Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance>

The Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
January 14, 1969

“When I was a small boy in Vincennes, Indiana, I heard, I think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Socrates’ Speech to the Students.
We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and he called us all together, and he says, “Uh, boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to you. Or, could it be, you do not understand the meaning of each word? If I may, I would like to recite the pledge, and give you a definition for 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 courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts “Freedom is everybody's job”.
of the 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’s love of country, of America.

And to the Republic
A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern. And the 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.”

Now 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.

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 be eliminated from our schools, too?”

© 1999-2008
joescam

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”.
of the 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’s love of country, of America.
And to the Republic	A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern. And the 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.”

The Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton January 14, 1969

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”.

of the 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’s love of country, of America.

And to the Republic

A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern. And the 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.”

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 be eliminated from our schools, too?”

© 1999-2008

The Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
January 14, 1969