Loyalty... Part of the Scout Law

In The United States of America, it's still common for school pupils to take the Pledge of Allegiance. This happens quite publicly and may even take place on a daily basis in some schools. Typically, it would involve the pupil facing the flag of the USA and with hand over heart reciting these words:

'I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'

We don’t do that in Britain but Scouts have Laws and Promises...

Scout Promise
On my honour, I promise that I will do my best,
To do my duty to God and to the Queen,
To help other people,
And to keep the Scout Law.

Scout Law
A Scout is to be trusted.
A Scout is loyal.
A Scout is friendly and considerate.
A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouts.
A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

So Scouts are called to be loyal… to keep promises…

Do people keep their promises? You can probably remember times when you haven't. Promising something is easy − seeing it through is less easy. Is there any point in making promises these days? What kind of world would it be like if no one promised anyone anything?

And what about loyalty? Where are your loyalties? Are they to your country, your family, your community, your favourite football team? Or, are they really only to yourself? Perhaps we do need to look at ourselves and ask what has happened to loyalty to others beyond ourselves and our families and communities.

Perhaps our loyalty should not be to any particular way of life, but to life itself. Perhaps our loyalty should be to the idea that every person who shares this world with us deserves the chance to live a fulfilling, safe, happy and meaningful life, free from pain, poverty, prejudice and anything else which prevents them from living life to the full.

Christianity believes that life has a fundamental value and that we're all responsible for each other. It's everyone's job to make sure that everyone else's life is worth living.

Now that would be something worth pledging allegiance to.

Here is a pledge of allegiance, a pledge of loyalty which perhaps we could all share…

I pledge allegiance to a world where no one is hungry.
I pledge allegiance to a world where people are free.
I pledge allegiance to a world where truth reigns.
I pledge allegiance to a world where suffering is banished to the history books.
I pledge allegiance to a fair world, a world where everyone has opportunities − no matter what their race, gender or disability.
I pledge allegiance to a better world − a world where there is peace and justice.