It's A Choice Not A Necessity.

My poem is about my thoughts, questions and beliefs on the Pledge of Allegiance.

By Ellissa D. from Desert View High School in Arizona

“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.”

Each morning I stand for you

Hand over my heart

As to say that each beat has trust

Trust in your arms

But you have defied me.

I have been told all my life to follow my dream

“Believe whatever you want to believe Ellissa.”

But I might just be one of the lucky ones

Will it always be that way?

I don’t have my fate chosen out for me

I will choose it for myself

But what about the discriminated

The aliens

Do they get to choose?

Maybe…

The lucky ones

I don’t think we are all people... Humans

I know we are

We are people who control our own actions

We are people that are different but the same

Different colors,

Different religions,

Different languages,

Different heights, names and laughs

Yet reports read

“Black leaders refuse to pledge allegiance to flag” - Washington Times

“Why I stopped saying America’s Pledge of Allegiance” - Religion News

“Objection to Pledge of Allegiance ruffles feathers” - The Frederick News-Post

AND

“High School Students Explain Why They Protest Anthems and Pledges”

So yea I guess,

“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.”

But I’d much rather perceive it as

I Pledge Allegiance to that Flag

Of the Divided States of America

And to the Republic

For Which it Stands

Never One Nation Under Any God

Divisible,

With Tyranny and Injustice For Us.

Desert View High School

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