This should be posted in every school in the United States of America.
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.
Only 31 words — Think about it!
Isn’t life strange? I never met one Veteran who enlisted to fight for Socialism!
Thanks Ryan for sharing that email with me. I posted it here for all to see.
—@QBall45
GodBeJustPretend
February 20, 2012 at 10:21 amThis kind of thing really pisses me off. Most people who refuse to stand are doing so because of the “God” bit, not because they aren’t patriotic. Quit confusing the two. Just because someone doesn’t believe in God (and thus does not want to profess admiration for one) does not mean they don’t love their country and appreciate the sacrifices that many have made to ensure their freedom from oppression.
Sauce
February 20, 2012 at 11:59 amI actually am unpatriotic. I don’t like the way this country is being run, and I refuse to respect a government that doesn’t respect the people. Of course, I have to follow laws and such, but when it comes to the pledge or the national anthem, I don’t partake.
CptBoots
February 20, 2012 at 3:15 pmDissidence is the highest form of democratic patriotism.
Devil'sAdvocate
February 20, 2012 at 3:19 pmThat doesn’t specifically make you unpatriotic. Love of a country and love of it’s government are not synonymous. That’s why Bruce Springsteen wrote “Born in the USA”.
Blake
February 20, 2012 at 4:56 pm“Please don’t question my loyalty, it’s in the soil not the politician.”
Kish
February 20, 2012 at 12:07 pmI don’t stand during the pledge, because I’m not american.
AcidGrin
February 20, 2012 at 1:55 pmYes, but it makes it hard to be proud of a country that has allowed bullshit like “Under God” into their pledge.
QBall45
February 20, 2012 at 2:54 pmContrary to popular liberal opinion, the United States of America was founded on religious beliefs. Specifically the belief in God and His Son Jesus.
lactosefree1
February 20, 2012 at 3:01 pmActually, the united states was founded off the backs of the religiously persecuted. So to say that this is “a Christian nation” is like calling France “a militant victor of the world wars”. It just doesn’t make sense.
Chris
February 20, 2012 at 3:01 pmTreaty of Tripoli. Might want to study up on your history.
Grizzly
February 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm“As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion”
from the Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by congress unanimous in 1797.
many of our founding fathers were not Christians, and many of them were more outspoken against Christianity. The argument that our country was founded as a christian nation has absolutely nothing to support it.
CptBoots
February 20, 2012 at 3:18 pmWTF is this ‘liberal opinion’, and what are you talking about? A nation founded by deists to escape the religious oppression they found in England. Which place was that again? Canada.. no Mexico… no… dammit it was some country around there.
Marawind
February 20, 2012 at 3:34 pm” As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”
Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, 1796
ironmeehan
February 20, 2012 at 3:37 pmNope. And I’d like to know where you got that misinformation. The founding fathers were Deist, they did not believe in the christian faith and they specifically set out to create a country where faith would not interfere with government.
Gil
February 20, 2012 at 10:00 pmThe US was not founded on Christianity.. but to say that none of, or even the majority of the founding fathers were Deist is incorrect. Most of them were christians in an enlightened sense of the word.They just didn’t see a need for religion’s interference. That doesn’t mean a good bit of them weren’t practicing christians.
anon
February 20, 2012 at 3:41 pmNo, it literally was not.
Its_Just_History
February 20, 2012 at 3:57 pmAnd how did you come to that conclusion? loosely based on the more benign parts of Abrahamic morality perhaps, but by no means Christian beliefs.
the words “Jesus Christ, Christianity, Bible, Creator, Divine, and God” are never mentioned in the Constitution.
In the treaty of Tripoli it is stated that the United States is “not in any sense founded on the Christian religion” -unanimously passed and signed by John Adams
Thomas Jefferson did not believe in the divinity of Jesus, he edited the bible, removing Jesus’s divinity. Its called the Jeffersonian Bible.
Madison framed the separation of church and state, for the purpose of protecting the nation from religion, and vice versa. His quotes and explanations are compiled here.
http://candst.tripod.com/tnppage/qmadison.htm
Washington was very quiet about his religion but his diaries suggest he was a Deist.
