It's telling that it took 70 posts for somebody to mention that. Somehow our nation managed to survive into the 1950's without saying "under God", but now we're to believe that it's imperiled by the terseness of a beverage container.
(BTW, When I was born, it was "One Nation, indivisible". "Under God" wasn't added until later...)From http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm:It's telling that it took 70 posts for somebody to mention that. Somehow our nation managed to survive into the 1950's without saying "under God", but now we're to believe that it's imperiled by the terseness of a beverage container.
The Pledge of Allegiance
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.
Written in August 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was published in The Youth's Companion, September 8, 1892.In its original form it read, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added against Bellamy's wishes. Congress added "under God" in 1954, creating the 31-word pledge we say today.
I looked this up and the original text, from 11 Oct 1892 (it was written for a Columbus Day celebration, published in a Boston youth magazine), was different in other ways as well. It had "...my flag..." instead of "...the Flag of the United States..." (that came Flag Day 1923), a year later "of America" was tacked on. It wasn't even an OFFICIAL pledge until June 1942, the following year the SCOTUS ruled public school students could not be compelled to say it as part of their daily routine.
The "under God" phrase did not come until Eisenhower added it Flag Day, 1954.
Fascinating.