03/10/2026
I first posted this on June 9th, 2025…, I think it’s time for a reminder!
Last night I looked up a particular song for my wife that falls in the genre of country, and today as I was driving to Hines VA, I realized that my phone was continuing to play country music. Since the song I searched for was by Red Sovine (1917-1980), several of his songs were played.
One that struck me (and perhaps POTUS should listen to!) was the Pledge of Allegiance. It starts off with Mr. Sovine talking about how his grade school Principal explained it. I hope that I don’t break any copyright laws; but I think it’s worth posting, in part, here:
“I, me an individual a committee of one, Pledge, dedicate all of my worldly goods, to give without self pity, Allegiance, my love and my devotion to the Flag, our standard, Old Glory. A symbol of freedom and wherever she waves, there’s respect because your loyalty, has given her dignity that shouts Freedom is everybody’s job. United, and that means we have all come together. States, individual communities that united in 48 great states. 48 individual communities with pride, dignity, and purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet United to a common purpose and that’s Love for Country. And to the Republic. Republic, a state in which sovereign powers is invested in representatives, chosen by the people to govern, and government is the people, and it’s from the people to the leaders, not the leaders to the people, for which it stands. One Nation, one nation meaning, oh so blessed by God, indivisible, incapable of being divided, with liberty, which is freedom, the right of power to live ones life without threats, fears, or some sort of retaliation, and justice, the principle or qualities of dealing fairly with others, for all. For all, which means boys and girls, it’s as much your country as it is mine…,”
It goes on to say that (at that time) that two states were added and two words were added to the Pledge of Allegiance, ‘under God’. Mr Sovine then asked “Wouldn’t it be a pity if someone said it’s a prayer, and that would be eliminated from our schools too?”
In 1962, Engel v. Vitale, a Supreme Court decision effectively banned the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s ruling that a New York State law encouraging a short VOLUNTARY prayer at the beginning of the school day was unconstitutional; violating the First Amendment. “Which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion unduly favoring one religion over another.” (www.quora.com)
Even though the Pledge of Allegiance hasn’t been banned outright (as of yet!), schools can no longer REQUIRE students to recite the Pledge. Every student who wants to opt out, can do so without penalty.
With everything that has been happening, and POTUS first calling out the National Guard in Los Angeles, due to protests against ICE arrests, and now the Marines from Paris Island have been ordered to assist them, is it any wonder why this song hit home so hard???
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