On his television show, our late B Red Skelton related the words of his principal, Mr. Laswell, reacting to his students’ monotonous recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance:

“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

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.