Our nation has been a work in progress since its founding in 1776. We still have a ways to go but it’s still the best governing system that History has ever seen.
If you really read the pledge, everyone who says they respect the flag pledges liberty and justice for all. If that is not your pledge (no matter who you are), then it really doesn’t matter if you stand or kneel. Likewise if that is your pledge.
They used the anti-secular communist version from the 1950s not the original pledge.
Nevertheless, the Christianizers were right: we are under God. All nations are under God. God is sovereign over all the earth, and all kingdoms and nations are under his dominion.
My countrymen who disagree with my political ideology are still my countrymen. Our disagreements do not necessarily mean they do not love our country. Their accusations that I do not love our country do not necessarily mean that they do not love our country.
This pledge (and the original one) can be said truthfully by many, perhaps most, Americans. We act like it cannot be said faithfully by our enemies; but if we are honest, I think we have to admit it can and is.
However, I am loath to think it should be said truthfully by Christians like myself. Is pledging allegiance to anything less than God or something directly God-ordained ever right? I don’t think that I can accept this. Perhaps the real issue is that since most Christians I know appear to put this kingdom before God’s kingdom, I take a reactionary hard line against anything that looks too nationalistic. Pledging to our country can perhaps be always understood as being subject to Christians’ pledge to Christ. Either way, I think we need to be very careful with this.
There is something about flags. We need to understand how powerful symbols really are. They are not just the basic pieces of cloth. There is a reason the pledge is written as it is.
When I was little, “indivisible” was a really hard word. I still don’t come across it much.
I don’t mind pledging to a republic but the flag part seems to confuse people. The “map is not the thing” as Noam Chomsky used to say when he was out drinking. :)
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
Que Dios bendiga América (anglo- e hispanohablantes… especialmente a los que no hablan ni inglés ni español).
jmworacle over 4 years ago
AMEN!
momofalex7 over 4 years ago
If only we, as Americans, could live up to that promise.
Grumpy Old Guy over 4 years ago
Well said !!!
Bargrove over 4 years ago
Justice for almost all.
pschearer Premium Member over 4 years ago
“. . . one nation, indivisible . . .”
That’s how I learned it, that’s what I believe, that’s how I still say it.
WilliamWilliam over 4 years ago
Get a life Johnie, get a life.
Dawn Premium Member over 4 years ago
Nicely done! :-)
TwilightFaze over 4 years ago
Powerful. True.
gwe1er over 4 years ago
Thank you!
PaulBlauer over 4 years ago
Liberty and justice for SOME.
Pet over 4 years ago
<3 Baldo
Michael G. over 4 years ago
I like it, but we’re not all “under god”.
Nighthawks Premium Member over 4 years ago
there’s just MORE liberty and justice if you’re Captain Bonespur’s friends
kittcatt over 4 years ago
Now go vote!
The-Great-Gildersleeve over 4 years ago
where’s Rayna?
TheBigPickle over 4 years ago
Wow.
oakie817 over 4 years ago
amen
66mustang over 4 years ago
Liberty and justice for all is but a dream. So’s the god part.
poppacapsmokeblower over 4 years ago
With liberty and justice for all
rickmac1937 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Thank you very much
fmiller1 over 4 years ago
The best of your best. BRAVO!
Linguist over 4 years ago
An excellent reminder of who and what the United States of America really is ( or should be ). ¡Gracias, señor Cantú y señor Castellanos!
bill over 4 years ago
Love it!!
raybarb44 over 4 years ago
The way it is, but it still has a ways to go; it’s a work in progress. Has been since 1776. Still it’s the best thing out there, even now.
raybarb44 over 4 years ago
RetFor over 4 years ago
You can only have justice for all if there’s no bass…
Cincoflex over 4 years ago
yes. THIS.
econdria Premium Member over 4 years ago
Wish you had used the pre-McCarthy pledge……..
DarrellCurtis over 4 years ago
Thank you
William Taylor over 4 years ago
Beautiful…………. thank you…….. ;-)) …………. from a US Navy Viet Nam vet.
j.l.farmer over 4 years ago
when the divider in the White House is gone, we as Americans will once again live up to that promise.
