“I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.”
This Pledge of Allegiance was originally written in 1892.
“… under God” was added in 1954 during the Cold War. For accuracy, I prefer the original wording, but I recite the updated version without “… under God.”
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
And to the republic for which it stands,
One nation, indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.”
The words “… under God” seem to implicate the God referenced by Judeo/Christian religions. Those who worship a different deity or deities, or no deities at all, may find reciting the words “… under God” hypocritical and basically lying. Lying is against the precepts* or commandments of most religions and is generally frowned upon in a moral sense.
As a Buddhist, I follow a path that is not based on a god. Buddhism was founded by a man who is believed to have reached enlightenment. While Buddhism doesn’t deny the existence of God or of gods, having been raised in an atheistic household, I do not hold to the belief of their existence.
While those are my reasons for not saying the words “… under God” when reciting the Pledge, there are other reasons one might consider.
The separation of Church and State is a foundation upon which this country was founded. Forcing the recitation of the words “under God” is contrary to this foundation.
Forcing a person, whether student or teacher, to say specific words in a pledge every morning can be considered against one’s constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and religion. It can also be considered coerced patriotism. I will never force a student to recite the Pledge. However, I will require their silence to show respect for those who do choose to recite the Pledge.
I have great respect for the founders of this country. One way to show that respect, though not the only way, is to recite the Pledge with our principal every morning. Mostly due to religious preference and also due to my want to honor the original intents of our founding fathers, I choose not to utter the added phrase “… under God.”
*The precepts I follow in Buddhism:
Refrain from killing.
Refrain from stealing.
Refrain from lying.
Refrain from sexual misconduct.
Refrain from taking in intoxicants.