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 goods 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
your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
United - - That means that we
have all come together.
States of America-
- Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states.
Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All
divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is
love for country.
And to the Republic - - a
state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen 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 - 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 - which means, boys
and girls, it's 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.
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?
--Red Skelton
