Americorps service pledge
My fellow Safe Passages volunteers and I were sworn in as a group yesterday at Oakland City Hall by Alberto Retana, the U.S. Department of Education’s director of community outreach. Councilwoman Jean Quan was there and gave a short speech about the importance of education and service; apparently she’s running for mayor of Oakland, but I don’t really know anything about her campaign. Didn’t have a chance to take pictures, unfortunately. Here’s the text of the pledge:
I will get things done for America -
to make our people safer,
smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together
to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy,
I will take action.
Faced with conflict,
I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity,
I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment
with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member,
and I will get things done.
Actually, now that I think about it, with some modification, this might be better for U.S. citizens than the Pledge of Allegiance. It describes a commitment to service, self-improvement, and the well-being of the nation without some of the disturbing connotations of blind obedience.
