There's an article in the WaPo today, regarding a student who refused to stand for the national anthem in a classroom. The teacher told her to "go back to your own country." I suspect the teacher is, like so many who labor in ignorance, one of those who believe that the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance were somehow spontaneously delivered by God on stone tablets to George Washington's front yard on July 4, 1776.
In fact, "In God We Trust," The Pledge, and the National Anthem are all much younger than the nation, and, as much as anything, represent efforts by The United States Government to instill patriotism by rote, rather than by good example.
Although “In God We Trust” was first stamped on a one cent coin in 1864 (wartime plea to the supernatural?), it wasn’t until a law passed in a Joint Resolution by the 84th Congress and approved by President Dwight Eisenhower on July 30, 1956, required the presence of "In God We Trust" on American currency. In 1957, the phrase was used on paper money for the first time—on an “updated” one-dollar silver certificate that entered circulation on October 1, 1957.
At this point, I'd like to insert an example of real patriotism, and I'll use Dwight Eisenhower for two such. First, the night before the D-Day invasion, he penned a letter taking complete responsibility for the failure of the invasion should if happen. That's a leader demonstrating accountability in absolution of all who may have died on his orders and putting mission before self. This is essentially the most Un-Trump action of which I can conceive.
Although “In God We Trust” was first stamped on a one cent coin in 1864 (wartime plea to the supernatural?), it wasn’t until a law passed in a Joint Resolution by the 84th Congress and approved by President Dwight Eisenhower on July 30, 1956, required the presence of "In God We Trust" on American currency. In 1957, the phrase was used on paper money for the first time—on an “updated” one-dollar silver certificate that entered circulation on October 1, 1957.
At this point, I'd like to insert an example of real patriotism, and I'll use Dwight Eisenhower for two such. First, the night before the D-Day invasion, he penned a letter taking complete responsibility for the failure of the invasion should if happen. That's a leader demonstrating accountability in absolution of all who may have died on his orders and putting mission before self. This is essentially the most Un-Trump action of which I can conceive.
In like fashion, when first appraised of the horrors of the concentration camps being liberated in Poland, he insisted that they be photographed by the Army Photography corps, stating, in essence that, "Years from now some will attempt to say that this didn't happen." Publicizing the horrors of the camps wasn't pleasant, but a true patriot, Ike understood the necessity, even while understanding that some, even in the US, weren't all that concerned.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by a socialist clergyman, Francis Bellamy. It was originally published in The Youth's Companion (magazine) on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country. As he wrote it, “The Pledge” reads:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." That’s all folks. Not “The” flag, or “under God.”
The “Under God” part, much like “In God We Trust,” stems from the age of Joe McCarthy, when “Godless Communism” was the brush with which arch-conservatives painted any who disagreed with them. Accordingly, in 1954, in response to the perceived Communist threat, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. I find it worthy of note that Reverend Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration.
Another feature of Bellamy’s original construct was (as he wrote in the magazine article): “At the words, "to my Flag," the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.” Shortly thereafter, this morphed into the pledge beginning with the right hand over the heart, and after to the flag "to the Flag," the arm was extended straight out toward the Flag, palm-down.
This was so patently identical to the Nazi salute that by a sort of national agreement, around 1942-43 the pledge was changed to keep the hand over the heart. In spite of this, I vividly recall being taught by Sister Hermes, in Catholic kindergarten in 1947-48, to extend the hand, al a the Nazi salute. I “unlearned it” in first grade of public school.
Finally, the National Anthem. The lyrics come from an 1814 poem “The Defense of Fort McHenry” written by Francis Scott Key during the war of 1812. On a strictly personal interest note, my maternal great and great-great grandfathers were in Fort McHenry at the time. Coincidentally, Mr. Key is buried about 50 feet from my maternal grandmother in Frederick Md. Cool, huh? The first “official” use of the poem, now set to the tune of an old English men’s social club (pub) tune called “To Anacreon in Heaven,” was by the US Navy in 1889. It didn’t become “officially’ the US “National” Anthem until Congressional resolution in 1931, in the depths of the Great Depression.” Again, in crisis, let's mandate a little shot of patriotism so they'll forget the economic disaster brought in by unmitigated (and grossly under-regulated) greed.
