 Must have been the old civil-liberty gene kicking in -- that, plus remembering the Society's Code of Ethics and its caution against formally messing with things like politics or religion. Thankfully it didn't last long, but our short flirtation with using the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag as a chapter-meeting opener made me uneasy. I like it (the pledge), but it felt out of place as a formal part of a barbershoppers' meeting.
For anyone who feels the need to
pledge more than is conveyed by the traditional singing of "The old songs," let
me propose reviewing the following pledge in your head:
Allegiance
By Gene Wilhelm
As a true earthling,
I pledge allegiance
To all life at all levels
Wherever it may be,
To the life-support system
of air, land and water
Upon which all life depends,
To my immediate human family
And my sisters and brothers
everywhere
To the world community:
One sea and land,
One people,
One destiny
One universe,
Indivisible,
With peace, freedom and justice
For all.
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