Our Pledge of Allegiance is a symbol that helps define who we are: " ... one Nation under God, indivisible …" Symbols are a culture's way of reminding its members of who they are and what binds them together. And when respect for symbols begins to crumble, so does the society. The polarization over our struggling economy, immigration and health care are symptoms of a society in trouble, and our symbols are being ignored and are even under attack.

For Americans, our symbols — flags, statues, monuments, songs, parades, rituals, ceremonies, pledges — are what make us stand a little bit taller, our hearts beat a little bit faster and find we are one people. One of the most visible symbols is the office of the president, our commander in chief. That office has always been a reminder that our nation has one person we entrust to lead us.

There was a time when most Americans trusted their leaders. That included the days of the "greatest generation"; when their commander in chief called them to defend our country, they did so with sacrifice and pride. When they came home, they built the greatest economy. They lived in an era where it was a given that the quality of life they experienced would be better for the next generation. And they raised their children believing that. But slowly, generations followed, influenced by Vietnam, Watergate, civil rights, television and education, and began to question their leaders. Subsequent generations saw differently. They became consumers living in a fast-changing world influenced by the World Wide Web that transcends national borders and provides instant communication.

As Americans, we find ourselves trying to cope with an unknown and constantly changing world. However, unlike past generations that resolved to pull together during tough times, we now find ourselves more insecure and fearful over an unknown future. We find our nation more divided and blame our problems on the other side, looking for scapegoats rather than solutions. Then there are those who exploit those fears for their personal gain with sound bites and misinformation. Those institutions that served us well and perpetuated our values and symbols are now under attack. Parents used to teach children to respect and look up to presidents; now we see parents trying to prevent their children from hearing them. I wonder if they are the same ones who complain about Americans who fail to respect our flag or join others in repeating the Pledge of Allegiance?

Symbols are vital for the survival of a civil society. Without them the sense of civility and community is lost. They represent the finest part of who we are and what we should aspire to become. We only have to think of how we stand a little taller and even tear up a bit after we sing "The Star Spangled Banner" as we see the American flag being raised. It's a symbol that reminds us we are all Americans and proud to be so. Now that our nation faces serious challenges, we should honor those symbols and carry out the hard job of renewing the American dream, rather than choosing sides one against the other. In times of crisis Americans may have argued with each other, but it seemed to be about how best to eventually come together to solve problems. Symbols remind us of the things we have in common.

Let us honor the symbols that serve to remind us of the American character that we are one nation " ... indivisible ..."

A Utah native, John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations; been on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch, served on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards; and filled White House appointments, including deputy assistant secretary of labor and as a member of the commission on Hispanic education. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net.