Bill Frantz[SMTP:frantz@pwpconsult.com] [...] Unfortunately having started to question the relation between the pledge and the ideals of the country, I started to wonder why I was pledging to the flag, instead of the country. So over the years, I have a somewhat edited version (removed parts in brackets): [...]

One interesting variation {and a suggestion of an alternative) comes from naval diplomacy. When there's an official US/UK naval dinner, toasts are drunk (at least on shore or on British ships - I think US ships are dry). The Americans always toast the British Monarch. The Brits in return propose a toast to the US Constitution. While I have a lot of problem with the Pledge in any form, I think it would be greatly improved if it were made to the Constitution, rather than the flag. Peter Trei