Friday, December 7, 2001
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.
Such a simple, but powerful verse. A verse that embodies the beliefs and ideals upon which our great nation was founded. The American Flag, the symbol of the United States of America, from its humble beginning of 13 stars to its glorious 50 stars. The republic government over which it flies. A government established to prevent tyranny and injustice. A government of the people, by the people, for the people. One nation, under the watchful guidance of God, that stands strong, unbreakable, indestructible. A nation based on the premise that all men are created equal. ... The greatest nation on Earth. The United States of America.
A nation that struggled through its infancy, nearly torn apart by internal conflict, but emerged stronger than ever. A nation that has endured that Day of Infamy. A nation that has been down, but never out. A nation that has been a shining beacon through many of the darkest moments of the world. A nation that protects what we believe in, so that we might speak what we wish and worship as we like.
Taken for granted: And yet we take it for granted.
Each morning, we are expected to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, yet few do.
I guess it's not "cool" to place your hand over your heart and honor the great nation that we live in. It must not be "cool" to be guaranteed the basic rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It must not be "cool" to live in a nation free from military rule, dictatorship and senseless massacre. And it certainly must not be "cool" to be able to vote.
Just ask a few people from Iraq, Cuba or China. I'm sure they'll agree. They'll tell you it's "cool" to live in a nation where basic human rights are denied and female infants are killed at birth because they are not wanted. They'll explain how "cool" it is to be subjected to constant government censorship and oppression. They'll tell you how "cool" it is to work 12 hours a day harvesting sugar cane for less than a dollar a day.
That's why we have so many immigrants coming to America. That's why we have Cubans risking their lives on rafts trying to reach Florida. That's why we have Mexicans trying to illegally cross the border. These people aren't coming to seek refuge from despotism or to search for the basic freedoms of humanity. They simply want to tell us how "cool" it is to live in their country. That's why they all return to their nations a few days after they arrive in America.
'A bit much': I guess I'm not "cool" then.
I'm not "cool" for bringing a small flag to academic games practice one morning because the classroom did not have one. I know I'm not "cool" because one of my friends told me. "Don't you think that's a bit too much?" he said. I guess it was. In the wake of the terrible tragedy of Sept. 11, it was too much to bring my own flag. It was too much to hold it up so that everyone else who had even the slightest bit of patriotism could pledge their allegiance. ... I hope some day I'm as "cool" as you are.
Over the past few weeks, I've seen a sharp increase in patriotism in our school, community and country. It's a shame that such a great catastrophe must occur for people to realize how fortunate we are.
And so I call upon the students and faculty of high schools across the Shenango and Mahoning valleys. I ask you to stand together each morning with your hand over your heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I ask you not to just recite it, but to think about the words that you're saying, to think about the nation that you live in, to realize just how fortunate we all are.
I'm proud to be an American. You should be, too.
XEd, 17, a senior at Hickory High School in Hermitage, Pa., recently was named a semifinalist in the 2002 National Merit Scholarship Program.