One nation (not always), under God (since 1954)

We get so fixated on which version of the Pledge of Allegiance that we want to strong-arm children into reciting that every time the argument over its wording winds up in court, we blow our chance to teach kids everything they need to know about America.

The Pledge of Allegiance was composed in 1892 by a Baptist minister and socialist named Francis Bellamy. The original pledge written by him read: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

The words "my flag" were changed to "the flag of the United States of America" in the 1920s. Congress added the words "under God" in 1954, when the greatest threat to the United States was the "godless" Soviet Union.

Why not tell kids that in the late 1800s the "one nation" part was important to include because our divided union still was trying to heal Civil War wounds?

Why not tell kids that the "under God" part was an offshoot of the McCarthy-era witch hunts that were spawned by fear and political opportunism?

Why not point out that the "liberty and justice for all" part didn't apply to all Americans when the pledge was written, or in 1954 when "under God" was added, or, some might argue, even now.

Why not reinforce the idea that as politicians and the courts argue over the "under God" part, no citizen can be forced to pledge allegiance to the flag, because the "republic for which it stands" protects the rights of everyone, even those with whom the majority of us disagree.

Especially them.