
As a schoolboy, one of
Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance
to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection
of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
I Me,
an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge Dedicate
all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.
Allegiance My
love and my devotion.
To the Flag
Our
standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Courage; and wherever she waves there is respect,
because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's
job.
of the United
That
means that we have all come together.
States Individual
communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual
communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries,
yet united to a common cause, and that is love of country, of America..
And to the Republic
A Republic - a sovereign state
in which power is invested in the representatives chosen by the people to govern.
And the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not
from the leaders to the people.
For which it
stands
One Nation
One Nation - meaning, so blessed
by God.
Indivisible
Incapable
of being divided.
With Liberty
Which
is Freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life, without fears,
threats, or any sort of retaliation.
And Justice
The principle, and qualities,
of dealing fairly with others.
For All For
All - that means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
Now, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance
to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which
it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states
have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge
of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that that is
a prayer, and that be eliminated from our schools, too?