Standing and Pledging

ONE DAY AT THE SENIOR CENTER I had a bright idea. That shouldn't be surprising - I have bright ideas often, but it might be surprising to a few of the folks at the senior center, who are much more accustomed to seeing me wash dishes than generate bright ideas. but one day I had one and I took it straight to the director. Each day, I explained, the director reads the announcements, then we pray, and eat. why not start reciting the "Pledge of allegiance' each day before we pray? she turned me down cold. when I questioned her patriotism, she promised she had plenty, but just wasn't going to start reciting the pledge every day. So, i simply waited to the director to get tired of her job, and to quit, which she did within a couple of years. I asked the new director the dame thing, and received wholehearted approval. Go figure. Different folks. She immediately appointed me to lead the pledge, a possibility I had not considered, and how could I say no? it works out well. Each day I march to the front of the room carrying a big flag, and lead the pledge. Everyone seems to like it. I think its important that we left wing types demonstrate our patriotism, because we are the ones always criticizing the country, while the conservatives, imbued with tradition, tend to kiss the country's ass, so to speak. Above all, I believe that expressions of patriotism, in a free country, should be voluntary. Likewise expressions of love. when somebody kneels during the national anthem in protest, I'm all down with it, not indignant with righteous outrage like some conservative nationalistic ass kisser. someone asked me how I would feel if several of the seniors failed to stand and recite the pledge with us. I replied that I wouldn't mind at all. I find it interesting that the people who most vehemently complain about anthem kneelers and flag burners and protesters in general are the same people who most fervently embrace religious dogma, as if by nature they love acceding to authority. If some senior failed to stand during my pledging, I would either assume they were protesting something, probably something worthwhile, as most protests are, or, that being seniors, they were having a "bad day", and lacked the energy to rise and recite. Jefferson is reported to have said: "Where injustice is law, resistance is duty". No matter who did or did not say it, its true. Kneeling during the anthem or during the pledge of allegiance seems like a rather tame way of protesting, all things considered. Just because someone else chooses to protest, it doesn't mean you have to, or you have to approve of it. But why should you, why should anyone, expect everybody else to behave according to our beliefs and values, and not their own? I choose to stand during the anthem, and to pledge allegiance. But for me to automatically assume that my behavior is always correct and should be emulated by everyone is nothing short of arrogant. Arrogance, of course, is a widely recognized American characteristic. Loving America, however, should be optional, and voluntary. My liberal friends chastise me for placidly acquiescing to existing authority, simply because it exists. Fair point, I admit. My conservative friends sharply denounce my tolerance of unpatriotic heresy, which only shows that they do not understand the basic premise upon which our great country was founded. Screw both groups. I have my own beliefs, I do not attack theirs, and do not seek to appease or please anyone.