Pledges of the DIO

The **Pledges of the DIO** are patriotic verses recited in order to reaffirm the duty of citizens to the State and to the **Glorious Comrade Leader Man Stalin**. Citizens in the DIO are legally required to recite pledges every day when they are in school.

## The Pledge of Allegiance

The pledge of allegiance of the DIO is a verse that promises allegiance to the flag of the DIO and to the State. The first version, which had a slightly different text from the current version, was first written in 850 B.C.E. by General George Bowe.

### Recital

All government sessions open with a recital of the pledge of allegiance as do all trials and government meetings at local levels. Additionally, many private organizations open with a recital of the pledge of allegiance. All schools in the DIO, its territories, and its ships require their students to recite the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the school day.

The High Court ruled in *The DIO Institute of Children's Knowledge v. Baker* that students can be compelled to recite the pledge and can be legally punished for not doing so.

The current Divided Islands Of... Flag Code states:

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> The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:
> "I pledge my allegiance to the State that is the Divided Islands Of…
> I swear my loyalty to this State, its flag, and its people. I swear that I will faithfully do my duty to the State and the people to the best of my ability. I swear that I will obey the will of the State and its leader. I am at all times prepared to give my life for this oath and for the protection of the State. This I swear upon my life and my honor. This I declare and affirm!"
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### Salute

The swearing of the pledge is accompanied by a salute. Children in school salute with three fingers extended and the thumb and pinky touching. Adults salute with a full military salute. Anyone not in uniform places their right fist over their left chest with the back of the hand facing outward.

## The DIO Rifleman's Pledge

The DIO Rifleman's Pledge is a part of basic DIO school and military doctrine. The Pledge was written by Major General Robert Bumaro, who believed that his men should understand the concept that "the only thing standing between them and a State crime is their rifle".

### Purpose

The DIO Rifleman's Pledge continues to stand as a pillar of ethos of the DIO. The Pledge is recited every day in school, usually in physical education and riflery classes. The recitation of the pledge continues as graduates are conscripted into the military, especially if graduates enter the Army or the Navy's infantry division.

### Current Text

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> I am a citizen of the Divided Islands Of…
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> This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. Without my rifle, I am useless. Without me, my rifle is useless. Useless to my people, and useless to my State.
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> I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. The State’s enemy is my enemy. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will.
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> My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hit that counts. We will hit our enemy.
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> My rifle is human, as I am human, because it is my life. Thus, I will know it as I know myself. I will know its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, just as I will keep myself clean and ready. We will become parts of each other. We will.
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> I swear this creed upon my life, and upon the trust that the people and the state have in me. If I break this creed, may the eternal hatred of the people fall upon me. My rifle and I are the defenders of the State and the people. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
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> So be it, until every enemy of the State is vanquished, and there is no enemy but peace!
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