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The project I'm currently working for my company is a Jr High school renovation. (all new data and voice networks and cabling, cable TV to classrooms, classroom sound reinforcement, new PA system, etc.) For the past couple of weeks most of my time has been spent in the master closet, which is where the mic for the PA system is located.
A couple weeks ago, first day of school, the principal comes into the MC to do the Pledge of Allegiance and the morning announcements. I stopped punching cables so I wouldn't interupt him with the noise. The principal a "Doctor" got halfway through the Pledge and started stammering.
He forgot the Pledge of Allegiance!
It only took me a second to realise he was stuck and I prompted him:
"With liberty...."
"With liberty.... And... And.... Freedom.... And...."
"And Justice....."
"And justice forever."
I was SERIOUSLY embarrassed for him. How can you forget the pledge of Allegiance? This is the oath that Every American has made with their country. I wrote it off as first day of school, nervous, too many things on his mind and so on. But I also wondered, at that moment, how many people remember the Pledge? I've seen professional singers screw up the National Anthem on National TV. Granted a few of them were Canadian. Don't get me wrong here I have nothing against Canadians, but why do we have Canadians singing OUR National Anthem at our own sporting events?
I didn't think much more about it until today. September 11th. A day that nearly three thousand civilians, not military, lost their lives to an act of terrorism from a foriegn entity. A day we should all remember vividly. But we don't. "It's over and done with. It wasn't my life lost." It's not important to most people anymore.
This morning that same principal, "Doctor" ("I'm far more educated than you") walked into the MC and made the morning anouncements, including a few about today being Patriots Day and one in particular from Governor Strickland. Then he turned the mic off and started to leave.
I stopped him; "No Pledge of Allegiance today?"
I have never seen a black man turn so red. He turned the mic back on, led the school in the Pledge and finally turned the mic off again. Then he thanked me for reminding him and even called me a lifesaver.
It got me thinking again. How do you make three announcements about Patriots Day, including holding a minute of silence for for the victims and police and firefighters that lost thier lives, and forget the Pledge? Then I wondered, not about how many Americans remember the Pledge, but how many people really understand what it really means.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of The United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands.
One Nation
Under God
Indivisable
With liberty
And Justice
For all
What does it mean? What does it REALLY mean to you?
What doe it mean to me?
I pledge (promise) allegiance (loyalty)
To the flag (The symbol, the worldwide representation)
Of the United States of America (MY home, My country)
And to the Republic (ALL of us, people and government of the people, by the people and for the people)
For which it stands (Burn that flag and you burn ME)
One Nation (Not black, white, hispanic and asian. Not catholic, protestant, jewish and pagan..... ONE!)
Under God (Take that one as you will as it is one of our LIBERTIES)
Indivisable (Stop fighting each other and stand up for each other)
With liberty (Freedom)
And Justice (FAIR treatment)
For ALL (Everyone. Not JUST me. Not JUST you. FOR EVEY SINGLE ONE OF US. Think about that the next time you vote on an issue.)
Today I was reminded of the words of of a former President. JFK demended, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
So what have you done for your country, all of the rest of us, lately?
Here's an idea: Start by remembering the Pledge of Allegiance. Remembering what that flag stands for. What The United States of America is all about. What it means to be an American.
A couple weeks ago, first day of school, the principal comes into the MC to do the Pledge of Allegiance and the morning announcements. I stopped punching cables so I wouldn't interupt him with the noise. The principal a "Doctor" got halfway through the Pledge and started stammering.
He forgot the Pledge of Allegiance!
It only took me a second to realise he was stuck and I prompted him:
"With liberty...."
"With liberty.... And... And.... Freedom.... And...."
"And Justice....."
"And justice forever."
I was SERIOUSLY embarrassed for him. How can you forget the pledge of Allegiance? This is the oath that Every American has made with their country. I wrote it off as first day of school, nervous, too many things on his mind and so on. But I also wondered, at that moment, how many people remember the Pledge? I've seen professional singers screw up the National Anthem on National TV. Granted a few of them were Canadian. Don't get me wrong here I have nothing against Canadians, but why do we have Canadians singing OUR National Anthem at our own sporting events?
I didn't think much more about it until today. September 11th. A day that nearly three thousand civilians, not military, lost their lives to an act of terrorism from a foriegn entity. A day we should all remember vividly. But we don't. "It's over and done with. It wasn't my life lost." It's not important to most people anymore.
This morning that same principal, "Doctor" ("I'm far more educated than you") walked into the MC and made the morning anouncements, including a few about today being Patriots Day and one in particular from Governor Strickland. Then he turned the mic off and started to leave.
I stopped him; "No Pledge of Allegiance today?"
I have never seen a black man turn so red. He turned the mic back on, led the school in the Pledge and finally turned the mic off again. Then he thanked me for reminding him and even called me a lifesaver.
It got me thinking again. How do you make three announcements about Patriots Day, including holding a minute of silence for for the victims and police and firefighters that lost thier lives, and forget the Pledge? Then I wondered, not about how many Americans remember the Pledge, but how many people really understand what it really means.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of The United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands.
One Nation
Under God
Indivisable
With liberty
And Justice
For all
What does it mean? What does it REALLY mean to you?
What doe it mean to me?
I pledge (promise) allegiance (loyalty)
To the flag (The symbol, the worldwide representation)
Of the United States of America (MY home, My country)
And to the Republic (ALL of us, people and government of the people, by the people and for the people)
For which it stands (Burn that flag and you burn ME)
One Nation (Not black, white, hispanic and asian. Not catholic, protestant, jewish and pagan..... ONE!)
Under God (Take that one as you will as it is one of our LIBERTIES)
Indivisable (Stop fighting each other and stand up for each other)
With liberty (Freedom)
And Justice (FAIR treatment)
For ALL (Everyone. Not JUST me. Not JUST you. FOR EVEY SINGLE ONE OF US. Think about that the next time you vote on an issue.)
Today I was reminded of the words of of a former President. JFK demended, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
So what have you done for your country, all of the rest of us, lately?
Here's an idea: Start by remembering the Pledge of Allegiance. Remembering what that flag stands for. What The United States of America is all about. What it means to be an American.
rr
