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I pledge allegiance?

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Realty West CalBRE #01458572

If you leave a comment, Jim will visit your blog and comment.I've always thought the Pledge of Allegiance was poorly written because it starts off pledging allegiance to an inanimate object: "I pledge allegiance to the flag...."

Why would one pledge allegiance to an inanimate object? Is that not verging on going directly against one of the ten commandments: "Thou shall have no other gods before me"?

As an afterthought, it adds a prepositional phrase to modify "flag": "...of the United States of America

Then, as even more of an afterthought, it adds, "....AND to the Republic for which it stands...."

I've also always wondered why people say "God bless America." North America, Central America, or South America? I would prefer something better, like, "God bless Earth" since if S/He fails to bless Earth, I'd be willing to bet that America is also going to be affected. Perhaps even better might be "God bless the Universe."

Here's a picture of an interesting Pledge of Allegiance that was hanging on the wall of a home I visited recently:

I pledge allegiance....

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Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com

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This week's posts:

  1. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: Fashion Hills - 8/1/09
  2. Rewarding myself for all my hard work - 8/1/09
  3. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: City Scene - 7/31/09
  4. Things are picking up.... - 7/31/09
  5. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: Mission Valley Terraces - 7/28/09
  6. Top 10 ways to get some sleep when you have a cat in the house - 7/28/09
  7. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: The Franciscan - 7/27/09

Last week's posts:

  1. SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): A unique number - 7/26/09
  2. What do you do when your referred lender asks your Client to commit fraud? - 7/26/09
  3. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: Presidio Mirage - 7/25/09
  4. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: Here's why.... - 7/24/09
  5. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: The Bluffs - 7/23/09
  6. I'm exposing myself, and people are noticing.... - 7/22/09
  7. WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Upside down with love - 7/22/09
  8. To all the devious ActiveRain co-conspirators.... - 7/21/09
  9. Mission Valley condos, San Diego CA: The Abbey - 7/21/09
  10. Movie Review: "Chaos Theory" - 7/20/09

Previous week's posts:

  1. Here is how to know if I disagree with you - 7/19/09
  2. My Top 10 aquariums in the U.S. and Canada - 7/19/09
  3. Tracking the good and the bad.... - 7/19/09
  4. SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): What a great MLS picture.... - 7/19/09
  5. Mission Valley Condos, San Diego CA: Friars Village - 7/19/09
  6. Growth Leader, Week Thirteen - 7/18/09
  7. Mission Valley Condos, San Diego CA: Park Place Estates - 7/17/09
  8. Continuing great news in the San Diego County real estate market - 7/16/09
  9. Using Word to number pages of a document not created by you - 7/15/09
  10. Mission Valley Condos, San Diego CA: Rio Vista - 7/13/09

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Show All Comments
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Jim- Your post is full of questions and statements I have always wondered about also. I believe the Pledge of Allegiance was designed for military purposes light the maritime war flag with the fringes and eagle on top!

VB :)

Aug 02, 2009 12:13 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Jim - I do like the pledge in your photograph.  One day when we get to Star Trek time and the earth is aligned with the inhabitants of other planets who are allied with us, we will probably pledge to the Federation.  (Those who aren't trekkies won't know what I'm talking about).

Aug 02, 2009 12:35 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I think I like that Pledge Of Allegiance to the Earth too.  It makes more sense!  And God Bless Zoey!

Aug 02, 2009 01:08 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

I just accept it the way written, and the flag still makes me proud to be an American when we salute, sing the national anthem during sporting events.

Aug 02, 2009 01:15 PM
James "Jim" Vitale
Mighty Realty - Apopka, FL

I'm with ya susan!  Good post Jim.  We would live in a better place if we all pledged to the Earth!

Aug 02, 2009 01:15 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Hi Jim

You make many points, but I'm proud to be an American and with all the opportunities that I continue to have

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Aug 02, 2009 01:36 PM
John Mulkey
TheHousingGuru.com - Waleska, GA
Housing Guru

I'm grateful for having been born in the USA, and do promise to give my allegiance to this country and the precepts upon which it was founded. And while I don't always agree with paths chosen by politicians, I'm willing to continue my support and to work towards the ideals in which I believe.

I also look in awe at our wondrous planet, the only one in our solar system capable of sustaining life as we know it.  And though we may think we have the power to destroy our planetary home, humankind is little more than a bothersome pest. If we continue to irritate our Earth home, she may one day shake us off like so many fleas. It's not the planet that is in need of saving; Earth is quite capable of taking care of herself. What we must concern ourselves with is keeping her in a hospitable mood. 

Aug 02, 2009 02:16 PM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Jim ~ That's a great poster and sentiment. I love coming across things like this on tour -it's one of the perks of this job in my opinion.  I'm always taking notes re publisher, manufacturer, etc. when I spot something good. Off to google this now.

Liz 

Aug 02, 2009 02:41 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

That's my type of pledge. I'm one of those who takes advantage of my right NOT to say the pledge of allegiance because it's a pledge to an inanimate object.

Aug 03, 2009 03:00 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

Hey, Robert - I suspect the Pledge was written by some politicians who didn't understand the English language, objects, prepositional phrases, etc. - LOL.

Hey, Susan - I'm not a big Star Trek fan, but I know someone who is, and since some episode of Star Trek is often on the television, and I'm having to watch it, I know what you're talking about. Imagine when we can do away with money, too, and everyone has health care, etc.

Hey, Georgina - I don't know who is blessing Zoey the Cool Cat, but whoever s/he is, s/he is doing a good job.

Hey, Andrew - Your comment begs the question, "What else do you ‘just accept?'"

Hey, Jim - Uh-oh. Is my blog being overrun by Trekkies? LOL

Hey, Lou - No doubt that we have lots of opportunities. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who don't have opportunities. Those people exist on the planet Earth. Here's hoping that we can all come together as human beings, and sooner rather than later.

Hey, John - I have no problem with giving my allegiance to this country. It's pledging allegiance "to the flag," which is an inanimate object. Your analogy doesn't hold water, though. To say that "humankind is little more than a bothersome pest" and that "If we continue to irritate our Earth home, she may one day shake us off like so many fleas." is somewhat disingenuous, at best. Dogs can't shake off "so many fleas" anymore than the Earth can, and there have been dogs that have been in such filthy conditions that they died from flea infestations and flea bites. We have the same power to "irritate our Earth" and even kill it.

Hey, Liz - I often hope that the people that I am showing homes with don't notice me looking around the home thinking that I'm casing the joint. I figure if it's hanging on the wall, then they must want people to look at it.

Hey, Russel - You're all over my blog on the third. You must have been between inspections.

Aug 05, 2009 11:36 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

I think the pledge is just meant to engender patriotism without much thought for proper grammar or perhaps grammar was a little different then?

I like the pledge in your picture.

Aug 10, 2009 02:47 AM
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