A pledge for Labor Day and beyond

No partisan group can co-opt the symbolism of either the flag or the pledge, though they may try. Anyone planting a campaign sign might consider also flying the American flag as a reminder that this is indeed one nation.

Monday is Labor Day, a federal holiday, although not one originally observed out of patriotism, like Fourth of July, Memorial Day or Veterans Day. Labor Day honors the working people of America which — in the irony that the current pandemic wrings out of everything — makes it a patriotic holiday for 2020. On Monday we will be offering encouragement to those Americans whom the virus has put out of work. We will also be particularly honoring those who have kept our country intact and operating through health care, food service, transportation, schooling, public services, journalism and other essential jobs.

Appreciation for what they do is one of the attitudes that has served to create a sense of common purpose among Americans in this most difficult of years. We sorely need that, as the pandemic shutdowns have kept us apart. We are now six months in. Physical separation only worsens the deep dividedness that the past four years have fanned into real animosities.

One of the many unintended consequences of not being in school or attending public meetings is that most Americans have not said or heard the Pledge of Allegiance in months. So, here it is:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

That nation is facing an increasingly divisive presidential election campaign. At the same time, we have lost those peaceable moments when 20 or 200 or 20,000 Americans stand for 13 seconds with hands over their hearts and pledge allegiance to the flag, together. For about a quarter of a minute, there is the reminder of unity. We need more such reminders.

Regrettably, the flag itself is now often misused by people whose motive is to divide rather than unite. It is supposed to symbolize “one Nation under God” but in some situations opposing sides wave it to argue about whose patriotism is the real or right kind. It is supposed to stand for “liberty and justice for all” yet that goal remains far off.

No partisan group can co-opt the symbolism of either the flag or the pledge, though they may try. With a special twist in this pandemic year, there is a way for all sides to show their loyalty to the flag.

Traditionally, Labor Day not only signals the end of summer but also kicks campaign season into high gear. Although the picnics, parades and public gatherings are constrained this year by the measures meant to curb the spread of COVID, the campaign lawn signs will still go up. And when they do, in many yards they will join thank-you signs and red hearts for the work being done by health care professionals and other essential workers. The juxtaposition of partisanship and a sense of everyone being in this together will be sharing the lawn. Anyone planting a sign might consider also flying the American flag as a reminder that this is indeed one nation with a shared set of problems and a need for unity to solve them.

Some are already doing so. On a residential street near McCook Point Park in Niantic are two neighboring homes a few doors apart. Each flies two flags. One flag at each house is the Stars and Stripes. The other, at one home, says “Trump.” The neighbor’s second flag says “Black Lives Matter.”

We can bemoan the inescapable reality that the secondary banners argue for making a choice of one or the other, between the party of the incumbent president and the renewed civil rights movement. Or we can recognize that although they disagree, both householders are saying they believe this election is about what is best for the nation.

“It gives him a feeling of security. If I was a psychiatrist, I’d say this guy has some big issues.”

President Trump speculating on opponent Joe Biden’s use of viral-protective masks