five years. In 2004 a student named Michael Newdow argued that “under God” challenged the right to freedom of religion and violated the prohibition on the establishment of religion in the First Amendment of the United States…

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays