I think I would teach them the original - just BECAUSE its the original. Then maybe a little later in an American History thing we could learn how it was changed and why. I'm not sure about whether God in it - or "my" flag make as much a difference as why it is said and why it was changed. We incorporate God into our everyday lives, constantly, so this would be a purely academic thing for me. Kinda like how you put your hand over the heart during the Pledge and the Star Spangled Banner. How and Why historically. Patriotism can be felt stronger thru history than because "that's what I was told" and I know too many people that don't even know the words, let alone why (other than it was required growing up.) Sorry for the rambling.....
We taught our children American history and the Constitution and the Pledge of Allegiance even though they are not all American citizens (four of them are US citizens; all six of them are British citizens). As a new generation growing up in this country, we felt it right that they should all respect the country, its institutions, and - as long as we choose to live here - demonstrate loyalty. On the other hand, at public events, I will not pledge allegiance. While feeling rather conspicuous sometimes, I stay respectfully silent. Occasionally this garners suspicious looks, but no one has ever said anything. For me, I grew up in Britain and, while I will not show disrespect, the American flag is simply not my flag. Neither would I expect an American citizen living in Britain to pledge allegiance to the Union flag. I view patriotism in the US as, mostly, a healthy thing. In Britain, you don't see many flags, and I doubt many people could tell you the words of our national anthem - which is hardly ever heard these days. Controversial though this sounds, for many in Britain, patriotism is a bit of a no-no. That doesn't stop me, living here, from being proud of the country of my birth. So, if you were to see the front of our house, you'd occasionally see two flags flying: an American flag (for our children) and a British flag (for all of us). In my office, there's only one flag - a Cornish flag.
No Way! I am very convicted to the "pledge alligence" to a THING. I see the flag as an idol not a symbol. Under the formal "Flag Rules" - one of them said something about the flag being a "living breathing thing" - THAT freaked me out! The USA is fine - but if I was born in Canada I would be happy there too. My Alligence is not to a thing or a place it is to God alone. That is just the way I see it.
We've lived in the US for a little over 23 years. I'd never flown on a plane before, which made it quite exciting (since then, I've flown over 6 million miles). We left from Heathrow Terminal 4 on the day that terminal opened - so there was a bit of a mess-up with the meals and the bags. About two minutes after take-off, lightning struck the plane on the wing. I was looking out the window at the time and saw it happen, which was quite awesome. I shall never forgot as we came into land in Boston. The houses looked so different, and there were flags everywhere. The smell of mulch will always remind me of that part of the country. At some point, I'll have to tell you just how different America is from how it's perceived overseas (and hence from what we expected). It will blow your mind. After all this time, I remain a British citizen. Really, it's a matter of convenience more than anything. With a British passport, I need no visa when traveling to Brazil (Americans need a visa), I pay no entry fee when arriving in Chile (Americans must pay $100), and so on. Since I used to travel extensively and may be asked again in the future, I just keep my British passport. Plus, I do have a bit of an attachment to the old place, even though I'd hate to live there.