Under God wasn’t added to the Pledge until 1954. In God we Trust wasn’t added to currency until 1956.
The founding fathers would NEVER have wanted either of those things.
But PLEASE don’t take my word for it. Everybody, read the constitution and the diaries and letters of the founding fathers for yourselves.
TQuid
February 20, 2012 at 4:39 pmThomas Jefferson famously edited the “Jefferson Bible”. In this edition of the New Testament, he removed anything that wasn’t directly Jesus’s words, as well as any references to supernatural occurrences.
You might call him a Christian based on his apparently intact admiration for the man Jesus, but his complete denial of Jesus’s divinity would probably have him excluded from that fellowship by most of its adherents.
anon
February 20, 2012 at 10:24 amUnder God? .. not in my country…
anon
February 20, 2012 at 11:56 amalso, what’s with the unnecessary commas?
“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.”
Putting in the commas and capitalizing the subsequent phrases perpetuates the “reciting” of the pledge without any actual understanding of the words and phrasing behind the pledge. If you’re going to spout ignorance and vitriol, at least do it in a way that’s consistent with your own message,
d3ltr0n
February 20, 2012 at 12:01 pmPraise be to God. With out God, their would be no life.
Riddles
February 20, 2012 at 4:21 pmWell there is life without a doubt, however there is plenty of doubt that there is even a god. Huge lack of evidence for the existence of one.
T R
February 20, 2012 at 10:16 pmThat’s just your opinion and its based on blind faith. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the Christian god exists. Educate yourself.
Anon
February 20, 2012 at 1:13 pmArticle 11 of the treaty of Tripoli, “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity…” If under god was removed, there would be no issue.
David
February 20, 2012 at 1:24 pmI’d fight for socialistic democracy because it means anyone with or “WITHOUT” any religion is being cared for and looked after EQUALLY. So I fail to see the good in this comic, in-fact it’s an insult to the majority of the world.
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 5:48 pmSeriously? A socialistic democracy doesn’t give a flying rats ass about the religion of it’s people. And, there is no “equally” in any government; get over it and take care of yourself.
Anony
February 20, 2012 at 1:27 pmWhat’s the message here, exactly? That we shouldn’t enjoy the freedoms that soldier sacrificed for? That it would be better if he had sacrificed in vain?
I think this is more insulting to the soldier than to anyone else.
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 5:50 pmAs a current soldier who’s been fighting for your freedom for the last 19 years…please shut up, you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.
Robert
February 20, 2012 at 7:49 pmHow has our freedom been threatened? A bunch of idiots who can tell time and take over some planes? We’ve lost more freedom to our politicians than to anyone we’ve been fighting.
Also this cartoon is mixing two issues and trying to make them one. many won’t stand for the god part. if you you do that’s your choice, but according to the logic of this stupid ass cartoon, if a soldier got messed up in a war that some politician started, then i’m obligated to love god? Sorry, i don’t think so. I’m also not prone to jingoistic bullshit that gets wrapped in a flag. As someone else put it. My heart is in the soil not in the politicians of this country. As far as i’m concerned much of the war we’ve been in for the last 19 years (19?) was due to republican resource grabs (Afghanistan being the notable exception, which was second seat to Iraq). You’re welcome to your beliefs but please don’t tell anyone that they should shut up. Nobody forced you to join the military. While i respect your decision, it was your decision. It places no obligation on us to bow to your opinion. You’re just as human and opinionated as the rest of us.
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 9:00 pmWow, it still amazes me how everyone comprehends only what they want to from what they read. 19 years is how long I’ve been in the military, not how long we’ve been at war…that really escaped you?
The cartoon isn’t trying to make two issues into one, it’s trying to invoke thought in those who read it. Hopefully, rational thought, but that’s obviously not working for everybody.
You’re not obligated to love anyone, don’t confuse respect and pride with love. The flag isn’t the government, it’s representative of the people, the nation. Don’t confuse my patriotism with thinking that I approve of our government’s actions and policies.
As for my comment to Anony…well, I stand by it.
