"The
Pledge of Allegiance"
As a schoolboy,
one of Bro. 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. Bro. Red
Skelton's Commentary on "The Pledge of Allegiance"
I ~~Me; an
individual; a committee of one.
Pledge~~Dedicate
all of my wordly to give without self-pity.
Allegiance~~My
love and my devotion.
To the
Flag~~Our standard; Old Glory; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she
waves there is respect, because yourloyalty has given her a
dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
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 with imaginery boundaries, yet united to a
common purpose, and that is love of country.
And to the
Republic~~Republic- a state in which soverign power is invested
in representativeschosen by the people to govern. And 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 to live one's own
life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And
Justice~~The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with
others.
For All~~For
all-which means, boys and girls, its as much your country as it
is mine.
And now boys and girls,
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.
Red's Commentary: 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 is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools too?
