Okay, weird, random idea...

So, since I've been horrible about updating lately, I thought I'd do something a little different for awhile. I call this "Stephanie's Greatest Hits." These are some of my favorite and/or most controversial columns from the two years I spent writing opinion columns for the OSU student newspaper, the Daily O'Collegian. Each column will be presented as it was submitted, which means that anything that was edited out for publication will be included. I will also make note of the original publication date. However, the titles, in most cases, will not be retained. We start with my first opinion column in the O'Colly. What can I say? I like to start out with a bang.

Thoughts on a Black pledge of allegiance
Originally published January 22, 2002

Silly me. I’d always been under the impression that there was but one pledge of allegiance in the US, the one we’ve all recited since we were in elementary school. Apparently, I was wrong. Last week, Channel 5 in Oklahoma City reported that a black pledge of allegiance is posted on the Millwood Public Schools website.

It states, “We pledge allegiance to the red, black, and green, our flag, the symbol of our eternal struggle, and to the land we must obtain, one nation of black people with one God for us all, totally united in the struggle for black love, black freedom, and black determination.” While I have my suspicions, I don’t know the exact origins of this pledge, but it is one of the most bizarre and separatist things I’ve ever seen. Breaking it down line-by-line provides a clearer picture of its meaning and probable origins.

“We pledge allegiance to the red, black, and green, our flag…”

Excuse me? I don’t know what you’re pledging allegiance to, but the last time I checked, we all live in the US and are represented by a flag that is red, white, and blue. However, if you really feel the need to pledge allegiance to a flag that’s red, black, and green, there are 9 African countries whose flags have those three colors as their principle colors. But you should know that seven of them are experiencing civil unrest or civil war. The other two have been ravaged by floods for several years. All of them are mired in poverty, and many have been ravaged by AIDS. In spite of all of this, should you decide that’s where you really want to go, I’m sure any of these countries would welcome you with open arms.

“…the symbol of our eternal struggle…”

And what eternal struggle would that be? Human nature? Stand in line. The desire to be accepted? If that’s the case, I’ve got news for you. Stuff like this only makes it harder on yourselves.

“…and to the land we must obtain…”

And what land would that be exactly? If you want ten acres west of town, I’m sure any realtor in Stillwater would be happy to show you some fine plots of land. However, if this is the Nation of Islam rhetoric I think it is, that is a call for land for a black state, one already exists. It’s called Liberia, located on the African west coast, and just as an interesting side note, its flag is also red, white, and blue.

“…one nation of black people…”

Been there, done that, and they call the land Liberia.

“…with one God for us all…”

Working under the assumption that “us” refers to black people, this baffles me somewhat. Does this mean that blacks are so separatist that they don’t even want to share God with anyone?! Where does that leave the rest of us? Are we pagans? Devil worshippers?

“…totally united…”

So that’s why a lawsuit has been filed against Jesse Jackson, his son, and members of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, by a black man who claims he was assaulted and his civil rights were violated at a coalition meeting because he asked a question that they found offensive. That’s one interesting view of total unity.

“…in the struggle for black love…”

Which is surely what caused members of the Nation of Islam to assassinate Malcolm X.

“…black freedom…”

Which has been around since slavery was abolished 140 years ago. Or, if you don’t buy that argument, the civil rights movement happened 40 years ago.

“…and black determination.”

The determination to what? Speak out of both sides of your mouths? How can you possibly decry discrimination in one breath, and advocate separatism in the next? It is this attitude that helps perpetuate abysmal race relations in this country. Are whites blameless? Certainly not. But as long as blacks parade around saying a black pledge of allegiance and crying for reparations for slavery, a policy that is widely considered reprehensible and that none of us living now were involved with in any manner, they won’t help their cause any.

Ending discrimination isn’t a one-way street, and waiting for whites to come to you just means you’ll be waiting for a long time. Unless everyone, including blacks, accepts that we all have to play our part in ending discrimination and accept each other, differences and all, things will only get worse. The black pledge of allegiance is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Instead of one nation of any racial group, trying to distance themselves from everyone else, I prefer “one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for ALL.”