Let Us Not Offend the Venutians

Dear Readers, you might have gather by now that I am quite fond of my school, and along with that all the little traditions we have here.

 

That established, and in no way tarnished by what follows, there are a couple things that make me tilt my head and go, "Huh?"

 

Every morning, the whole school gathers for prayer.  We say a Pledge to the Cross:

 

Hail, Holy Cross, Brighter than the stars,

Thy name is honorable upon the Earth.

I pledge my loyalty to King eternal, immortal, and invincible.

To the only God, the honor and glory, now and forever.

Amen

 

We pledge allegiance to the American flag:

 

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

And to the republic for which it stands:

One nation under God, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all

God bless America

 

We honor the Texas flag:

 

I pleadge allegiance to thee, Texas

One state under God; one and indivisable.

God bless Texas.

 

And finally we pledge -- to the Earth?

 

I pledge allegiance to the world

To cherish every living thing,

To care for earth and sea and air,

With peace and freedom everywhere

 

I hope it goes without saying I like the world.  I do try to take care of it, and I intend to stay here.  From day one I have wondered, though: to whom or what else would we pledge?  Jupiter?

 

And what if we have some Martians or Plutonians out there? I hate to think we're making them uncomfortable (Plutonians are already upset with us, I'm sure, since we deplanetized them).