ipledge

Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
By Red Skelton

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?
Red Skelton

National Symbol
by Charles Evans Hughes
The flag is the symbol of our national unity, our national endeavor, our
national aspiration.
The flag tells of the struggle for independence, of union preserved, of liberty
and union one and inseparable, of the sacrifices of brave men and women to whom
the ideals and honor of this nation have been dearer than life.
It means America first; it means an undivided allegiance.
It means America united, strong and efficient, equal to her tasks.
It means that you cannot be saved by the valor and devotion of your ancestors,
that to each generation comes its patriotic duty; and that upon your willingness
to sacrifice and endure as those before you have sacrificed and endured rests
the national hope.
It speaks of equal rights, of the inspiration of free institutions exemplified
and vindicated, of liberty under law intelligently conceived and impartially
administrated. There is not a thread in it but scorns self-indulgence, weakness,
and rapacity.
It is eloquent of our community interests, outweighing all divergencies of
opinion, and of our common destiny.