Two weeks ago we asked the question: “Why is Avigdor Lieberman being called a racist?”

Our answer was that the loyalty oath – a very non-PC type of exercise – proposed by Lieberman for all of Israel’s citizens, is not very popular in the media and academia, so they’ve taken to calling him names. While we mentioned that he might not be a very lovable character, we didn’t dwell on that because that shouldn’t make any difference.

Several readers expanded upon our explanation that loyalty oaths have been common in our own history, with suggestions of where else we could find examples of citizens reaffirming their faith in their country.

By far the best example was something that all of our older readers will immediately recognize; something that served our country well for many years. Here’s the way we at the Ledger remember it:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Everyone we knew said this each morning before the start of school. Sometimes it was followed by the Lord’s Prayer and other times it was the prelude to the singing of God Bless America or the Star Spangled Banner.

In any event, it is a daily affirmation of the same loyalty that Avigdor Lieberman is asking the people of Israel to affirm for their flag and their country. It worked pretty well for us. Too bad that, for various reasons it is a tradition that is lost to us now. But it would certainly serve Israel well if she adopted it in some form.

Come to think of it, maybe it would do us good to reinstate it, too.

-nrg

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