The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy, who was a Baptis minister and a socialist. Bellamy intended it as “…an ‘inoculation’ that would protect immigrants and native-born but insufficiently patriotic Americans from the ‘virus’ of radicalism and subversion.” – read "indoctrination, there. It was published in the magazine “Youth’s Companion” as part of a marketing scheme to “…instill the idea of American nationalism by selling flags to public schools and magazines to students.” – in other words, a sales pitch. The original form of the pledge was:
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” He had intended to add “equality” and “fraternity” to “liberty”, but decided against it – knowing that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans.
In 1923, “my Flag” was changed to “the Flag of the United States”, and a year later to “the flag of the United States of America”. “under god” was added in 1954 to make sure that there was no possibility that anyone reciting the pledge was a godless commie.
In the article in the “Youth’s Companion” in which the Pledge was first published, reciters were instructedas follows: “At the words, “to my Flag,” the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.”
This was known as the “Bellamy salute” and it was discontinued in 1942 because it made all those patriotic schoolchildren look like hordes of little Nazis.
So there you have it: a piece of nationalistic propaganda, written by a socialist as part of a pitch to sell flags and magazines that go more and more jingoistic and religious as time went on.
The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy, who was a Baptis minister and a socialist. Bellamy intended it as “…an ‘inoculation’ that would protect immigrants and native-born but insufficiently patriotic Americans from the ‘virus’ of radicalism and subversion.” – read "indoctrination, there. It was published in the magazine “Youth’s Companion” as part of a marketing scheme to “…instill the idea of American nationalism by selling flags to public schools and magazines to students.” – in other words, a sales pitch. The original form of the pledge was:
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” He had intended to add “equality” and “fraternity” to “liberty”, but decided against it – knowing that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans.
In 1923, “my Flag” was changed to “the Flag of the United States”, and a year later to “the flag of the United States of America”. “under god” was added in 1954 to make sure that there was no possibility that anyone reciting the pledge was a godless commie.
In the article in the “Youth’s Companion” in which the Pledge was first published, reciters were instructedas follows: “At the words, “to my Flag,” the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.”
This was known as the “Bellamy salute” and it was discontinued in 1942 because it made all those patriotic schoolchildren look like hordes of little Nazis.
So there you have it: a piece of nationalistic propaganda, written by a socialist as part of a pitch to sell flags and magazines that go more and more jingoistic and religious as time went on.