"I pledge allegiance to the flag" is something that school children around the country say every day. These words flow from the mouths of children as young as 5.

At my school, reciting the pledge it is how we begin every day. These precious words have become repetitious, something that students do without thought. People don't realize how important these 31 words are. In saying them we are pledging to abide by the United States and every thing it believes in. They are pledging to keep the flag and everything it stands for sacred and in first priority.

Now I don't really think that the kindergartners at the grade school really think about what they're saying when they recite the pledge. But they should. Everyone should. A pledge is like a promise and people should stop to think about what they are promising. In recent news the pledge has had headline after headline in its honor. People have been up in arms about a few key words in the pledge. These words are probably the most important words in the whole pledge. They are "one nation under God." This key phrase emphasizes our nation's heritage and history. Our nation has been blessed with the luxury of freedom of religion. We are not forced to go to any certain church, or believe in any certain God. We have the freedom to choose how and what we believe. The pledge of allegiance is not saying "one nation under Jesus Christ" or "one nation under Buddha or Muhammad" it is simply stating "one nation under God." A god is defined as one that is worshipped, idealized or followed.

Everyone has something in their life that they worship, idealize, or follow, whether it be sports, a person or a idea. This phrase in the pledge can be understood to mean anything, depending on the person saying it. The Pledge of Allegiance is something that we are allowed to say. It is a privilege, not a right, and we should not try to take it away.

Amber Karnes is a student at Notre Dame Regional High School.