So it’s been a few months since I’ve been on Bluffton’s campus and every day I realize something about the Mennonite Christian faith that I didn’t the day before. I mean, I didn’t even know the term nor the religion “Mennonite” actually exist before I came here so you could definitely say I’ve had a huge learning curve since August. But this week something hit me about Mennos that I don’t know if I like or even agree with.
They don’t say the pledge. My roommate claims as soon as she learned what it was she has refused to say it.
Some Mennonites don’t even vote. Claiming it shows allegiance to our country above all others.
About a year ago our “sister” Mennonite college in Goshen, Indiana played the National Anthem and it created a HUGE MESS!
The media was swarming, the people were sitting down instead of standing, the veterans were ticked at their lack of respect, and I think you get the point.
Why are these people sitting down and refusing to stand to the pledge and some even refusing to cast a vote for the election?
Because it shows allegiance to our country.
They don’t want to say American is better than any other country in this world. They are of the belief that we are all one and standing for something about America shows that they believe it’s better than say, China.
This concept is totally new to me. I mean for me personally the National Anthem has been playing on my kitchen radio since my brother fell in love with it. It’s a song that’s about the history of our country, not the love of it. However, the pledge is indeed claiming allegiance and devotion to America. I have never really thought of what I was saying before now. We’re pledging alliance to a flag, to a country.
I love America. I love the Great Ole US of A. I proudly vote in every election I can. I proudly cover my heart when any American song plays and lift my eyes to our flag.
I love the fact that we live in this country and there can be people, like my roommate, sitting beside me while I stand.
I don’t have an answer. I don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong. I’m just honored to living in a country that gives us to freedom to stand, or not to.
