Do you pledge?

I do not pledge allegiance to the flag, or any inanimate object or abstract concept for that matter. My children are learning the Pledge in school so I'm trying to talk to them about it rather than have them recite a bunch of words that really have no meaning to them...yet. One way is to talk about how and why people swear fealty to their country and their flag. We also talk about how the United States is one of only a handful of countries that recites a pledge and historically compelled school children learn it, and that it was changed, under pressure from the Knights of Columbus, to add the "under God" clause. We talk about what it means to say "under God"- whose god? why god? why then? what do the many changes to the pledge mean? why must children learn it?

I also use this, written by the amazing Bella Abzug:

I pledge allegiance to the Earth, and to the flora, fauna, and human life that it supports; one planet, indivisible, with safe air, water and soil, economic justice, equal rights and peace for all.

Or, there's this from a Genepool.com editorial:

Taken all together, the Pledge of Allegiance is a confused mish-mash of illogic, untruths, exaggerations and repetitions. And we wonder why our children lag behind so many other countries in so many educational categories. Other countries don't require their school-age kids to repeat something this confusing.

Here, then, is the Corrected Pledge of Allegiance:

I Pledge allegiance to whomever might be President of the United States at this time, and to the Republic (i.e., the United States) for which he or she was elected by what may or may not have been a majority to be in charge of, one nation under Canada, extremely divisible, with liberty within the bounds of legally acceptable behavior and justice for some.

I think I like Bella's better, but you get the point, right?

Women's Equality Day

Women's Equality day is August 26th. The incomparable Bella Abzug (D-NY) instituted the day to commemorate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971
Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and

WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.

From the National Women's History Project:

The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.

If you think about what these women did in Seneca Falls, NY it will give you chills: they organized and gathered three hundred men and women to the Seneca Falls Convention on Women at a time when there were no telephones, no cars or public transportation, no electricity or running water, and women were expected to be at home caring for the family. This was the event that crystallized the push for women's suffrage and is truly an amazing accomplishment. It is one that needs to be recognized and celebrated and built upon.

Here's how: take a quiz to test your women's history knowledge; read the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions; register to vote and do it; organize or volunteer for a voter registration drive in your community; sign a petition calling on the presidential candidates to make women's equality a priority; send a Women's Equality day e-card to your friends and families...