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Saying the pledge:
Pledge and peace
Re: "Letters to an airman," June 3 photograph.
Letter to the Editor
June 24, 2003
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Although I have always been proud to be an American (until recently), I could
never consider myself "patriotic" in my 60-plus years of memory. The very
thought has always left me cold. Upon seeing the picture on the front page of
Denver & The West, the real truth of patriotism and the Pledge of Allegiance as
a propaganda tool was really brought home to me.
To see those innocent children being led by mindless adults in the Pledge of
Allegiance, being led to believe in their innocence that this was something
noble, done by all "good Americans," I realized that this is a tool used by the
powers that be to ensure Bush's promise of perpetual war.
The Pledge is purported to instill patriotism for a stronger, more secure
America. But in reality, patriotism restricts our thinking, drawing us into a
smaller, tighter group obsessed with strengthening the walls behind which we
hide, increasing fear and making us easily led. It is a continuance of the
"warrior tribe" mentality, a society ruled by fear - fear of anyone who is not
"us."
We need to open our minds and hearts, reaching out in love to people of all
nationalities and all countries. Patriotism gets in the way of bonding with
people beyond our own narrow borders. We must decide: Do we want peace through
the unifying power of love, or do we want perpetual war through fragmentation
and the stifling rule of fear?
DANIEL (Raphael) EGGER
Glendale
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