'i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america'

but that flag doesn't seem to stand for what it's meant to anymore

and what does the word 'allegiance' even mean

i don't even know how to spell 'allegiance'

that doesn't matter,

(much like black lives,

the arts in schools,

people with disabilities,

the lgbtq+ community,

global warming,

the clean water crisis,

and the syrian people)  

as I've been reciting this pledge for too many years

to think about its message 

every

single

time

i recite it.

 

"and to the republic, for which it stands"

except

does the republic stand for anything anymore?

anything other than 

politicians ignoring their constituents,

making money off of policies that help businesses,

partisan politics tearing our congress down the middle,

maybe that is what our republic has always stood for

 

"one nation," on the verge of collapse

"under god," the christian one

"indivisible" unless the subject is

slavery, taxes, abortion, equal rights, gun control, war, deficit spending, etc.

 

"with liberty and justice for"

some.