Over time, the Pledge of Allegiance has grown to become not just something for children to recite, but rather a political issue for politicians to use in an effort to prove who is the most authentically patriotic. This politicizing of both patriotism and piety has led to quite a bit of violence against those who have dared to remain silent, whether for political or religious reasons.
In Chicago in 1916, Hubert Eaves, an 11-year-old black student, was arrested for not demonstrating the proper respect to the flag. According to him, it was a symbol of Jim Crow laws and state-approved lynchings: “I am willing to salute the flag as the flag salutes me,” he is quoted as having told others.
Politicization of the Pledge continued in earnest when, in 1942, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance — this established their authority over it and over its use. Through World War II, the Pledge became a symbol of national unity — so much so that, when Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to recite it, they encountered a great deal of opposition and prejudice.
They lost their first Supreme Court Case but won their second — and in the aftermath many Witnesses suffered. Among the worst incidents were the burning of a Kingdom Hall in Maine, police assisting a mob in Maryland in dispersing a Bible meeting, and nearly an entire town in Illinois attacking a group of Witnesses, which required calling in state police to protect them.
During the 1950s matters worsened as people became more and more afraid of the communists. Many people were persecuted, denied work, and even jailed for no other reason but that they allegedly had Communist leanings. In an effort to link national unity with opposition to “godless communism,” the Knights of Columbus (“Strong Right Arm of the Church”) campaigned to have the words “under God” added to the Pledge. This was around the same time, and for the same reason, that ”In God We Trust” was added to all money and made the national motto.
In June, 1954, the Knights of Columbus achieved their goal and President Dwight Eisenhower explained his decision to sign the bill by stating:
- In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.
The purpose of the addition was made more clear by Frederick Brown Harris, Minister of the Foundry Methodist Church and Chaplain, U.S. Senate, who said on June 14, 1954:
- From this day forward the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our Nation and our people to the Almighty. ...Over the globe millions have been deadened in mind and soul by a materialistic philosophy of life. ...In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever shall be our country’s most powerful resource in peace or in war.
What is strikingly ironic is that Bellamy, the original author, was a Baptist minister who had to leave his church because of his socialist political opinions. At the time of the above addition, Bellamy’s granddaughter objected to it because it would undermine Bellamy’s original intentions. It does seem unlikely that a socialist would think kindly about adding divisive words to the Pledge in an effort to express opposition to communism - especially since his support of socialism and criticisms of capitalism would have caused him to be one of those on the receiving end of persecution.
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