I don’t think the words “with liberty and justice for all” have ever been taken seriously in this country.

That’s why I remain seated during the pledge every morning. 

I mean, liberty and justice for all are supposed to be the principles on which this country was founded. That’s the reason school-aged children are made to recite these words at the beginning of each school day, isn’t it? 

I personally have never felt that liberty and justice applies to me.

I’ve always been different than my peers. From people talking to me as though I didn’t understand English to people rudely asking “what are you” in reference to my ethnicity, I’ve pretty much seen it all.

Then there’s the lower wages, higher incarceration rates and the constant threat of getting murdered by an officer.

When I think of liberty and justice for all, these aren’t the things that come to mind.

I also don’t associate this so-called liberty and justice with a country that politicizes women having the rights to their own body or gay people being able to get married.

This liberty and justice is supposed to be for all.

Not just straight and cisgendered people, not just men, not just white people. 

All people.

And yes, that all includes the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, people with disabilities, people of different religions.

All of those groups are constantly discriminated against in a country that promotes itself as being more progressive and accepting than others.

Liberty and justice for all does not really mean “all” in this country.

And until it does, I’ll be sitting during the pledge of allegiance.