Sam
February 20, 2012 at 1:36 pmTo assert that the USA is anything but 100% secure in its sovereignty, and that our recent wars (i.e. since WWII) have anything to do with defending our domestic rights, is obviously false.
American
February 20, 2012 at 1:37 pmWhat do you mean socialism? You do realize that police departments and fire departments are examples of socialism, right? People pooling together money to benefit the entire community is what socialism is.
Obviously, this country is mainly capitalist, but we are not pure capitalist. Majority rules but everyone has a right. The people decide but as long as the decision abides by the Constitution.
Riddles
February 20, 2012 at 4:23 pmPeople who complain about socialism don’t actually know what it is. They just think it is taking money from them and giving it to lazy people.
Socialism, nazism, communism, all are words that have lost meaning as they are thrown around by people who don’t understand them.
Blake
February 20, 2012 at 5:06 pmPure capitalism is downright evil. A “christian” economy would be socialist where everything gets shared and no one gets left behind. However, most “christians” are ignorant to that fact.
Stewart Paterson
February 20, 2012 at 1:41 pmKevin then stands, goes to the veteran, shakes his hand and thanks him for his sacrifice, explains that his not standing is in protest to the “under God” part of the pledge, and then sits back down again.
Learn your own history...
February 20, 2012 at 4:19 pmWhat is shameful is that the richest nation on earth continues to wallow in simplistic jingoism and a woeful lack of historical knowledge.
The Pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be recited in 15 seconds. As a socialist>/b>, he had initially also considered using the words equality and fraternity[6] but decided against it – knowing that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans.[8]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Only 22 words – think about it!
p.s.
Yes, re-read that. Your pledge was written by a self-proclaimed Socialist. That’s the sound of irony smacking you over the head with a salmon.
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 5:56 pmCongratulations, you found Wikipedia. Did you know any of that 5 minutes ago?
abraham
February 20, 2012 at 7:55 pmMaking fun of someone for pursuing knowledge? This is why our public schools suffer. America will not be able to stay on top if our education system is continually strangled by fundamentalists.
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 8:50 pmI was definitely not poking at him for trying to learn something new (for the record, I doubt that was his intent), just that all he did was copy/paste the work of someone else. I believe that’s called plagiarism and I’m also pretty sure that’s a big problem in our schools today.
Kane
February 20, 2012 at 11:39 pmPlagiarism is intentionally passing off the work or research of someone else as your own. He did not claim it was his work, and in fact cited the source, exactly as you are supposed to.
Learn your own history...
February 20, 2012 at 4:20 pmWhat is shameful is that the richest nation on earth continues to wallow in simplistic jingoism and a woeful lack of historical knowledge.
The Pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be recited in 15 seconds. As a socialist, he had initially also considered using the words equality and fraternity[6] but decided against it – knowing that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans.[8]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Only 22 words – think about it!
p.s.
Yes, re-read that. Your pledge was written by a self-proclaimed Socialist. That’s the sound of irony smacking you over the head with a salmon.
Eric
February 20, 2012 at 5:23 pmI would like to directly address something you said in a comment qball, specifically: “the United States of America was founded on religious beliefs. Specifically the belief in God and His Son Jesus.”
To which of our founding fathers do you credit this religious belief, specifically the Christian tradition? Certainly, it was not the opinion of the authors of the Constitution collectively. First Amendment, first part: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” (http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofrights#amendmenti) written June 8, 1789.
Certainly not delegates who signed the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, stating in no uncertain terms that the United States was “not in any sense founded on the Christian religion”. That seems to be a pretty significant nail in the coffin, given it directly contradicts what you believe to be only the opinion of “liberals”.
