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.
"I've been listening to you boys and girls
recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester
and it seems as though
it is becoming monotonous to you.
If I may,
may I recite it and try to explain to you
the meaning of each word?"
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's 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
individual communities
that have united into 48 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's 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
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 quality
of dealing fairly with others.
for all
which means, boys and girls,
it's as much your country as it is mine.
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?
God Bless America!