"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.
***~~**~~***
"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?
God Bless America!" Red Skelton.
It's truly amazing how
a comedian with a 7th grade education could predict the
future of our country back so many years ago.
***~~**~~***
Now most people who know me well, know that I am
a historian. I firmly believe history is HIS story.
Maybe not pages from the bible but certainly events we can and
should learn from. Here below is President Lincoln's
Gettysburg address. It is of course one of America's
greatest historical moments but I invite all to read his words
and reflect upon their meaning. See that these words
spoken in an attempt to bring comfort to our divided Nation
during our Civil war, but still reflective now when we are at
war with Terrorism - both at home and aboard.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought
forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty,
and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created
equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether
that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated,
can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that
war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a
final resting place for those who here gave their lives that
that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not
consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave
men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated
it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it
can never forget what they did here. It is for us the
living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work
which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take
increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the
last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve
that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this
nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and
that government of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth.
Now for a little humor:
The
following has been attributed to State Representative
Mitchell Kaye from GA.
"We
the sensible people of the United States, in an
attempt to help everyone get along, restore some
semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our
nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure
the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and
our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one
more time to ordain and establish some common sense
guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden,
and delusional.
We
hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole
lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and
are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car,
big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More
power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no
one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be
offended. This country is based on freedom, and that
means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may
leave the room, turn the channel, express a
different opinion, etc., but the world is full of
idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free
from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye,
learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool
manufacturer to make you and all your relatives
independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food
and housing. Americans are the most charitable
people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in
need, but we are quickly growing weary of
subsidizing generation after generation of
professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more
than the creation of another generation of
professional couch potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health
care. That would be nice, but from the looks of
public housing, we're just not interested in public
health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically
harm other people. If you kidnap, rape,
intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be
surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in
the
electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the
possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce
away the goods or services of other citizens, don't
be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock
you away in a place where you still won't have the
right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job.
All of us sure want you to have a job, and will
gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect
you to take advantage of the opportunities of
education and vocational training laid before you to
make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness.
Being an American means that you have the right to
PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier
if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of
idiotic laws created by those of you who were
confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We
don't care where you are from, English is our
language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came
from!
(lastly....)
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our
country's history or heritage. This country was
founded on the belief in one true God. And, yet, you
are given the freedom to believe in any religion,
any faith, or no faith at all with no fear of
persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of
our heritage and history, and if you are
uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!
Sensible people of the United States speak out
because if you do not, who will?
Vote
- it's American as American can be...!
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