This was performed on Red's CBS TV show one night in 1969. The following day demand for his reading was so great that Columbia Records released it on a 45 RPM record. It became a million-seller almost overnight. When Red was just a small boy in school he had a favorite teacher named Mr. Laswell. One day while Red and his classmates were reciting the Pledge Of Allegiance, Mr. Laswell walked over to them and said, "I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge Of Allegiance all semester. It seems as though it's 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, 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 STATES" | That means we all come together; individual communities that have united into 48 great states - 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose - all divided with imaginary boundaries and yet united to a common purpose - and that's love for country. |
| "AND TO THE REPUBLIC" | Republic - a state in which sovereign power is vested 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 Red Skelton was a small boy in Indiana, two states have been added to our country. And two words have been added to that Pledge Of Allegiance. Those words:
"UNDER GOD"
Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that be eliminated from our schools too?
Written by Red Skelton
