The late Red Skelton tells the story of
his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who explained the meaning of
the Pledge of Allegiance, word by word.
(Patience as
it loads please)
Now, more than ever, as you read
this,
listen to the meaning of these 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!
~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!
