by Ellis Dean
The American flag is a distinctive symbol that has stirred Americans throughout our history. But as a symbol, it is at best a second-hand representation of the defining substance of America.
As we have seen, it is a vulnerable symbol whose meaning was corrupted in the past eight years. Lest we forget that era, the flag was co-opted as a logo for the Bush administration and the Republican Party, to the exclusion of those Americans who disagreed with its policies. The founding principles represented by the flag were repeatedly undermined by those sporting flag pins on their lapels as they violated one law and constitutional principal after another.
In an ironic twist on the malleability of symbols, these same Republicans would no doubt be troubled to learn that the Pledge of Allegiance was written by a Christian Socialist in conjunction with his work as a member of the National Education Association.
I do not worry that the American flag has been forever lost to criminals masquerading as patriots. The election of Barack Obama was, among other things, an effort to reclaim America – both its symbols and substance – from those who seized it. But we should not forget how easy it was for a symbol like the flag to serve as cover for violations of the Constitution, which is in fact the core substance of America. That makes our traditional pledge of allegiance to the flag seem naively misplaced.
Instead, I believe our loyalty is more meaningfully pledged to the system of laws and principles, crafted by enlightened men of reason, which created the United States and continues to hold the promise of its potential. It is the Constitution that makes America America…not all the flags on Flag Day.
I therefore propose a new pledge; one that speaks to the true essence of America. Something along these lines:
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic that it defines: one nation, ruled by laws, with liberty and justice for all.
