[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E787]]
                        THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 1995

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, each day of session, we begin the 
proceedings with the Pledge of Allegiance. We recite the words by 
heart, as we have since we were children starting each school day with 
that same motto. But how often do we really consider the words 
contained in the pledge?
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit to the Congressional Record an 
anecdote from comedian Red Skelton, who reminisces about the day his 
favorite teacher gave true meaning to the Pledge of Allegiance. It is a 
thought-provoking story, which will hopefully cause each of us to 
ponder what the pledge really means to us:
                        The Pledge of Allegiance

                            (By Red Skelton)
       I remember this one teacher. To me, he was the greatest 
     teacher, a real sage of my time. He has such wisdom. We were 
     all reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and he walked over. 
     Mr. Lasswell was his name. He said:
       ``I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the 
     Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it 
     is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and 
     try to explain to you the meaning of each word:
       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 50 
     great states. 50 individual communities with pride and 
     dignity and purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, 
     yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.
       Of America.
       And to the 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--meaning, so blessed by God.
       Indivisible--incapable of being divided.
       With liberty--which is freedom and the right of power to 
     live one's own life without threats or fear or some sort of 
     retaliation.
       And justice--The principle or quality of dealing fairly 
     with others.
       For all--which means it's as much your country as it is 
     mine.''
       Since I was a small boy, four 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's a prayer'' 
     and that would be eliminated from schools, too!
     

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