Whatever Happened To Truth, Justice & the American Way

4. Time To Retake the Pledge?

In 1969, the year that Americans first walked on the

moon, the Dean of American entertainers, Red

Skeleton, made this touching televised tribute to

''The

Pledge ofAllegiance:"

. . .

Getting back to school, I remember a

teacher that I had.

No~

I only went through

the seventh grade. I left home when I was 10

years old because I was hungry. I'd work in the

summer and go to school in the winter. But I

had this one teacher at Harrison School in

Indiana

to me this was the greatest teacher, a

real sage in my time, anyhow. He had such

wisdom.

We were all reciting the Pledge ofAllegiance

one day. And he walked over, this little old

teacher, Mr. Laswell was his name, and says,

''I've been listening to you boys and girls recite

the Pledge of Allegiance all semester; and it

seems as though it's becoming monotonous to

you. IfI may, may I recite it and try to explain

to you the meaning of each word:

Me, an individual, a committee ofone;

Pledge

Dedicate all my worldly goods;

Allegiance

My love and devotion;

To the Flag

Our standard, Old Glory, a

symbol offreedom. Wherever she waves

there's respect, because your loyalty has

given her a dignity that shouts, 'Freedom

is everybody's job;'