[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16564]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        THE AMERICA I BELIEVE IN

 Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the 
Record a copy of an essay by Ainslie Ross titled ``The America I 
Believe In,'' which won a regional prize for the Patriot's Pen essay 
contest. The material follows:


                        THE AMERICA I BELIEVE IN

       Almost every American is taught from an early age to recite 
     the Pledge of Allegiance by heart, but how many actually know 
     it by heart? Most people don't think twice about what the 
     words really mean.
       The first phrase says, ``I pledge allegiance,'' meaning we 
     personally, solemnly promise loyalty, dedication, devotion, 
     honor, and obedience. The next phrase says, ``to the flag, of 
     the United States of America'' so we aren't just promising 
     these to just anyone, but to the people of our country. All 
     those who fought for freedom in the American Revolution 
     against Britain, the Civil War to stop slavery, and in the 
     war that's going on right now in the Middle East to protect 
     our rights from those who want to take it away from us. The 
     America I believe in consists of keeping our promises to our 
     country and our loyalty to what our flag stands for.
       The phrase of the pledge that says, ``and to the Republic 
     for which it stands'' means in addition to pledging for 
     allegiance, we pledge to a government by the people, for the 
     people, and in the interests of the people because the 
     country of America belongs to the people. ``One Nation'' 
     means we are together as one country; we are not divided by 
     our beliefs, race, gender, or political party, we are 
     together as one. I believe that our whole country can come 
     together as a team because that is what we really are, but 
     that will not be possible unless we set aside our differences 
     and treat each other as one of our team members, with 
     kindness and respect. ``Under God'' means we are covered by 
     the Holy Father, and if He thinks our country is worth 
     protecting, then it must be worth coming together for as one 
     team.
       ``Indivisible with liberty and justice for all'' means we 
     are inseparable with independence and integrity for as long 
     as our country is complete. The America I believe in consists 
     of not giving away or letting go of our freedoms that we 
     fought for and worked hard for as one undivided nation.
       The America I believe in is powerful, respectful, and we 
     are a team. I believe America is the country we make it. 
     Working together, we can make it the country that the writers 
     of the Pledge of Allegiance saw it as so many years 
     ago.

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