What makes us a nation? When our first President George Washington, a federalist-minded independent who was drafted, and his Vice President, John Adams, head of the Federalist Party, where inaugurated at Federal Hall at our first Capital of the newly formed United States in New York City in January of 1790. I would imagine Washington did not have a clue what to do. Our nation did not have an identity until the War of 1812, and even then it may have been in dispute. What makes us fellow Americans? Just because we are fourth generation naturalized citizens does not mean anything, or even sixth generation or more, fully naturalized citizens.
What makes us Americans is what we hold dear. American Ideals, that men like Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and John Adams and Patrick Henry, advocated. But only ten percent supported back during our American Revolution. And only three percent were willing to sacrifice all they had in favor of. Their lives in leaving their wives widows and their children orphans. Their homes and log cabins in the frontier, burnt to the ground by the British and their absolute monarchy. Their livelihoods forfeit in that the British Colonial Empire had a trading monopoly over the English speaking world. Not withstanding those who came here on British prison barges in chains to the penal plantation of the colony of Georgia on the East Coast or Botany Bay penal colony in Australia. They who lost the English Civil War.
Let us all not focus on what keeps us apart, but what binds us together. We are supposed to be One Nation, Indivisible, not subject to being hopelessly divided. And those who maintain those things and make issues out of those things that keep us hopelessly divided, do not keep to the good old Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God. Seeking Divine countenance, guidance and inspiration. And promoting good Governance, at the national level, state level, county and/or municipal level as well.
"E pluribus unum" is Latin and was once one of our mottoes. The literal translation does not do justice to the meaning though. It does not just mean "Out of many, One", but has so many alternate meanings. When it comes to FAIR freedom of religion that does not tolerate unmitigated freedom to belong to a suicide cult for example or a atheist cult, nationwide, outlawing all religion, or an agnostic scam to become billionaires, only seeking income tax exemption. In this nation where your forefathers and forebears or great grandparents were immigrants, this is like a 'crazy quilt' of a ho
dgepodge of various Creeds and Faiths and Denominations and Sects. But out of many faiths, one Creator. One God, who should best be thought of the One who inspired all world scripture since day one of written texts in the hands of priests and scribes. And where mitigated freedom of religion or Fair Freedom of Religion requires tolerance. Religious tolerance, not intolerance, never intolerance. Would this not be the will and desire of our Creator?

What many might object to about it is the fact that it was written in August 1892 by the SOCIALIST minister Francis Bellamy, and that it may mean you are pledging allegiance to the republican party which has held some kind of socio-economic monopoly on that flag for which it stands. Or so it might seem. I would venture that American Ideals define this nation and all the people living here in these United States. With few exceptions, like members of some kind of Saudi Arabian group of zealot loyalists to the Royal Family we hold responsible for 9/11 for example in our midst. But for the most part, little next to no hatred towards your fellow man. Men and women alike. Including those who came here lawfully rather than unlawfully, seeking to pass their citizenship tests, and even those year round migrant workers that do back braking manual labor that no one wants and help keep us fed, working our farms and dairy farms etc. (Unless you wish to promote famine throughout the land, which is not that pro-life, or healthy.)
The main parts of the Pledge of Allegiance need be maintained, and maybe it needs to be reworded. This may be necessary to unite this nation and give birth to a third republic. To uphold our US Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, by God, and consider our flag, more than a piece of cloth, but what many consider - Old Glory - and most all in our military, made that ultimate self sacrifice and died for.

the first Republican form of government has never died, it was only shuffled to the sidelines by the "lawyers", IT IS NOT DEAD AND WILL NEVER DIE. we only need to remind Americans of the Constitution and remove all lowyers form any participation in government forever!