Instead, people should be pledging --better yet, SWEARING-- allegiance to The Constitution and the principles of The Father of Our Country. The former is merely a symbol. The latter are the very essence and safeguards for the preservation of "Liberty and Justice for All." (Of course, citizens are encouraged to stand in the presence of the flag when they swear said oath)
I defer further comment to men of higher stature and credibility:
Repeat: “PROPHECY...WARNING US OF THE EVIL TO COME”
Any questions?
The Honorable John Marshall, 4th Chief Justice of the United States, referred to it as;
“... a last effort to impress upon his countrymen those great political truths which had been the guides of his administration, and could alone, in his opinion, form a sure and solid basis, for the happiness, the independence, and the liberty of the United States. This interesting paper contains precepts to which the American statesman cannot too frequently recur.” [The Life of George Washington]
In his book, U.S. Constitution Sesquicentennial Commission Director General, the Honorable Sol Bloom, declared that;
“Among the many valuable state papers of the nation, two are most intimately connected with the Constitution. These are The Declaration of Independence, which opened the way for it, and Washington’s Farewell Address on keeping in the path.” [The Story of the Constitution]
Repeat: “... KEEPING IN THE PATH!”