What Was This Country Founded upon Again?
The Spirit
August 2002

Red Skelton recited the following on his television show some 30 or 40 years ago. I happen to own a tape of that performance so I bring it to you now as an example of simple common sense that seems to have lapsed in recent memory.

As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton’s teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance. This is his recollection of that lecture 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?"

A Federal District Court in San Francisco has ruled the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. Be it known that this particular District Court has had 23 of its last 24 decisions overturned by the current Supreme Court of the United States.

"So, Your Honor, the Pledge is unconstitutional because it says ‘Under God’.

Guess that means when you were sworn in with your hand on a Bible, and at the end of your oath repeated, ‘So Help Me God’ that makes your job unconstitutional, therefore you have no job, Which means your ruling doesn’t mean squat."

Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller Live HBO