Posted on 07/04/2007 4:18:54 AM PDT by Diogenesis
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 under God, 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?
This is great. Rush played it in it’s entirety on his show yesterday. I had never heard it before.
Ping for later
Then you probably haven't seen it either...
I, too. I had forgotten how welll done it was. After the intro, Skelton abandoned his usual comic voice and read it perfectly, without excessive sentimentality.
Thank you! That’s a keeper.
You're right...it was perfect in tone and sentiment.
You’re welcome. Just came across it today!
Yes, it was great to hear again - too bad kid’s minds today have been indocrinated by the libs before 3rd grade to understand it.
Yes, was delighted he played it as his closer. Anybody who hasn't heard Skelton needs to find the audio.
Happy Independence Day everyone!
You’re welcome.
Pookie18 has provided a link to the audio and video in post #4.
It was not that often that he did it, but he would have the audience laughing in the isles and all of a sudden, boom, he was making a serious point. It always stuck.
Not only have the enemies of freedom been removing ‘under god’ from school. They’ve come into our state and local governments, and into our communities, trying to create the ‘kind of community’ they want - restricting our rights. Compare today to those days - we need government permission for so many things. Building a deck, putting up a fence, building a house, buying a gun, having a dog, a myriad of little things that used to be simple freedoms. And they want more - they want to control what you grow (native plants), what you cut (requiring removal of “invasives”, forbidding cutting of native trees), whether motorized vehicles or horses traverse the land, what size your house is, how much energy you use, the list is endless.
They’ve been working at all these restrictions for decades at the local level, but since they can’t get every community to buy in, they are working at the state level. PA went for state-wide building codes a couple years ago, prompted by a single horrible developer in the Pocono's - those codes have opened the door for government inspection of premises in every part of the state. The state can change the code anytime, expanding from purely safety issues (proper footers) to anything else they slip in with the omnibus bills at the end of a session. A number of other states have state-wide restrictions as well, and more will as radical environmental organizations lobby for them as a tool to get “environmental protection”.
We’re under attack from within by those who would take our freedom, and from without by the Islamists who would take our freedom. Today is the day to reconfirm our belief in individual freedom and individual rights, and to vow to fight it on every front!
I heard Rush play this on his show yesterday. I stopped what I was doing and just listened.
I got it in an e-mail recently, but I have had it on DVD for quite some time.
That only happens if parents are not involved, or unless they are already indoctrinated themselves. My grandsons will speak up to their teachers if they get too far out. (8th grade history teacher and high school AP English teacher are two)
I wonder when he did this? I note how he left off the phrase "under God". It doesn't look intentional since he does reference God.
John Wayne made a speech to the Republican convention (1964?). that was dead on. After listening to the politicians drone on or spout, it was great to hear a professional deliver a speech. What forgets what a great artist he was.
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?
He said this at the end.
Oh yes. Thanks so much. I recall that now also.
Wow. That eagle picture is AWESOME. Thanks for my new desktop wall paper!!
I find it disgusting that the hollyweirdos of today seem to think this country owes them something. They use their fame to badmouth the US too often. Of course there are a few who stand behind old glory. Does anyone have a list of patriotic actors/actresses? I know Bruce Willis and a couple others are.
Yes, we do tend to forget, it was one of the things I liked about Ronald Reagan and Charlton Heston they really knew how to deliver a stirring speech...must be that actor training. Fred Thompson is impressive too.
It’s the sense of timing that matters most. I don’t understand why modern politicians are such poor speech-makers. It’s a skill that can be learned. Thompson has this ability to break the flow of prose, to make it seem “natural.” He says “huh,” but its not because he doesn’t know what his next word is going to be. He doesn’t want to sound gibe, like WJC.
pookie thank you for the video.
You’re welcome!
.
The 21st Century is really all about spreading the last words of our Pledge of Allegiance...
“..with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all”
..’round the world,
...or there will be none at all...!!!
Priority No. 1 =
Freeing the Women of the World to be all that they already are in GOD’s eyes and all that they can be here on the Planet Earth.
.
I always remember you reading this at a few of our rallies.
Thank you sauropod. Hope all is well with you and yours.
I have read it twice, as I recall.
The first time, I presented it as written, and when we all recited the Pledge, the phrase “Under God” was included, even though Skelton did not include it in his remarks.
The second time, I intentionally omitted “Under God;” I recited Skelton’s Pledge the way he wrote it, omitting “Under God.” The crowd went nuts! As I expected them to.
Then, I read Red’s closing remark: “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?”
[BTW, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals did that!]
I was taken to task by several folks for what I did, but if I get the chance to do it again, I’ll do it again.
The point needs to be made in such a way that the people get the message!
Happy Fourth!
America for Americans!
The always inspiring message from brother Red Skelton.
Good stuff!!
I remember this over the speaker in first grade.
Nobody knew what is was then. But, I remember now.........
I remember this gem. Thanks for the ping.
Diogenesis, thanks for the post.
P I N G
He’s impressive, I heard him speak before he was a senator...knew his facts too. It doesn’t hurt that he’s tall either...he towered over me...I’m 5’1”
Thanks so much for posting this. I heard Rush read it yesterday, but I’m thrilled to now also have it in print.
ping
Always loved Red Skelton.
btt
Height matters. I recently read a store by a reporter of medium height. He said he was talking to a friend when another friend walked up to him and said he wanted to introduce him to Fred Thompson. He turned and immediately found himself looking at Thompson’s TIE. My son, who is six-four, had a similat experience whenintroduced to a pro-basketball player. This studd does matter. If Fred wins and Hillary is his opponent, her managers are going to have some serious staging negotiations for the debate. Otherwise she is going to look like Humphrey Bogart —was five-seven—playing opposite Ingrid Bergman, who was five-10., except that it will be she who wears the platform shoes. Speaking of, Thompson is unlikely to misplay his role the way that Hiliary’s opponent in 2000 did. He is very courtly and respectful of smart women.
Fitting, since the author of the Pledge was Francis Bellamy, also a brother mason (and a Southern Baptist minister).
Clearly, a conspiracy.
absolutely... Grand Honors for Bro. Skelton.
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