Well, Raoul, Red Skelton, one of the finest people and comics the world has ever seen, was pretty radical in this. For instance,

"Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity."

People in this country complain loud and long about taxes even when they have a lot left over. You may not have read any of those complaints.

However, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited at the start of every school day. As I recall, the words "under God" were added at one point.

As a kid I never did have the slightest idea what pledging allegiance to a flag meant. What did a flag have to do with me?

And, it always left me feeling a bit warm and fuzzy about my country. It left me, anyway, with a devotion and affection which survives in spite of my disagreeing with many of my country's actions. In fact, like many things in my life, I might wind up loving them the more because of their imperfections in my eyes.

In short, it's a patriotic pledge which has certainly been a plus in my life. You could take out the "under God" and it wouldn't hurt a thing. Or add "under Allah", "under Jehovah", "under the Great Spirit", or whatever.

Arf