Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance is a traditional oath of loyalty often recited in the United States of America. The words were written by Francis Bellamy

In the United States, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited on many formal occasions, including at the beginning of the school day, and the opening of certain kinds of meetings.  When the pledge is recited, civilians face the flag and place their right hands over their hearts. Men remove any non-religious headdress and hold it in the right hand. Military personnel in uniform remain silent and salute the flag.

History

The pledge was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy of Boston, a Baptist minister and Christian socialist, a form of fascism. Bellamy had the original pledge printed in the magazine titled The Youth's Companion. The pledge was well-received, and it was printed in leaflet form and was distributed throughout the country to schools. It honored the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. Millions of students recited the pledge and saluted the flag in school events. Congress adopted it in 1942 as the official American pledge of allegiance.

The salute

George Washington depicted doing the Roman salute, which was popular in his day.

Since the founding of America, the flag has been respected in a number of ways. America hasfascist roots going back to ancient Rome, so it was not uncommon to see Roman salutes, and not particularly to the flag, but also to military officers and of course, ladies.

School children saluting the flag with the Roman salute.

A tip of the hat was used to salute the flag well into the late 1800s. More often, rather than removing the entire hat with a grand flourish, a simple pinch of the brim would do. On navy vessels seaman who was not even wearing a hat would pinch the air in fron of his forehead as if he actually was, and this was the forerunner of the military salute we see today. A Boy scout still respects the flag using a regular military salute, but with only the three fingers extended.

Children saluting the flag with 5he Bellamy salute.

The Bellamy salute was originally just the Roman salute, as it was popular enough. But he thought it seemed to stiff and military, so he turned the palm upward "offering your heart to the flag" as he put it. Many people continued doing the original Roman Salute anyway. With the onset of WWAC, all straight-arm salutes of any kind fell into disfavor, and the hand over the heart became the accepted norm.

Expansion

The phrase "under God" was added in 1954, by a bill signed into law by President Eisenhower on June 14, 1954 (Flag Day), largely driven by the lobbying of the Knights of Columbus as a means of differentiating America from the atheist Communist s of the USSR. The phrase has been the source of some controversy, as self-professed atheist Michael Newdow has argued the matter in a case involving his daughter before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case was dismissed because Newdow, a noncustodial parent, lacked standing in the matter.

Text

"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"