“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,"

Twelve words that used to start every child’s day; a salute to what used to be a great country. Yet, now they are twelve words that seem to be said less and less frequently, just as the morals and foundations that built our nation seem now to be mere suggestions instead of a way to live.

"And to the republic for which it stands,"

Our flag, which exemplifies our history from the thirteen colonies to the fifty states, which flies from sea to shining sea, seems to have lost its meaning and its glory. We have forgotten to salute the flag that our troops fight and lose their lives for. The blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed in order to keep our nation free have been put to the wayside. Our minds have been clouded by the tragedy and hate that fill our daily lives and we point fingers instead of finding solutions.

"One nation, under God,"

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has been taken out of schools in fear of who we might offend. Our nation is no longer one, because we divide ourselves by the party we vote or by how much money we make. We have become quick to judge and condemn our neighbor, overlooking that we were put on this Earth to help one another.

"Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We were once a unified state yet now we crumble at the scent of controversy. The United States was once centered around liberty, yet, every day more rights are being mandated and taken away. Our judicial system has become corrupt because the crimes that occur are twisted to support or negate the newest legislation in Congress. Our fellow Americans have begun to feel unsafe on their own soil and yet nothing has changed.

It seems to me that our generation lives in a time of tragedy. Our ears stay filled with the recent shootings, racial conflicts, and hate crimes that happen all too often, taking sides instead of coming together. Our beautiful country has forgotten how to be united. When did this happened? When did the United States of America no longer hold the title of the best country in the world?

I urge you as an American to make a change and stand up for what is right. I urge you to open your eyes and be the change that you would like to see in our world. Nothing will happen unless we begin to realize that it isn't other countries that need our help, we're the ones that saving from ourselves. The United States isn’t the greatest nation in the world anymore, but with hard work and little faith, it could be.