It will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone who knew me in my academic years to learn there was something about the Pledge I didn't understand.

Actually, there were a lot of things I didn't understand in those days — algebra, for instance.

My problem with the Pledge had nothing to do with the current controversy over whether "under God" should be taken out of what the nation's school-children recite each day.

Frankly, I was in such a catatonic state most mornings that it didn't matter to me whether there were 31 words or 29. Like most of my classmates, I said it with all the enthusiasm of a directory assistance recording.

My mouth was mumbling the words, but my thoughts were elsewhere.

I pledge allegiance ("Gee, Elaine is lookin' mighty good today.") to the flag ("I just noticed, I'm taller than Frank.") of the United States of America ("Maybe Mrs. Goldstein will forget to collect the homework I didn't do last night.), and to the republic for which it stands ("Elaine is definitely lookin' good today"), one nation ("Did I remember to bring my gym shorts?"), under God ("They'll probably serve 'mystery meat' in the cafeteria again for lunch today."), indivisible ("Wonder what that means?"), with liberty and justice ("Yessiree, Elaine looks just fine this morning.") for all.

Indivisible.

I had no idea what that word meant until I was well into high school. And, y'know what, I'll bet I wasn't the only one of those millions of kids saying the Pledge by rote morning after morning who had no clue about "indivisible."

Do you have a kid in elementary or middle school? Ask him or her what "indivisible" means. Perhaps you will be delighted when you're told it means something that can't be divided.

Possibly, however, you'll get the same blank stare and shrug I would have given to the same question way back when.

Looking back on it, I'm rather disappointed that I lacked the basic shred of intellectual curiosity that would have spurred me to find out what I was saying every morning.

I didn't care about the Pledge. I said it because I had to and everybody else was doing it.

Don't get me wrong. I was as patriotic as the next kid. Truth be known, I still am. I love this country, and that's why I think it's so silly for everybody to get so riled up about something that is almost always recited without feeling or fervor.

We've got our people dying in Iraq, an economy that can't make up its mind, millions of folks without adequate health care or a job.

And what the politicians and even some local citizens want to talk about ad infinitum, ad nauseam is whether the Supreme Court will allow "under God" to be taken out of the Pledge.

It may come as a surprise to some folks that the Pledge has always been a bit controversial. According to historian Dr. John W. Baer, the original version was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister.

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Not only was God left out, but so were "the United States of America," women and blacks.

Baer says that Bellamy, chairman of a committee of state superintendents of education, considered including the word, "equality" in his Pledge. However, since the members of his committee were against equality for women and blacks, he ditched the idea.

Words were changed here and there, but it wasn't until 1954 that Congress, after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added "under God" to the Pledge.

So, now the Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether to overturn the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said the phrase "one nation under God" amounts to a government endorsement of religion.

Looking at it from a strictly "separation of church and state" viewpoint, I suppose promotion of a deity has no place in the Pledge, on our money or as our national motto.

Surely, being a Buddhist or an atheist doesn't make anyone less of an American, and even though nobody is forced to say the Pledge, hearing it said over and over and over throughout the school year is unfair to children whose families don't believe in God.

And yet, with all our problems, should the nation be spending so much energy on this issue? No matter what the Supreme Court decides, it would seem that in these troubling times it will be important for us to remain — well, indivisible.

I did eventually look the word up, you know.

Sam Pollak is editor of The Daily Star. He can be reached at spollak@thedailystar.com or by calling (607) 432-1000, ext. 208.