I pledge allegiance to the flag, 

one nation, indivisible with liberty and Justice for all. Something missing? Yes, that was what they drafted in 1892, when Benjamin Harrison was President. He may or may not have had any connection with the pledge. Years later, "the Republic" was added. The government first recognized the pledge in 1942, during WWII. President Eisenhower added "under God." 

     Every day of grade school, we stood up and recited the pledge before class. I probably assumed it was the law. Today in our Florida homeowner's association, attendees at the monthly board meeting say the pledge before business begins. 

     Patriotism, love of country, was adopted by Greeks and Romans two thousand years ago. It was/is for the common good: liberty, loyalty and civic spirit were designed to resist corruption and tyranny. To love (the nation) was/is to be willing to sacrifice one's own good - even life - for the protection of common liberty. Unity and coherence are desired. Freedom - preservation of unique people and patriotic sacrifice - promote long term survival of a nation. 

     Today there are critics of patriotic pride, considered to be "morally dangerous." Tensions among citizens. Common good is considered as redistribution of income, collective goods and services, and education and health care. There are new forms of patriotism. Political culture must not discriminate against any subculture. We no longer have shared language or cultural origin. Every month we receive our healthcare report. The last two pages list foreign countries that our fellow citizens come from, and continue speaking their languages.  

                              "It's no coincidence that socialism is often just another brand name

for communism, where corrupt rulers gain total control while

promising freedoms and benefits that are mere propaganda."

                                                                           House and Senate