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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.

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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.

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 with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.

And to the Republic - - 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 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:
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

There is an elementary school here that has their sign saying "God Bless America". One mom complained about it and then got the ACLU involved. The school initially took it down but a whole bunch of parents started telling them to put it back up. So they did and the ACLU sent a letter saying to take it down or there would be court action. District lawyers said to leave it up and they will only take it down if the court says to. I am glad to see someone with a spine standing up to the ACLU (this is a very well off district). What gets me is this moron of a mother kept her daughter out of school because of it! The school isnt endorsing religion or anything else, its a generic statement. Things like this have made me think about becoming a lawyer . I liked one of the comments made by someone the news interviewed when they said "Dont the ACLU and this woman have more important things to worry about?" Ok, enough of my rant .

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Tim

For some reason I think I turned out Ok.

Seem odd to me that the every same person who will bring issue to a simple sign of respect... will carry around a pocket full of money and has no problem with "In God We Trust" written on it..odd huh!

quote:

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Originally posted by 73STP:
One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.

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It's "One Nation under God, Indivisible..."

Red shouldn't have forgotten that.

Stewart

quote:

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Originally posted by Stewart:
It's "One Nation under God, Indivisible..."

Red shouldn't have forgotten that.

Stewart

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Shoulda read the whole thing Stewart:
"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"

quote:

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Originally posted by wythors:
Shoulda read the whole thing Stewart:

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Thanks, Dave. I'd fallen behind reading all the posts the past week and have been trying to catch up. That's what I get for scanning and speed reading the posts.

Stewart