Ford Greene, the mayor of San Anselmo, California, just pulled a move designed to infuriate conservatives who prefer symbols of patriotism over actual love of the country.

He decided, unilaterally, to end the practice of saying the Pledge of Allegiance at town council meetings. Why? Because it’s a mindless ritual… and because Donald Trump is an ass.

Greene said after the meeting his decision to dump the pledge is intended to demonstrate his continuing disdain for President Donald Trump. In October 2017, Greene began taking a knee during the Pledge of Allegiance at any event he attended, including council meetings. … Regarding his decision to remove the pledge from the Town Council’s routine, Greene said, “For my taste, it’s a little too rote an action. It smacks too much of mindless obedience in a time when independent thinking and independent municipal action is at a premium because there is so little happening on the federal level. “Over the course of the last two years, as I’ve been taking a knee, I turn around and look at everybody,” Greene said. “People’s hearts don’t really seem to be in it. They’re just doing something out of custom. What’s the point?”

I don’t know anything else about this man. But I love this man.

The rest of the town council, however, didn’t approve of his action. At the very least, they’ll have a more formal discussion about the Pledge at their next meeting on February 11. Perhaps they have a point there. But sometimes you need someone to shake up the system a little bit in order to move the discussion forward.

Even if the Pledge remains on the agenda, at least this gets a worthwhile conversation going about the purpose of a de facto prayer that adds nothing of value to these meetings.

(Thanks to Brian for the link)

