Brannon Howse: Aired on March 16, 2011

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Fabian Socialist, Baptist pastor and co-founder and vice-president of the Society of Christian Socialists. Francis was also a spokesman for the Nationalist Club movement that was started by his socialist cousin Edward Bellamy that wrote the book “Looking Backward”. The book, “Looking Backward”, was the second best-seller of the 19th century after “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. Francis had assistance from the National Education Association in seeing that America’s school children recited the pledge that was, according to Francis Bellamy, written specifically for the purpose of inculcating America’s school children with loyalty to the central government or to promote nationalism. Until World War II, the pledge included a salute that looked very similar to that of the Nazi salute. Many thought the raised hand to the flag was not appropriate and the hand over the heart was thus instituted. Francis Bellamy’s pledge originally said, “I pledge allegiance to my flag”. This nondescript wording was because Bellamy wanted his oath to become an international peace pledge that all socialist republics would incorporate. According Dr. John Baer, “The Nationalist movement and society of Christian Socialists had connections with the Fabian Society in England. It is generally recognized that the Bellamy type of Fabian Socialism had done more to make the American middle class think seriously about social principles than any other force in the latter part of the nineteenth century.” This is one more example of a pastor and Fabian Socialist that has played a major role in building America’s religious Trojan horse. Brannon explains why he will no longer recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag. What are your thoughts?