I would argue that the Pledge of Allegiance is the wrong oath to have Americans swear often. I know the most recent arguments have been over the words "under God." My complaint is not those words. It has been common practice to swear oath to deity since ancient times. If you do not believe in God this is one of the times you have to bend to the will of the majority that does hold the belief in deity. Our constitution supports the ideas of freedom of religion and the freedom from religion. That does not give the minority the right to force its beliefs on the majority just as it does not give the majority the right to oppress the non-deity or multi-deist minorities. It is just not worth arguing about two words you can just skip when you say it. My problem is with the priorities inherent in the oath. I much prefer the early part of the military oath or the federal oath of office.
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The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The Military Oath
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
The US Federal Oath of Office
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of (OFFICE) of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Optionally "So help me god"
It is obvious that these are both based on the constitutionally mandated presidential oath of office. They both place the constitution as the point of the oath where the current pledge of allegiance place the flag as the point. While any flag that drapes a coffin of our troops, police, and others, is certainly a haloed one. There are many others that by where and when they were carried or flown are also due respect and honor. But a vast majority of flags are just empty symbols to be flown in respect and pride for our country. They can be made by near slaves in foreign countries with no respect for any of the freedoms that the constitution that we enjoy. If one of this majority of flags is burned or otherwise demeaned it is actually protected speech under the constitution.
It is the constitution, the bill of rights, and other amendments that is what makes this republic and the flag used to symbolize it important. It is the ideas and ideals embodied in that document that makes this country great. I believe the current pledge misplaces the place holder for the soul of the country. Even a generic print out of the constitution is subject to use as a target of free speech but it is the ideas and ideals expressed in that document that should not be usurped or tread on. They are haloed by the blood of too many patriots to let the cynical or the power hungry trample on.
In a civilian oath there is no reason to swear to obey orders so that must be dropped along with the reference to the UCMJ. Making the words, "So help me God" optional would likely satisfy the non-believers and multi-deists. Using the word affirm will allow those whose religious view does not allow them to swear oaths easily to be able to say this. We must retain "one nation, indivisible" to hopefully remind people of secession is not an option. We fought a bloody civil war to decide that issue. While the word "liberty and justice for all" are redundant in view of the constitution it is a thought that cannot be repeated too often.
My Suggestion for a New Pledge of Allegiance
"I do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and to the Republic formed by it, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Optionally "So help me God."
So with this oath I would encompass the spirit of the existing pledge, the thoughts of our founding fathers, and the unity of the nation as history has reforged it through war. I know that this change will not happen. Too many people seem to think that every flag is haloed, that this is a mono-theistic state or even a christian one, and that the pledge as it stands is sacrosanct. Just as we seem stuck on the use of a warrior poem, "The Star Spangled Banner" as our national anthem. Ignoring a much prettier in thought and more melodic piece "America the Beautiful." We will be stuck with the twisted up side down logic embodied in the "Pledge of Allegiance" for some time to come.