“Pledge of Allegiance” by Red Skelton
January 14, 1969
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’s 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 48 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’s love for country.
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: 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 quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all: Which means, boys and girls, it’s as much your country as it is mine.
“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?
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In addition, gather a separate emergency bag for yourself and keep it in the car in case you’re called out while you’re away from home. It should contain personal items for a few days: toothbrush, deodorant, comb, change of clothing, etc. Also, include a copy of any important prescriptions, and update it when the prescription changes.
Links to Disaster Plans
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.calema.ca.gov/planningandpreparedness/pages/state-emergency-plan.aspx” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”briefcase” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]State of California’s Disaster Plan Guide[/slogan]
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster-safety-library” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”check” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]Red Cross Earthquake Safety Tips and Checklist[/slogan]
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/Pages/Home.aspx” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”book” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]Be Prepared California[/slogan]
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.melindalee.com/resources/emergency-guide/” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”asterisk” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]Another List with Practical Suggestions[/slogan]
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Links for Information During an Emergency
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.calema.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”bookmark” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]California’s Office of Emergency Services[/slogan]
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.weather.gov/” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”globe” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]National Weather Service[/slogan]
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”bullhorn” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]California Dept. of Transportation Road Closures[/slogan]
[slogan size=”small” buttonText=”Click for site” buttonLink=”http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/index.html” buttonLinkTarget=”_blank” color=”#969595″ buttonColor=”blue” buttonBgColor=”rgba(50,138,184,1)” buttonTextColor=”rgba(255,255,255,1)” buttonHoverBgColor=”rgba(238,252,143,1)” buttonIcon=”bell” buttonIconColor=”#ffffff”]Detailed Maps of Projected Earthquake
Damage[/slogan]