Aug. 07, 2003 - 19:22 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

To Speak

When I was a young sprout in another century things were, oh so different.

Before we started school there had been some teaching of patriotism and what it meant from parents or those who had the responsibility for our care and raising. When we hit elementary school we were taught the Pledge of Allegiance, along with many other things that have been forgotten by modern day folks. From instruction and by example we were proud to recite the Pledge.

But no eagle eyed or eagle eared teacher stood guard to make sure that each and every one of us recited the exact words. From the beginning we recited it with the understanding of what it meant to be a citizen of the United States and we were proud to do so.

Now, here in Colorado and some other states it is the LAW that it must be said. . . . . . . .

Seems to me that then in the dim past we said it with deep feelings and understanding of the meanings of it. But now it is a law. Of course non-citizens are not required to say it and in some places children of people who object to it are not required to. The whole situation seems to me to be like an ant pile with the top kicked off, everyone going madly in different directions as fast as they can.

The main definition of pledge (as in Pledge of Allegiance) goes thus: 1. A solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something.

Nowadays a marriage license and a blood test are required by law before marriage here. A cut and dried civil marriage service can be had in a judges chambers or whatever. I have no idea of what goes on there but have the idea that it is a quickie sort of thing. After the law is satisfied then weddings are usually done in church and vows recited (pledges), promises to be forever lived up to.

Of course nowadays too, creative marriage services are written by the prospective bride and groom and it is hard to tell what any of them contain - pledges or not.

Mandatory promises ? Kid gets put in the slammer if he won't recite the pledge ? Loyalty and promises are something given, made, not enacted by law I think. Through the centuries people have attempted to make basic morality and ethics into law which pretty well failed. Still isn't working well either.

And the freedom of speech lurks in the background too. If one is forced by law to recite something, is that freedom of speech ?

I for one have an idea of what I would say if I were forced by law To Speak . . . . . . . . . .

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