American Pledge of Allegiance Commentary Red Skelton Red Skelton's Pledge

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.

of the United  -  That means that we have all come together.

States of America  -  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 for Which it Stands  -  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.

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 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:

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?

NOTE: There is no "comma" between the words, "one nation under God," therefore there should be no "pause" between those words when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

A proposed Constitutional Amendment is sponsored in the House (H.J. Res 108) by Rep. Chip Pickering and in the Senate (S.J. Res 43) by Senator Trent Lott. It will protect our Pledge of Allegiance and national motto, and will prohibit judges from declaring them illegal as did the 9th U.S. Circuit Court earlier in 2002.

News Update:  Washington (Wednesday, November 13, 2002) - President Bush signed into law on Wednesday a bill reaffirming, with a slap at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, references to God in the Pledge of Allegiance and national motto. Read the complete story.

Read Senator John McCain's story - The Pledge of Allegiance.

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