Download Wilde Why the Pledge

Why The Pledge of
Allegiance Should Be
Revised
Gwen Wilde
The Exigencies (data)
• The author is a college student.
• She goes to Tufts University.
• She wrote the essay for a course in
college composition.
• Her sources for research are
– Religion Newswriters Foundation
– CNN
– Encyclopedia of Religion (FOF)
– Doug Sterner (blogger)
Background Assumptions
• Given: all Americans are familiar
with the pledge.
• Reasonable assertion: most
Americans do not know that “under
God” is not in the original language.
Her claim
• “In my view, the addition of the
words, “under God” is an
inappropriate, and they are
needlessly divisive—an odd addition
indeed to a Nation that is said to be
indivisible.”
– What are her discourse markers?
– What are her assumptions?
– What does her diction imply?
A second claim: this,
therefore that…
• “Very simply put, the Pledge in its latest form
requires all Americans to say something that
some Americans do not believe.”
– Peer pressure compels “all but the bravest to
join in the recitation.”
• Is she implying that the minority of
nonbelievers justify restricting the privileges
of the majority?
On Eisenhower’s language…
• “I am not sure what ‘the
transcendence of faith in America’s
heritage means.’
– Premise: Many Americans have not
been devout.
– Premise: Many non-devout Americans
have been patriotic.
– Conclusion: you don’t need to be
devout to be a patriotic American.
• Is this a reasonable conclusion?
The line of thought…
• “…something like 70% or even 80%
of Americans say they are affiliated
with some form of Christianity….”
• “Nevertheless, several million
Americans do not believe in God.”
• Is this argument sufficient without a
reasonable definition of the word,
God?
Assertions
• If one does not recite the words,
“under God,” “…one is open to the
charge of being unpatriotic.”
• “Patriotism is connected to religious
belief…”
• One is open to the charge of being
“un-American” if one does not
express belief in a “divine power.”
She is not arguing that…
(qualifiers)
• The Pledge is unconstitutional
• The words “under God” add up to the
‘establishment of religion.’
– “…but they do assert a religious doctrine.”
Counterarguments
• “…under God” is not to be taken
seriously.
– It is merely a “descriptive phrase.”
• The Pledge is a “commendable patriotic
observance.”
• “In God we trust” appears on our money.
• Saying the Pledge is not compulsory.
Rebuttals
• Millions of Americans do not believe
in God.
• The Pledge is an affirmation that
many are not prepared to make.
• The pledge is a patriotic (not
religious) observance.
Truth-Seeking Principle Applied
• “I am willing to put aside the issue of
constitutionality.
• “I am willing to grant that this phrase
does not in any significant sense
signify the ‘establishment of
religion’”
Be it Resolved That…
• “I nevertheless insist that the phrase is neither
‘tepid’ or ‘diluted.’”
• “The Pledge is divisive; it includes a phrase
that many patriotic Americans cannot bring
themselves to utter”
• “The Pledge of Allegiance should be
something that everyone can say, say out
loud, and say with pride.”