Red Skelton, Mr. Lasswell and the Pledge

[DoctorDoom]

Many years ago, the late, great Red Skelton told of a teacher he had in school, Mr. Lasswell, and how he gave meaning to those too-often just recited words. This is a transcript of the ubiquitous audo clip (Google red skelton "pledge of allegiance"), on this eve of Independence Day 2007.

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"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.

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?


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[Timberwolf]

Everytime I hear that one, I get goosebumps. I only wish TODAY'S entertainers were as "with it" as Red.

[DoctorDoom]

Nah, it's doesn't use the f-bomb as punctuation or makes references to bodily functions and sex. They couldn't even say the words without a dread of their tongues erupting into white hot fire.

And they don't believe it anyway.

As Red always said at his show's end, "Good night and may God bless." And now he's blessing God.

[maxparrish]

Thank you for repeating the oration. I heard it a long time ago, and once more recently BUT missed who gave it (although it sounded like Red S., an under appreciated comic genius).

A very powerful bit of rhetoric, a real classic.