Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

Where is Your Allegiance? Column for the week of September 15-21, 2002

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These are uncertain times for our nation. September 11 was filled with memorial services and tributes to those who were caught in the terrorist activities one year ago. It reminds us just how vulnerable we really are. Who knows where the talk of disarming and restraining Iraq will lead? It's one thing to pledge an allegiance to a flag but just how patriotic are we? Where does our allegiance really lie?

Red Skelton, that red headed star of stage and screen and beloved comedian and clown, had a T.V. show years ago. He created personas like Freddy the Freeloader and Clem Kadiddlehopper. Each week he ended his show with these words, "Good night and God bless!" I'm not sure that would be allowed today. It would seem almost sacrilegious. I still remember seeing Red perform one of his most famous recitations, which was not a comedic routine but rather a reading of the Pledge of Allegiance and what it really means. You can listen to it at www.clown-ministry.com/History/red-skelton-pledge.html In fact, I highly suggest you do. It gives great perspective to these words we so casually recite by rote.

We enjoy wonderful freedoms in this country. We are a land of plenty. The scraps from our tables would be a feast for people in certain countries. Most of our diseases are the result of excesses, not deprivations. We demand our rights, but many times don't appreciate our privileges. People die trying to come to this land of opportunity. I'm not sure why God has chosen to bestow such blessings on our nation, but He has.

We don't feel quite as secure or protected as we did a year ago. We can live day to day in a quasi state of thinking terrorist attacks and wars just happen to other people but the truth is, these things can happen to any one of us. And when they do, we need to know where our allegiance lies. We need to know how patriotic we are. We can't afford to take our nation for granted. We don't know what tomorrow holds. However, we do know who holds tomorrow. Therefore, we can't afford to take God for granted, either.

©September 2002

Be sure to visit this page every week to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.