I Pledge Allegiance

I have been currently reading a great book called Heroes at Home by Elle Kay. It's about giving hope to the military families and has been really good. I'm an idiot and a nerd and I tend to read a lot when I am about to go through something. I have books on being a military wife, deployment and other things. I know, it's a nerdish thing, but hey, it's me.

Anyways, I stumbled upon something in the book that I just wanted to share with everyone.

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.

We've been taught all our lives and in most private schools, it is still a requirement to say before classes start. Yet have you ever stopped and pondered what it actually means? We recite it without thinking twice and it's second nature to us. Yet, we probably have never broken it down and actually thought about what the words actually mean. Don't feel bad, neither did I. Even as a military spouse, I never thought about the words or anything. I never thought about the words until I started reading this book. Elle Kay broke it down and reworded it. The way she did it, gave the pledge a whole new reason. I wanted to share with you her interpretation of the pledge.

I promise to be faithful and true

To the emblem that stands for and represents

All 50 states, each of them individual, and individually represented on the falg

Yet formed into a UNION of one nation.

I also pledge my loyalty to the Government that is itself a Republic, a form of government where PEOPLE are sovereign,

This government also being represented by the Flag to which I promise loyalty.

These 50 states individual states are united as a single Republic under the Divine providence of God, "our most powerful resource" (according to President Eisenhower)

And cannot be separated. (This part of the original version of the pledge was written just 50 years after the beginning of the Civil War and demonstrates the unity sought in the years after that divisive period in our history.)

The people of this Nation being afforded the freedom to pursue "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

And each person entitled to be treated justly, fairly, and according to proper law and principle.

And these principles afforded to EVERY AMERICAN, regardless of race, religion, color, creed, or any other criteria. Just as the flag represents the 50 individual states that cannot be divided or separated, this Nation represents millions of people who cannot be separated or divided.

This brings the pledge to a whole new light. I know that this country is right now in the middle of a huge turmoil with the possibility of a government shutdown. It does make me mad that my husband may not get paid for protecting his country nor the soldiers overseas who are risking their lives. It makes me upset that the Congress will still get paid and that they will not be affected at all by this. Yet, my husband swore to protect this country and he plans upholding it. It makes me proud to married to him.

I know that people are freaking out, but this will show the American population how honorable our troops really are. Even though they are not getting paid, they are still going to show up to work and work. How many people would you know do that? Some may only do it just because they have to and they don't want any action filed against them. There are some that are doing it because they know it's the right thing to do and that it's their duty to uphold the oath they took. They are loyal to their country, even when their country may not be loyal to them. They may not always look out for what's best for the military, but the military always looks out for their country.

It's about time the American population unites and stand behind their military. Believe it or not, when you say the pledge, you are stating that you are loyal to your country and therefore you are loyal to the very people that make it possible to say that exact pledge. It's the military that gives us the right to say what we want, to voice our opinion against our government without fear of death. It's our military that makes it possible for us to worship when, who and where we want openly. It's our sons, fathers, and husbands that are laying their lives down for our freedom and it's about time to stop just saying the pledge, but believing it also and acting on it.

It's just a thought. I know that not all people believe in this nor do they believe that the troops are doing great things. I believe in everything I have said. I love our country and although I do not agree in some of things that are happening, I am loyal to my country and the military. I will always be that way, military wife or not. It's our duty as civilians. HOOAH!