"...and Justice for all."

 I love my country. I love the people in it and the ideals it stands for. However I am really worried about it. Not because I think anyone specifically is taking us down the "wrong road" but more because I see ideological conflicts causing real damage.

My mom and I were talking the other morning about how being a citizen of this country should require your (the individuals) allegiance, not just happenstance. I understand the reason that the laws were made the way they were with having anyone born in the US be automatically a citizen. I almost wonder if the child should be required to have at least one of their parents be a documented citizen (not like that will ever happen) But I look at people protesting this immigration mess by turning the American Flag upside down (appropriately I might add, though they may not realize it as they do it... an upside down flag is a signal of distress).
 
This morning I was thinking about the Pledge of allegiance. You know, the one that I got to say in school every day growing up. It was written in 1982 and I think that what it stands for is admirable.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which is stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"

 Unfortunately I think it may be antiquated. Sad as that may sound.

I once heard a good explanation of the thoughts behind it by Red Skelton. It goes like this:

"I me, an individual, a committee of one. 

Pledge dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity. 

Allegiance my love and my devotion. 

To the flag our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job! 

of the United that means that we have all come together. 

States individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country. 

(Of America) and to the republic a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people. 

For which it stands, one nation (under God) one nation, meaning "so blessed by God" 

Indivisible incapable of being divided. 

With liberty which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation. 

And Justice the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others. 

For all which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine. 

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance...UNDER GOD"

 I like the way he put that! It's very patriotic. Unfortunately I think we are becoming very confused about what our country stands for. Here are the problems as I see them now (which may very easily be wrong or slanted because I am human!):

 "I pledge allegiance to the flag ..."

I have no issue with this part :)

 "of the United States of America..."

hmmmm, I honestly don't think we are very united anymore. I think that much of the reason that the states don't go off on their own is because of fear of having the military sic'd on them.

"and to the republic for which it stands..."

 Is that the government? or the country? If it's the country and the people in it I can fully get behind that. If it's the government I don't think I can... mostly because I'm starting to think that the leaders have forgotten that the government is supposed to be by the people and for the people. I get the impression increasingly that it is slowly morphing into the dreaded "for the leaders and by the leaders"... 

"one nation, under God..."

I don't have too much issue with this part. I see no harm in believing in a higher power (whatever you want to call it) or in thinking that it protects us... as long as we are acting accordingly morally in order to try to stay in that beings favor. As a nation, I'm not so sure we are...

  "Indivisible,..."

Honestly, I really do think we are pretty divided right now. Our politicians are making sure of this... implying that anyone who doesn't agree with them is somehow inferior. I'm sure you have all heard me refer to the "I'm open-minded... but you don't agree with me so you must be stupid" attitude... that many people are catching from our politicians and their vilification of anyone who doesn't agree with them. This particular attitude is very, very dangerous. I would think that this kind of thing (making other people seem less than human) is what starts some civil wars.

"With liberty, and justice..."

I'm not terribly sure we are free anymore. I think that the conflict between liberty and justice has robbed both of their value. In the name of justice we take away liberty, in the name of liberty we take away justice.

"For all."

Unfortunately I have seen evidence (personally mind you) that only those with a lot of money get a whole lot of liberty, if you can pay someone enough it seems you can get a lot higher likelihood of having "liberty" and you can almost get away with anything (OJ anyone?). Same thing goes with getting any "real" justice anymore... The rich seem to be the only ones that the lawyers and the politicians will fight for because there is something to be gained (campaign contributions and legal fees).

How is this any different than paying the police officer to arrest someone? Oh wait, it's different because it's the lawyers that we are paying to make sure that justice is served.... Does it really matter who we are paying if the little guy can no longer expect to have the criminal who stole his retirement prosecuted because the little guy doesn't have the money (that the criminal stole btw) to pay their lawyers with?

And speaking of lawyers... in 2008 the percentage of congress that had law degrees as 41.6 %... are these some of the same people that will only seek justice for a price? Is that warped or what?

So in the end I know I sound rather cynical... I love my country, I really do!!! I lament what is happening to it! The fact that companies are now "too big to fail" instead of properly termed a "monopoly" and split up. This whole mess with BP is a prime example of money and power taking away justice and buying liberty. The biggest environmental mess ever (that I can think of) and what is our government doing??? Standing by and watching and telling the company that caused the mess that "they had better clean it up" ... but the thing is, this same company didn't learn last time. They were involved with the Exxon Valdez spill (you know, that one that WAS the biggest spill before THIS happened), and people were charged and fines were given, but they didn't learn... and our government still lets them operate in our waters. Why? Because BP is a major supplier to our military for it's fuel... it's (dare I say) "too big to fail". We have put too many of our eggs in one basket... And the sad thing is, it's not just the oil industry... this seems to be the way our country is run in general anymore.

It is really disheartening.