public:cb_mirror:let_s_be_clear_one_nation_under_god_txt_blogposts_30840
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Let’s Be Clear: One Nation Under God!
One Nation under God: let's be clear, and let's mean it.
Often, I'm asked to lead a group in the  Pledge of Allegiance before an event or meeting. Before reciting it, I ask them not to pause between “one nation” and “under God”, and I encourage you to do the same. Let me explain why…===== The Enduring Words That Unite Us ===== For generations, thirty‑one carefully chosen words have united Americans in an expression of loyalty, gratitude, and shared purpose. Words that have traveled from schoolhouses to the moon’s surface — literally — affirming our enduring commitment to liberty and justice. The Pledge of Allegiance began in 1892 as part of a nationwide Columbus Day celebration, inviting schoolchildren to stand before the flag and make a promise: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. ===== An Evolving Promise ===== Those original lines carried the weight of a nation emerging from the Civil War, underscoring our indivisibility and grounding us in the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. Over time, adjustments reflected a growing and diverse America: changing my Flag to the flag of the United States in 1923 to avoid confusion among new citizens, and adding of America a year later for clarity. The most profound addition came on Flag Day, 1954. In the midst of a tense Cold War, Congress — with overwhelming public support — inserted the words “under God” immediately after “one Nation.” These two words were intentionally placed without punctuation, meant to be spoken as one seamless thought: “one Nation under God.” ===== Why the Pause Matters ===== Pausing between “one Nation” and “under God” fractures that unity, implying separation between our country and the Almighty — a subtle shift some have worked for decades to normalize. The U.S. Flag Code leaves no doubt: this is a single, indivisible idea. Saying it as one phrase affirms that our freedoms and unity are not just political or geographic, but rooted in something higher. ===== A Gesture of Respect ===== The Pledge’s evolution also changed how we physically express it. The original “Bellamy Salute” — arm extended from the chest — was replaced in 1942 with the now‑familiar hand over the heart, facing the Flag, a gesture both respectful and inclusive. Men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold the hat at the left shoulder, the right hand being over the heart. ===== Living the Covenant ===== When we recite the Pledge, we link arms across centuries with everyone who has ever done so — soldiers on foreign soil, astronauts on the lunar surface, children in classrooms, communities at ballgames. These words are more than ceremonial; they’re a verbal covenant binding us to one another and to the principles our nation stands for. In an age of distraction and division, clarity matters. Let’s speak the Pledge as it was intended: with respect, conviction, and without hesitation between one Nation and under God. It’s not just about preserving tradition — it’s about affirming the truth of who we are. One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Let’s be clear — and let’s mean it. Sincerely, Wayne Stanley COS NC Follow-up Team Leader and Volunteer Activist (Assembly and edits by Peter Spung, COS NC District Captain and State Content Writer) |
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| Created: | 2025-08-18 16:24 GMT |
| Updated: | 2025-08-22 13:48 GMT |
| Published: | 2025-08-22 13:48 GMT |
| Converted: | 2025-11-11 12:06 GMT |
| Change Author: | Wayne Stanley |
| Credit Author: | |
public/cb_mirror/let_s_be_clear_one_nation_under_god_txt_blogposts_30840.txt · Last modified: 2025/11/11 12:06 by 127.0.0.1