Pledge of Allegiance
(As originally recited on his
TV show)
The Red Skelton Hour, CBS
TV,
January 14, 1969
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!
