A kindergartener once told me, “Every morning we talk to the flag.” The child grinned as she told me this and I smiled too. I am convinced that her teacher had explained to her class that the flag was a symbol of our country. I am not sure that the 5-year-old child understood what the meaning of “stands for” or “country” or even “allegiance” means. But then, I wonder how many American adult citizens are thinking about what those words mean when they say them.

We pledge allegiance to a symbol for our country. But, what does that symbol represent? To me, allegiance means loyalty and maybe 5-year-olds would not understand that big word either. But most people over the age of 18 should know. The flag, according to our pledge, stands for our country or republic. The word “republic” actually stands for the kind of government we have, and the kind of government we have is in the Constitution of the United States of America.

So, when I pledge my allegiance to the flag … and to the republic, I am pledging my loyalty to the Constitution. Personally, I think it would be more meaningful to pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. The flag “stands” for the Constitution, the laws we live by.

The Constitution is this country. It is what makes this country great. Our founders took months to work out the systems that have made the United States successful these 250-plus years. I think the Constitution can guide us through the next 250 years, if we are loyal to it.

If we decide to throw out the Constitution, we will not be united, we will be in chaos. If we choose to live under a dictatorship or an oligarchy, our votes will not count, our taxes will be used to serve the dictator, and our dissent will be meaningless. So, yes, I will “talk to the flag,” but I will support the Constitution of the United States of America with my whole being.

Evelyn Swart

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