Red Skelton
on
The Pledge Of Allegiance

The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day.

Now, more than ever, listen to the meaning of these words.

When I was a small boy in Vincennes, Indiana, I heard, I think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Socrates' Speech to the Students. We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and he called us all together and he said, "Boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to you. Or could it be you do not understanding the meaning of each word? If I may, I would like to recite the Pledge and give you a definition for each word.

I
me, an individual, a committee of one

Pledge
dedicate all of my worldly good to give without selfpity

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 48 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's love of country...
of America

And to the republic
a republic, a sovereign state in which power is invested into the 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 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 is a prayer and that would be eliminated from our schools, too?

God Bless America!
Recorded "live" on July 4, 1970

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

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now playing "The Pledge Of Allegiance"
Red Skelton