I Plead the Pledge

I attended a rally for healthcare last Thursday (Health-care rally hits Nashville rush hour). This was not the first of such rallies I have attended. What was different about this one for me was the presence of a small, but vocal, opposition. As both groups where side-by-side on the same side of the street it was easy for me to be standing right next to some from the opposition. For about 90 minutes, we held up signs, chanted slogans, and encouraged passing vehicles to honk their support for our opposing positions. What was most interesting, and encouraging to me was the fact that during that time those of us who where the closest to the opposite group engaged in conversation.

I was engaged in a dialogue with a young man named Eric, from Alabama. In the course of conversation, Eric came to agree that the status quo is not acceptable, and that government regulation is needed. I was excited and pleased that we could carry on civil engagement. One theme however, that continually ran through the conversation was the idea of personal responsibility to the community. Repeatedly this young man kept saying to me, "I don't want to have to pay for someone else's healthcare."

Let us put aside, for a moment, the fact that we are already paying for other people's healthcare, in the form of higher insurance premiums and insurance fraud on the part of doctors and hospitals. Put aside the argument, and a good one, that we pay for other peoples police protection, fire protection, we pay for the healthcare of police officers, firefighters, all government employees, as well as the military, all elected officials, and all the people currently in prison. Forget the fact that we currently pay for the healthcare of the elderly and those with incomes below the federal poverty level. All these are great arguments for a healthcare policy that ensures that every citizen has access to affordable quality care. Nevertheless, I don't want to go there!

I want to go with my flag waving, patriotic, freedom loving, "give me liberty or give me death", tea bagging, anti-healthcare reform, fellow citizens to the Pledge of Allegiance. "I pledge allegiance to the flag . . . and to the republic . . . one nation under God. I will argue that if this country claims to be a godly nation, indeed "one nation under God", then it has an obligation to affirm the humanity and worth of every one of its citizens.

These words, "one nation", are about community. They are about the "E Pluribus Unum", (from many, one). Living out the true meaning of these words is the strength of our community, and our nation. One nation, not individual fiefdoms, one nation; not separate groups of Republicans and Democrats, one nation; not white, black, red, brown, and yellow, one nation; not liberal and conservative, gay and straight, one nation. "One nation under God", if we really live it, not just say it, we will find our strength. We will find community. We will find the willingness to care, and to share.

When we actually live these words, "one nation under God", we will begin to operate in God's economy and not in "Trickle Down" economics. When we live these words, "one nation under God" we operate in an economy and indeed a value system that places people ahead of property. "One nation under God" means I AM my brother's keeper, I am the Good Samaritan. One nation under God means when you hurt, I hurt. One nation under God means "I" can't but "we" can. One nation under God means your health matters to me. It means we are in this together.

In the debate over healthcare reform in this country . . . I plead the pledge.

Make A difference . . . . For Life!!!