I wrote the following piece as an oped in early 2019 (link: https://vtdigger.org/2019/03/03/rama-schneider-nations-vision-statement/).

Our nation's vision statement

I do not recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and I do not believe that doing so truly reflects our common understanding of the ties that bind us. I believe we should instead spend time sharing our thoughts regarding our only common vision statement: the preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

I personally have always been suspicious of icons, totems and other physical representations of values. On any given day, for example, our nation’s flag can be displayed in the offices of a local workers’ union, leading a Ku Klux Klan rally, advertising some commercial product, providing background for a politician, flying over U.S. military personnel overseas and more. The manner and intentions behind the use of our national flag vary widely in intent and supporting philosophy.

I’m shamelessly adopting someone else’s thoughts as my own. More specifically, I’ve come to the conclusion that an idea with true merit is to spend time reciting and discussing the preamble to the U.S. Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

That is our nation’s vision statement. Those are the reasons for and purposes behind all that follows from that single, simple statement. I wholeheartedly agree with and support that vision — as I understand it.

Imagine a town meeting where instead of the traditional flag pledge, somebody was chosen to speak to the meaning of establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare or securing the blessings of liberty. We would have a chance to share with our neighbors – and their neighbors, and on and on – an understanding of what those words mean to a nation of over 300 million folks who belong to a world of over 7 billion people.

I suspect we would see that my suspicion regarding icons is actually very well founded. I believe we will find that one person’s interpretation of “justice,” “domestic tranquility,” “common defense,” “general welfare” or “liberty” doesn’t always comfortably match up with that of someone else. We will see, in my opinion, that the U.S. flag as an icon of our national values does not meet the needs of our local communities, state or nation.

I took an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. The preamble to the Constitution is the vision I am sworn to uphold. Those are the values I will fight for.

I will stand while others recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I understand this is an important social ceremony to many, and I want to show respect for my fellow community members. But I will have my own thoughts and words, and those will start with “We the people of the United States …”