Thread: Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

Originally Posted by Nickelking

What the Pledge of allegiance means. Something we forget too often.

Not to start up another debate, but I still say the pledge this way, if I included the two new words "under god" the whole thing would be nothing but artifice.

Well, I suspect you kicked over a can of worms with your last statement. I have to disagree (respectfully and without heated intent) and I can best support my position with this quote.

The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

Yeah, I was hoping not to start up a debate, but I can't say those two words as I find the pledge to be more truthful to my taste without them.

I'm an athiest, I'll pledge to the flag, but not to a country represented by god.

+1 Ken.....

I love Mr Skelton's pledge of allegiance!

Hearing a person speak so genuinely is always a humbling reminder of what we should be feeling when the pledge is recited. It seems we get too caught up arguing over the trees and forget to realize that we are all one forest.

I for one am not religious, but I said the pledge in it's current state of entirety when I was in school and never thought twice about it because it had become conventional, and the overall meaning was the same with or without those two words. But a person should never be forced to say it if they don't want to. That would be completely against the spirit of our nation. To each his own I guess.

It would certainly be a shame, Red. Maybe we shouldn't give people the opportunity to complain and just leave those two words out. I'd rather not argue about articles of faith on which we might and do disagree, and instead celebrate that faith we all share.

As so often has been argued, an elected official of our elected government with the full support of the people has said that the pledge should include those two words. If you don't like them perhaps you should do something about it.

Wildtim, I love your Harold MacMillan quote.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

As so often has been argued, an elected official of our elected government with the full support of the people has said that the pledge should include those two words. If you don't like them perhaps you should do something about it.

I don't particularly mind them. Like the originator of this thread, I just don't say them. But I do think it would be a shame if those who were more offended by them than I managed to get the whole pledge removed from our schools because of it. The things people get worked up about are pretty silly sometimes. BTW Tim, do you enjoy needling me, or are you just bored?