I salute our flag, and live as a citizen of the world

Every week, as I have done for the past 15 years, I publicly pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America during our Monday night Boy Scout troop meeting. It is a pledge that I take very seriously, very solemnly, very reverently. I am proud to wear the flag of the United States on my uniform and genuinely, albeit imperfectly, try to live up to the national ideals symbolized by that flag.

However, my allegiance to my nation is not absolute, not unconditional.

I am a Christian; therefore my allegiance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ supersedes my allegiance to my nation. I am a child of the Earth; therefore my allegiance to the global community supersedes my allegiance to my nation. I am a human being; therefore my allegiance to my fellow human beings, regardless of their national origin, race, religion, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation or taste in music supersedes my allegiance to my nation.

Author and columnist Father Ron Rolheiser reminds us that “there can be no peace, no world community, no real brother and sisterhood, and no real church community, as long as we do not define ourselves as, first, citizens of the world. We best serve our own when we serve others. We are most fair to ourselves when we are fair to others. Only by being good citizens of the world are we good citizens in our own countries. Putting America first goes against the Gospel. It’s also poor strategy: Jesus tells us that, in the end, the first will be last.” KEITH G. KONDRICH

Swisshelm Park