THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
from the Red Skelton CBS Comedy Hour
January 14, 1969
As a youth, the pledge of allegiance had become a monotonous chore, then one of my teachers explained the pledge to me. . .if I may, I would like to share that explanation with you. . .
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 where ever she waves, there is respect because your loyalty has given her dignity to shouts "freedom is everybody's job."
UNITED... that means that we have all come together...
STATES... individual communities that have united into 48 great states, 48 individual communities with pride, and dignity, and purpose...all devided with invisible boundaries, yet united to a common purpose... and that is love for country...
AND TO THE REPUBLIC... Republic...a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern... and the government is the people, and it is 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... the principal or quality of dealing fairly with others...
FOR ALL... for all, which means it is as much your country as mine...
And now let me hear you repeat with me 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 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 should be eliminated from the schools too?
Red Skelton
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