Donnie Pitchford Premium Member over 4 years ago
Excellent! Thank you!
rbullfogg over 4 years ago
I don’t understand why, Why we can’t?
Cynthia Kaag Premium Member over 4 years ago
Thank you for this panel.
HerbertCross over 4 years ago
Thank you Mr. Castellanos and Mr. Cantu. You made my Sunday. 25th Infantry Division 1968 Vietnam. Admiro tu trabajo!!
bladeoperator Premium Member over 4 years ago
Baldo, 4Muchas gracias
bahamajohn Premium Member over 4 years ago
Now that was class… Too many have been an astrus on the pledge.
shamest Premium Member over 4 years ago
well said
Holilubillkori Premium Member over 4 years ago
Great artwork!
FireMedic over 4 years ago
https://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm
DrummerboyCO Premium Member over 4 years ago
Well said gentlemen
WhoDat over 4 years ago
Thank You!
quanyindove over 4 years ago
Yes, Ah….the REAL America. It is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for this, Hector and Carlos. <3
Nighttrain96 over 4 years ago
This is how the majority of Americans feel, despite what the media wants to portray. We are a stronger nation united.
contralto2b over 4 years ago
’"United we stand, divided we fall. Considering how hard some are working to divide us, I would who REALLY is wanting us to fall.
sid w over 4 years ago
If you really read the pledge, everyone who says they respect the flag pledges liberty and justice for all. If that is not your pledge (no matter who you are), then it really doesn’t matter if you stand or kneel. Likewise if that is your pledge.
Jeffin Premium Member over 4 years ago
That vastly improved my day.
BLUEBONNETS Premium Member over 4 years ago
Thank you.
bakana over 4 years ago
A Republic. It you can Keep it.
BaltimoreJack Premium Member over 4 years ago
Wonderful!
Bryant Winterholer Premium Member over 4 years ago
Thank you guys, I needed this today!
k.yarter over 4 years ago
Mucho gracas!
Robert Spillane Premium Member over 4 years ago
Took me by surprise. I enjoy everything about this comic, day in and day out, May we all get closer to achieving these sentiments, and quickly,
Outnumbered over 4 years ago
A strong message. Why the raised fist? It’s akin to an asterisk.
jkdominick Premium Member over 4 years ago
Thank you, Cantu and Castellanos, for reminding us that not all cartoonists are cynics. Americans are optimists by nature and patriotic by practice.
heathcliff2 over 4 years ago
Here, here.
amaryllis2 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Well done.
Classyladyor over 4 years ago
I do hope Baldo understand that One nation under GOD was add by Eisenhower. Not part the the original pledge and should be taken out.
CalLadyQED over 4 years ago
Some thoughts…
They used the anti-secular communist version from the 1950s not the original pledge.
Nevertheless, the Christianizers were right: we are under God. All nations are under God. God is sovereign over all the earth, and all kingdoms and nations are under his dominion.
My countrymen who disagree with my political ideology are still my countrymen. Our disagreements do not necessarily mean they do not love our country. Their accusations that I do not love our country do not necessarily mean that they do not love our country.
This pledge (and the original one) can be said truthfully by many, perhaps most, Americans. We act like it cannot be said faithfully by our enemies; but if we are honest, I think we have to admit it can and is.
However, I am loath to think it should be said truthfully by Christians like myself. Is pledging allegiance to anything less than God or something directly God-ordained ever right? I don’t think that I can accept this. Perhaps the real issue is that since most Christians I know appear to put this kingdom before God’s kingdom, I take a reactionary hard line against anything that looks too nationalistic. Pledging to our country can perhaps be always understood as being subject to Christians’ pledge to Christ. Either way, I think we need to be very careful with this.
There is something about flags. We need to understand how powerful symbols really are. They are not just the basic pieces of cloth. There is a reason the pledge is written as it is.
When I was little, “indivisible” was a really hard word. I still don’t come across it much.
And it’s past time to get back to work.
mistercatworks about 4 years ago
I don’t mind pledging to a republic but the flag part seems to confuse people. The “map is not the thing” as Noam Chomsky used to say when he was out drinking. :)
TlalocW about 4 years ago
I don’t pledge to the flag. The Constitution, yes.