Pledge of Allegiance
with Annotations

Chuck Klein, © 2005

Published in LINES OF DEFENSE, Police Ideology and the Constitution (2000).

The current version of this most sacred of American commitments [with annotations], reads:

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
I, me personally promise as an oath of loyalty, duty, devotion.

TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
The symbol, the representation of the 50 states joined together as one people.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC
A nation that lives by the rule of law.

FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
Not only do we pledge our allegiance to the flag and the Republic, but we promise our loyalty and devotion to the principles on which this Republic is founded.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
United as a single people under a supreme being.

INDIVISIBLE,
Facing all enemies we stand together back-to-back, shoulder- to-shoulder, rich-to-poor, liberal-to-conservative.

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
Freedom, sovereignty, emancipation equality, fairness, truth and adherence to the rule of law for everyone who is within our power to protect.

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THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

"...should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag and render the military salute." (36 USCS #172).