A pledge is a declaration of good intentions; a commitment to
follow the straight and narrow path of righteousness; an exposition of high
values and virtues; a recognition of things worthy of upholding or deserving of
If made in earnest, a pledge can strengthen the moral fiber of
an individual; enhance the vision of one's conscience; provide a new day of hope
for the disillusioned; define a turn of forgiveness or repentance.
There are many inspiring pledges found in literature, some by
notable persons, others by common folk who feel a need to express a moment of
vision or a turning point in their lives. The web is a convenient place to
browse a number of pledges composed by many individuals, some very artfully
If you enjoyed reading The Civil
Gentleman pledges, you will likely appreciate sharing other pledges on the
web as well. You may also be inspired to compose a pledge or two of your
own and share them with us, your family and friends, or other folks on the web,
as well. You can send us your pledges by e-mail at the address indicated
Pledges can also be shared in small groups in a manner similar
to poetry readings. Think of a tea party where everybody brings a pledge
or two that they discovered in literature or on the web, or that they composed
themselves. By bringing enough copies for everyone in attendance, each
partner will be able to collect a notebook of these inspiring messages which may
later be shared with other friends or family members, as well.
Pledge readings, like poetry readings, can also be a basis for
discussing the meaning of the pledges and possibly common concerns for issues
identified (or ignored) by the pledges. If the pledges are many, such as
those of The Civil Gentleman, they can be read by several partners and divided
over a series of gatherings.
Everyone who participates in a pledge reading or pledge and tea
party is a partner, a Pledge Inspiration Partner. This is not an
organization or an affiliation of any kind, but only a descriptive name to help
identify the main intent of the gathering, especially when new friends are
invited. Anyone who sends us his or her own pledges by e-mail is also
dubbed a Pledge Inspiration Partner.
Sharing pledges in small gatherings is also a good way to cross
over cultural bridges related to different ethnicities, religions, age groups
and genders. By mixing up the partners in your group to intentionally open
the circle as much as possible, you will learn more about the common values and
special perspectives of each person and group.
Because the ethical issues identified by pledges can often lead
to extended debate and education from different perspectives, there should be an
agreement at the onset of an ending time for each session. Discussing
differences on issues should be encouraged and all partners should be content to
agree to disagree.
Depending on the content of the pledges, there may be more
sincere discussion by separating genders or other groupings for part of the
session. For example, many of The Civil Gentleman pledges may be discussed
more openly by a group of men who are being challenged by the pledges to treat
women in a more civil manner. After separate discussions, further
communication across groupings may help to build a better understanding of
By rotating the pledge and tea parties to different hosts for
each gathering, everyone will be an equal partner. Each partner should
also feel free to bring whatever pledge he or she wishes to share. The
group may also opt to focus on a particular theme for an upcoming gathering.
For example, themes could focus on parenting, marriage, business, substance
abuse, patriotism, world peace, healthy living and many other topics.
Sharing pledges in this way does not obligate any of the
partners to commit to any of the pledges that are presented. When
discussing a pledge that may require specific disciplines, partners may also
wish to discuss whether they think the disciplines are worthwhile, practical,
unrealistic, too idealistic, or possibly too general for effective direction or
accountability. Being critical and sincere in your discussion is a way to
properly respect the importance of the subject at hand.
presenting a pledge should be prepared to advocate its merits and value.
If a problem is revealed that is not well known, the presenter should be
armed with some educational information, as well, including perhaps some timely
literature that could be distributed to all the partners. A good
discussion is a stepping stone for intellectual growth and the reinforcement of
Preparing for a pledge reading or pledge and tea party requires
a little bit of research or creative effort to compose a new pledge of your own.
The frequency of each gathering should therefore be planned with ample time,
most likely on a monthly schedule. If your group includes a diversity of
cultural and religious backgrounds, it may be helpful to look for pledges
with broad cross-cultural relevance to share with your partners. When
composing your new pledges, you may likewise challenge yourself to identify common
motives or values that other partners may appreciate.