Kneeling or Treason

Personally, I have very deeply-seeded American values. The first that comes to mind started in 1951 when I began to attend a one-room country school house. Once all of the students had arrived, the very first thing that we did (all students ... all classes) was to stand, face the flag, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance: I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all (back in those days, it was still permissible to include "under God," as a vital part of the pledge. To this day, when I recite the Pledge of Allegiance, I do not vocalize "under God," but "under God is always a silent inclusion in my pledge. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance, every school day, for the better part of 7 years, and then I went to "town" school, and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, before school started, ended. Regardless, my American value ... love of and devotion to Country has remained as one of my vital American values, throughout my entire life. So, for purposes of making my point in this post, the key word is "allegiance," as used in the opening lines of the pledge: I pledge allegiance to the flag ...."

As I grew older, I became very involved in 4-H ... at one time becoming the President of the Dodge County Federation, as well as holding state and national positions as conservation camp leader and national song leader for the national 4-H conference. This experience, too, worked to ingrain my American value, as to love of and devotion to Country, because, in-large-part, of the words, in-part, making up the 4-H pledge: I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world (my world was not part of the pledge when I was active in 4-H. In any event, the 4-H pledge also served to strengthen my American values, as to love of and devotion to country.

So, I thought to wonder, to what extent does the pledge of allegiance require our allegiance. In search of an answer, I looked up the meaning of treason. According to Wikipedia: In the United States, there are both federal and state laws prohibiting treason.[1] It was defined in Article III, Section 3 of the United States Constitution. Most state constitutions include similar definitions of treason, specifically limited to levying war against the state, "adhering to the enemies" of the state, or aiding the enemies of the state, and requiring two witnesses or a confession in open court.[2] However, fewer than thirty people have ever been charged with treason under these laws.[3]

Constitutionally, citizens of the United States owe allegiance to at least two sovereigns. One is the United States, and the other is their state. They can therefore potentially commit treason against either, or against both.[4] At least fourteen people have been charged with treason against various states; at least six were convicted, five of whom were executed. However, no person has ever been executed for treason against the federal government.[5]

While treason is a criminal matter under federal and state laws, it may be considered a civil matter under tribal law.[6] The Indian Civil Rights Act limits sentences for crimes by tribal courts to no more than one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.[7]S

There it is again, Article Three, Section 3, of the United States Constitution ... the word "allegiance." So, if you consider the word allegiance, as presented in the Pledge of Allegiance, in conjunction with the mandatory allegiance required, according to Article Three, Section 3, of the United States Constitution, TO KNEEL BEFORE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DURING THE PLAYING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, IS TO WITHHOLD ALLEGIANCE "TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS." Think about it ... when does kneeling become an act of treason?