Red Skelton's Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
While this is not "humor" in the sense that it is a joke, it is
something which I feel needs to be shared. Red Skelton was one of the greatest
comedians I can remember. He was funny without being smutty. He also made some
profound statements.
The words were meaningful many years ago when they
were spoken by Mr. Skelton. They are just as meaningful today.
Now, more
than ever, listen to the meaning of these words.
Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
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.
"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.
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."
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
This link is to a site which contains Red Skelton's Commentary on the
Pledge of Allegiance as well as a recording of the commentary as it was
spoken by Mr. Skelton on his television show so many years ago.