As seen in the preceding paragraphs, there seems to be a note of enforced patriotism involved in the timing of these events becoming “official” vice traditional. Likewise, the playing of the national Anthem during sporting events has become a traditional, but not mandated, occurrence in America. Until after WWII, no NFL crowd ever heard the national anthem pre-game.
By USSC decision, a student in public school may refuse to stand or to say the pledge. In 1940 in the case of Minersville School District v. Gobitis, the Court held that a public school could force students who were Jehovah’s Witnesses to salute the flag and say the Pledge.
Only three years later, however, the Court changed its course in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, where the majority reversed the Gobitis decision and held that “the Free Speech clause of the First Amendment prohibits public schools from forcing students to salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Note that this specifies, “Public Schools.” Nowhere else in law is any other venue involved in any Pledge (or national anthem) decisions. The majority decision in “Barnette” states, in part:
“If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.”
So the next time anyone, President, red cap wearer, or just plain bozo, screams about or calls for the firing of an athlete taking a knee to protest real social injustice, remember; they (the athlete) have the absolute right to do so and if you think love of country or the wish to see our nation be the best it can and should be hinges on a slogan or song, maybe you don’t understand the word “liberty.”
But what is patriotism, anyway? Is it a genuine love for country, a belief in its ideals even at personal cost, a desire to honor those who have sacrificed to keep it safe, a willingness to help it move closer to its ideals? Or is it weaponizing the symbols of your country in order to trample over human beings, and becoming very, very upset whenever a black athlete engages in political speech? Ask Donald Trump.
Finally, the National Anthem. The lyrics come from an 1814 poem “The Defense of Fort McHenry” written by Francis Scott Key during the war of 1812. On a strictly personal interest note, my maternal great and great-great grandfathers were in Fort McHenry at the time. Coincidentally, Mr. Key is buried about 50 feet from my maternal grandmother in Frederick Md. Cool, huh? The first “official” use of the poem, now set to the tune of an old English men’s social club (pub) tune called “To Anacreon in Heaven,” was by the US Navy in 1889. It didn’t become “officially’ the US “National” Anthem until Congressional resolution in 1931, in the depths of the Great Depression.” Again, in crisis, let's mandate a little shot of patriotism so they'll forget the economic disaster brought in by unmitigated (and grossly under-regulated) greed.
As seen in the preceding paragraphs, there seems to be a note of enforced patriotism involved in the timing of these events becoming “official” vice traditional. Likewise, the playing of the national Anthem during sporting events has become a traditional, but not mandated, occurrence in America. Until after WWII, no NFL crowd ever heard the national anthem pre-game.
By USSC decision, a student in public school may refuse to stand or to say the pledge. In 1940 in the case of Minersville School District v. Gobitis, the Court held that a public school could force students who were Jehovah’s Witnesses to salute the flag and say the Pledge.
Only three years later, however, the Court changed its course in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, where the majority reversed the Gobitis decision and held that “the Free Speech clause of the First Amendment prohibits public schools from forcing students to salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Note that this specifies, “Public Schools.” Nowhere else in law is any other venue involved in any Pledge (or national anthem) decisions. The majority decision in “Barnette” states, in part:
“If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.”
So the next time anyone, President, red cap wearer, or just plain bozo, screams about or calls for the firing of an athlete taking a knee to protest real social injustice, remember; they (the athlete) have the absolute right to do so and if you think love of country or the wish to see our nation be the best it can and should be hinges on a slogan or song, maybe you don’t understand the word “liberty.”
Note, specifically the beginning words "patriotism on command." This is not an unpatriotic statement.
But what is patriotism, anyway? Is it a genuine love for country, a belief in its ideals even at personal cost, a desire to honor those who have sacrificed to keep it safe, a willingness to help it move closer to its ideals? Or is it weaponizing the symbols of your country in order to trample over human beings, and becoming very, very upset whenever a black athlete engages in political speech? Ask Donald Trump.
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