I pledge allegiance to....

We like to make the Government's life easy here at Comment Central.

If Lord Goldsmith wants an oath of allegiance, we're going to give our readers every chance to create one. One that can be stuck with pride on every fridge in the country.

So...bring on the interactive electronic fridge magnets.

A Comment Central Prize for the best offering.

(Do have a go. It's great. This wonderful offering is only available to Comment Central readers due to the brilliance of Tom Whitwell. He described its completion as his proudest moment since working on The Times. I'm happy to accept his judgement.)

Comments

[Hanaflower]

Inspired by your fridge magnets, but I haven't the patience to see if all the words are there:

I pledge allegiance to good real ale, faithful friendship and British bacon sandwiches. I shall always endeavour to complain about the weather and public transport, and will pretend to dislike singing and dancing in public.

[Lew Rog]

A pledge for the youth of this country is a terrific idea but does it go far enough? Surely we should mark the occasion say by holding it in a public arena. The new Olympic stadium would be ideal. And to dignify it still further couldn't we think of a nice smart uniform for the young people to wear? Perhaps the stadium could be decorated with national symbols and flaming torches. There could be large posters of the great man who restored the pride in their nation. And as a token of their gratitude to their great leader perhaps the youth could be exhorted to raise an arm, palm forward, in salute.

[Jez W]

"Britain. Where only the greatest are honoured with statues."

Then on the side of this, have Winnnie Mandela wearing a Union Jack waistcoat, Pirelli extra-tread car tyre in one hand and petrol full Jerry Can in other.

Priceless.

[Bill Dryden]

While I think the whole idea is puerile and redolent of neophyte countries trying to establish their own legitimacy, for a British pledge of allegiance, you cannot do much better than Cecil Spring-Rice's words:
" I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice."
At least it was written by a british diplomat, and is not identifiable with any particular region of the UK.

[Jonny Wright]

I somehow doubt my Rabbi will want to pledge allegiance to bacon sandwiches ...

[tom watson]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/twatso1/bill.gif

This is a quote from bill bailey afew years ago on his part troll tour.

"Why would we invoke a non-specific deity to bail out these unelected sponges?"

(as to whether this is the british rather than the english anthem... I am still confused)

[graham g]

just another ridiculous idea from all those overpaid "special advisors"!!! what will they think we need to be told to do next??? anyway here's my pledge: " i vow to drink warm beer and reject that lager stuff, to dunk biscuits in my tea and reject the continental coffee drinking ritual, to confuse all foreigners with the rules of cricket, to litter conversations with UK english idioms and reject the metric system as the work of the devil i.e The EU

[D Paterson]

I pledge allegience to Blondie .Siouxsie & the banshees,Deep fried Mars bars.Haggis.and Scotlands Largest and most Beautiful City GLASGOW.

[ian]

I see new Labour standing over the fragments of a priceless antique vase, broken to a thousand pieces, with pots of glue in their hands and a puzzled looks on their faces. Any ideas anyone?

[Ad]

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

*Not original but appropriate.*

[Paul sOrene]

Yes - it was good idea when we thought it up years ago. Nice one!

[Gordon Barclay]

I half-heartedly sort of agree with Anti-Immigration, Legalized Ganja,No Limit Texas-Hold’em Poker,Free Music Downloads,Naked chicks over 18.5 years,and the freedom to
Horse-Whip Traffic Wardens new millenium Britain