By Jennie McBride
When I was in elementary school reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, I never thought about masked men roaming our streets and taking away children like me or taking away their mothers and their fathers. In 3rd grade, our teacher read us a very scary book about children losing their parents, who were taken into a “work camp.” It haunted me for a long time. But I knew I was safe in MY country.
When I was in High School learning about the three branches of government, I never thought a president of the United States would decide to move, seemingly on a whim, in any direction he choose, without either of the other two branches even trying to address the issue of separation of powers – specifically spelled out in our founding documents.
When I was in college, and learned about “the great Society” bill, I never thought nearly all aspects of it would be neutralized by a document called “Project 2025” or a bill that was called “Big and Beautiful.”
When I was protesting the Vietnam War, a war that was neither to protect nor defend anything but special interests, I never thought our country would sneer at helping other human beings in countries that were being bombed regularly by madmen.
When I became a Christian, I never thought so many of the people who claimed that title could so quickly turn their backs on the hungry, the destitute, the refugees from violence, the child, the baby.
When I learned about Climate Change and global warming, I recognized the logic of the science behind it from what I had learned from my High School Science teachers, I never thought that the very next generation would not receive any worthwhile education in science (or biology} so they could deny what the experts are warning about and cry “Drill, Baby, Drill.”
I used to sing of the land of the free and the home of the brave, but how can someone sing of the freedom of a country that incarcerates 541 people for every 100,000 of its population, the highest rate in the world?
How can I sing about freedom when my country’s government has taken away some very basic, constitutional rights and is planning to remove even more?
The separation of religion and state, included in the constitution, is being ignored. We are heading to a theocracy, where practicing religion is only protected for Christians. And what Christians qualify for that protection? Southern Baptists might get in the door, but will other expressions of that religion? Muslims, Hindus, and Atheists appear to be out of the loop entirely.
Don’t get me started on fair and impartial elections. Citizens United has blown all of that out of the water. We cannot have fair elections when tiny segments of our population can throw millions into campaigns. And who owns the software that counts the votes?
I am having a hard time singing songs and pledging Anthems when the words no longer speak the truth.