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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, we must listen to the meaning in his 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!
of the 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! |
