Straight from the Mike…Michael Murphy – Liberty and Justice for All

You can absolutely add my name to the list of residents who commend the Cobb Board of Elections voting to add the Pledge of Allegiance to start its future meetings. I concur completely with the statement of one of the esteemed members who said, “The pledge should always be in any government meeting.”

The concern for me is the duplicity of some pledge supporters being so willing to relish the words but be dismissive of the meaning and the declaration of freedom therein. One should not lose sight or minimize the essence of our Pledge of Allegiance. You should not expound its virtue of freedom and liberty then be so apt to chastise personally anyone who exercises their right not to stand or say the pledge.

I take that same position relative to our National Anthem. I am a football fan who can remember the Minnesota Vikings football team under head coach Bud Grant. Each of his players would stand in a straight line, helmet in the left hand and right hand over the heart for the entire Anthem.

It was such an impressive sight to me. The noticeable increase in the level of animus and acrimony in the public service arena is troubling. It is making it so easy for someone thinking of taking a drink from the cup of public service, may just decide to not even take a sip. Our community is the loser when this happens.

Folks, human relations just used to be so much more civil and respectful. I chuckle when I hear the term ‘thick skin’ needed for public service. Heck, nowadays it is like suiting up with the armor necessary to enter the Roman Coliseum.

Add to all of this. The expanse of social media and you are apt to be more popular than you are comfortable in the public square. It can make for an interesting conundrum. I have long subscribed to the philosophy of the late Judge Learned Hand with his supremacy of reason. We all need to work on preserving our democracy to ensure not only justice, and reason, but also freedom. Freedom to express yourself, exercise your rights, albeit maybe different and yet be respected.

I was so fortunate to be a part of a Presidential Delegation that went to Benin, Africa. In addition to the sojourn itself and the people I met, the memory that is an indelible one for me is the challenge our motorcade had in traversing the streets. The people lined the streets on both sides with excitement to see the American flags on the motorcade.

The main reason I learned that our flag meant freedom was witnessing that euphoria with non-citizens, which inspired me and gave me an even greater appreciation and dedication to the importance of freedom to this day. By the way, as far as I know, Benin has maintained its shift from Marxism to Pluralism.

I know what the pledge means to me. I can only hope others, who may not agree, will get the message, and choose to accept it too. One does not have to travel halfway around the world to know our treasures right here at home. Our future successes, despite the current ominous climate, will depend upon how many and how often we can elevate new people into responsible positions in our community.

 As the inscription reads on the gravestone in Henning, Tennessee of the late author Alex Haley, “Let us find the good and praise it.”

I remain Michael Murphy…