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.

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?