By Benjamin Hong, Staff Writer
On the 18th of March, 2023, President Biden signed Executive Order 14093, issuing changes to the widely recited Pledge of Allegiance. Famously opening with “I pledge allegiance to the Flag,” the Biden Administration has released the revised edition, which has the word “declare” substituted for “pledge” in the opening line. This upheaval of tradition has led to a frenzy of activity nationwide, with Americans in every corner of the country discussing its repercussions.
The existence of a Pledge of Allegiance stretches as far back as the 1880s. However, the current rendition recited aloud by schoolchildren across the nation today was created in 1923 and was officially recognized in 1942. With the exception of the addition of the clause “under God” in 1954, this Pledge has remained unchanged and has been recited by virtually every American at least once in their lives.
Because of the long-standing nature of this tradition, Biden’s revision disturbs many Americans. In response to the news, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro stated, “This is an affront to American tradition and Democracy. The Pledge of Allegiance verbatim has inspired patriotism in millions of school children during troubling times, from the Cold War to September 11. To change the phrasing of this recitation is borderline treasonous. I find it highly disturbing that politicians are letting Biden get away with this.”
Former President Donald Trump echoed the negative sentiment, labeling this action as “the most consequential thing [Biden] has accomplished during his past two years in office, and somehow the worst” and ending the 3 AM tweet with an ominous “Every true patriot should be getting ready to rise up and protect their rights, much as the heroes did at the Capitol at the beginning of Biden’s presidency.”
The negative opinion of Executive Order 14093 is shared by several Hawks as well. Freshman Victoria Yao believes that the changes “pose a very real threat to our democracy. If something as fundamental as the Pledge of Allegiance can be changed this easily, the thought of what else could be changed is really worrying.” Following this train of thought, US History teacher Eric Wall states, “This is a ridiculous overreach of power. Next thing you know the government might start doing something even crazier, like repairing public infrastructure.”
However, there are those that view this change in a positive light. US Senator Elizabeth Warren lauded the Biden administration’s action, saying that it “sets a precedent for the reevaluation of core elements of our culture. While functionally rather symbolic, I think this change could be the first step in finally rooting out many of the decades-old issues and biases that plague our institutions today.” This optimistic viewpoint is also held by many Hawks, including Sophomore Jonas van Kirk, who commented, “Even though the change probably won’t have too much impact on people, it’s good to see that Biden is trying to achieve goals, even if I’m not totally sure what they are.”
Americans remain divided on this rather contentious issue, but it is key to note that the Pledge of Allegiance has been used historically to inspire and reinforce national pride. The changes President Biden has enacted, while worrying to some, do not alter the spirit of the Pledge in any way. If anything, the most important immediate impact of Executive Order 14093 is a renewed attention to an often-forgotten statement of patriotism. And whether one despises or loves the new Pledge, it serves as a reminder of the values for which America as a nation can strive.
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