Braiding Sweetgrass Fiona Dornberger

I did not attend a U.S. public school until high school. From kindergarten to eighth grade, I attended Waldorf schools, founded by the Australian philosopher and social reformer Rudolf Steiner. The schooling emphasized the growth of not only intellect, but also will and feelings. Everything was based in creativity and growth, community, kindness and gratitude. I didn't hear the Pledge of Allegiance in school until I transferred into public school system. Of course, we learned about the Pledge in school, when we learned about the United States in elementary school, but it was never piped into the school to be repeated. Instead, every morning, our class would stand up and recite a verse, crossing our hands over our chests.

Reading the Thanksgiving, I immediately thought about the morning verse that is recited each morning in grades 5-12 (Waldorf schools are K-12 programs): 

I look into the world
In which the sun is shining
In which the stars are sparkling
In which the stones repose.
Where living plants are growing
Where sentient beasts are living
Where human souls on earth
Give dwelling to the spirit.
I look into the soul,
That lives within my being
The World Creator weaves
In sunlight and in soul light,
In world space there without
In soul depths here within.
To Thee Creator Spirit
I will now turn my heart
To ask that strength and blessing
For learning and for work
May ever grow within me.

The verse seems to me, to almost be a condensed version of the Thanksgiving Address. Just like the Address, our verses varied from school to school, and the one I have posted here is quite different from the one I learned, but I cannot remember it entirely. The verse was not piped into the room, rather, we all stood together and united it on our own. 

When I moved to a public high school was the first time that I heard the Pledge piped into classrooms. I never stood for the Pledge, because it didn't feel right. It's interesting thinking about it now, because I've grown so much as a person since then. At the time, I don't think that I had a specific reason for not standing other than just not feeling right about doing it. 

My experience in the public education system was entirely different from Waldorf school. I could list all the differences, but I think the most important is that Waldorf education taught us to be kind, caring human beings. I didn't feel that way at public school. I lost a lot of my creative abilities there, free imagination, which I am still working to gain back. Something about it was sterile, empty, just as the Pledge felt. 

I have thought constantly about how we need to implement a new system of beliefs in this country, because what this country needs in a huge change in global mindset. I believe that the Thanksgiving Address, is what this country needs, or at least a shift in mindset to gratefulness. At this moment in time, our country is in confusion, turmoil. No one agrees on anything, and the moral compass of the country seems so far off that it seems almost impossible to get back on track. "...and to the Rebublic for which it stands..." I think that clause says enough. Our country needs to come back together to what is essential, what we all share, to the earth. Then we can truly come together because we all share and can agree upon the facts stated in the Thanksgiving Address, because who couldn't agree on those? Once our earth is gone, we have nothing. And our greed, will kill the planet.

I believe implementing a verse similar to the Address, or even the one which I learned could have a huge impact, a verse which looks to be thankful for everything we share. Children should be taught to be thankful for what that they have, learn kindness and strength in giving back. These ideologies can save the world. 

Will anything like this happen soon in the U.S.? Hmm...