Just yesterday, we celebrated our 243rd birthday as a free nation – the United States of America. Happy Belated, America! But just a few weeks ago, the city council of St. Louis Park in Minnesota metaphorically spit on our birthday cake with a unanimous 5-0 vote to stop opening city council meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance! The ward 2 councilor who sponsored the measure justified it thusly, “Not everyone who does business with the city or has a conversation is a citizen.” Perhaps not, but elected government officials are, and they certainly should pledge their allegiance to our country! For their edification: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the republic for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice, for all!”
