Yes indeed, our society is in need of a standardized statement of “affirmation of allegiance”. As a matter of fact, I believe that this sort of thing is long overdue. What better place is there to start than in our school system, from Elementary through Secondary and beyond? However, I believe that we might well ask, to whom and to what do we affirm this allegiance? As I view it from here on my Back Forty, this. “Affirmation of allegiance” should read something like this:

I am a biological member of God’s Creation, an inseparable part of our planet’s Ecosystem. I am imbued with God’s Spirit. I am a member of the Human Race, occupying viable space as a creating, consuming, and biodiverse individual.

I affirm that each individual, whether male or female, white or colored, requires a necessary portion of the natural energy as well as the natural products of our limited biosphere. It is therefore necessary that we each learn to appreciate and share with each other according to his or her present and future needs.

I must study to learn all I can about myself as well as my Natural and Social environment so that I may be able to live a happy, purposeful life in association with other members of my environment.

In school, I must learn the value of the International Concept to complement the National Concept.

I am a member of the Human Race. Although I happen to be living in Canada, I also owe my allegiance to all of Mankind, anywhere on earth. This is a basic law of Nature, which we should learn to understand so that we can work most effectively with the rhythms of Nature as well as with the idiosyncrasies of our fellow human beings in a compassionate and albeit understanding manner.

Timothy Haystubble (Grass Roots Philosopher)

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 1st, 2000 at 3:10 pm and is filed under Views. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.