On his television show one night, Red Skelton described how a former teacher, Mr. Laslow, explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. He concluded with a personal observation. The whole thing bears repeating, especially in light of this moronic decision.

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.

of the 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?

That rumbling sound you hear is Misters Skelton and Laslow rolling over in their graves.

UPDATE: Publius Rendezvous has an excellent post on this subject.

Oh, and were you aware that the constitutions of every single state, all 50 of them, reference God?

TD