Posted on 07/02/2003 7:41:54 AM PDT by Temple Owl
Editorial
Second Thoughts
By: William W. Lawrence
The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I haven't missed the big Marple Newtown parade in over 20 years. It hasn't rained on that parade once during that time. It starts 10 a.m. at St. Albans Circle in Newtown Square and travels down West Chester Pike to the Broomall Fire House on Malin Road in Marple.
Trust me, this will be another glorious day. Remember to fly Old Glory and to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. See the "Off The Internet" item at the end of this column.
***
Off The Internet: Red Skelton's observations on our Pledge of Allegiance has been available on the Internet and other sources for many years. Let's join the great comedian and American and repeat his pledge on Independence Day.
The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day.
"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. 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 1969
©CountyPressOnline.com 2003
(Excerpt) Read more at CountyPressOnline.com ...
The funny thing is that even going to the trouble of using the link, there is no certainty as to which State this is from.
Important? Not at all.
It is just nice to be able to satisfy one's curiosity.
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