Commentary on the Pledge of
Allegiance
by Red
Skelton
As a schoolboy, 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 Freedom; 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
with imaginary 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 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
And Justice
- - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - - For All--which 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
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