Red Skelton's
Commentary on the
U.S. Pledge of Allegiance
As a schoolboy in Vincennes, Indiana, 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 courage; and 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
Individual communities that have
united into forty-eight 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 is
love of country... of America.
And to
the Republic
Republic--a sovereign state in
which 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 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.
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.
Old Glory... long may she wave!
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