Perhaps though, you believe on of our founding fathers held this belief despite the Constitution and the Treaty of Tripoli. Let’s take a look at what some of our most prominent founders had to say on the subject; John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington. Some quotes:
“This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.” – Adams
“The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and whole cartloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity.” – Adams
“I wish it (Christianity) were more productive of good works … I mean real good works … not holy-day keeping, sermon-hearing … or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments despised by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity.” – Franklin
“If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practiced it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England blamed persecution in the Romish Church, but practiced it upon the Puritans. They found it wrong in Bishops, but fell into the practice themselves both here (England) and in New England.” – Franklin
“But while this syllabus is meant to place the character of Jesus in its true light, as no imposter himself, but a great reformer of the Hebrew code of religion, it is not to be understood that I am with him in all his doctrines. I am a materialist; he takes the side of spiritualism; he preaches the efficacy of repentance towards forgiveness of sin; I require a counterpoise of good works to redeem it.” – Jefferson
“And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.” – Jefferson
“Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption, all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects.” – Madison
“Experience witnesseth that ecclesiastical establishments, instead of maintaining the purity and efficacy of religion, have had a contrary operation. During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.” – Madison
“Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause. Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by the difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be depreciated. I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society.” – Washington
This is but a random sampling of an extensive body of documented proof that belies your claim. (More here, source of these quotes: http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html)
So please explain to me, as though I were a simple child if you like, how this country was in any way founded on God and his son Jesus.
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 6:27 pmAlright, some of my replies may have been a tad out of line, but many of you are way out of line. I’m not here defending my big brother, he’s plenty capable of doing that himself, but so many of you really are missing the point.
First of all, the Pledge of Allegiance was written over 100 years after the Constitution and it was another 50 years before it was accepted by Congress, so it has nothing to do with the nation’s founding fathers.
It’s about giving our children a sense of ownership of their country…their nation. The “under God” was added during a period that the majority of our country was very deeply, and very seriously, religious. Obviously, we’re not there anymore, and I’ll leave that up to yourselves whether that’s a good thing, or not.
To say our founding fathers weren’t Christian may be true, it’s somewhat up for debate. What isn’t, is that they were very religious and, most of them, very deeply believed in God (or “a higher power” if it makes you feel better). Yes, they were extremely concerned with the separation of church and state…because they had come to realize that the two MUST be separate to function in a just and moral fashion, not because they weren’t religious.
Our little Kevin needs to stand his ass up. Why? Because he’s supposed to. Because his classmates are. Because his teacher told him to. Because he needs to realize it’s HIS nation. Because he damn well better respect all those who came before him. Because good men and women have given everything protecting this nation so that he can claim it and make it better than he found it. Because his parents should have already taught him to do so. Because it’s right.
tooFunny
February 20, 2012 at 7:04 pmhaha, you’re a fool
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 8:47 pmCare to educate me, or are you just throwing random statements at people?
Joe
February 20, 2012 at 7:18 pmI enlisted as an atheist. I also enlisted for the greater good. I would welcome socialism. My name’s Joe. Nice to meet you.
Mike (QBall45's brother)
February 20, 2012 at 9:02 pmNice to meet you, Joe. Thank you for your service.
QBall45
February 21, 2012 at 9:57 amI am impressed by the response and interest generated by one simple image. I however, am unimpressed by the total lack of respect and disregard for the Stars and Stripes, the Pledge of Alegence, the Star Spangled Banner and the US Military. What arrogance! The freedoms we enjoy everyday seems to be taken for granted. There is a price that must be paid for the things we love so dear. That price is blood. The ultamate price. I could go on and on about the revalance and necessity of the US being involved in the current situations that our Military finds itself however this isn’t the time or place.
I have a few simple things to say. They are so simple my 5 year old daughter understands.
1. Stand your butt up, remove your cockeyed hat and face the Flag when the Star Spangled Banner is played.
2. See #1 when the Pledge of Alegence is recited. Feel free to omit that word “God” if it is offensive to you.
3. Honor the men and women that have sereved or are currently are serving in defense of this great Nation.
*Note: Comments are now closed on this post.
Old Post Revisited. | QBall45.com
February 21, 2012 at 12:26 pm[…] Almost a year ago I posted the image below. I’m not sure why there’s been renewed interest in it. The running commentary is ridiculously un American, disrespectful and down right rude. However, I always find it interesting to see what others (those with views different from mine) think on any given topic. Typically I trash any comments made on a post that’s this old. I decided to let ‘em pass through this time. These comments provide insight into how others view things. If you are interested have a look HERE. […]
Suspected to have been a judge at the gates of the-spun20
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