Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

But what do these words mean?

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.

United - - That means that we have all come together.

States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight 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 is 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 qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All - - 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?"

The late Red Skelton, actor, comedian, and patriot recited this on his weekly television broadcast on January 14, 1969.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfz2XDXaeqc

For what it's worth Mr. Skelton I have never forgotten this. Thank you!

And now let me hear you recite, the Pledge of Allegiance.

"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."

"Good nite, and may God Bless."

Am I A Patriot?

I'm not sure when I first considered myself a patriot, I only know I was very young. But it was a time when patriotism was revered, when it was even taught in our schools. (can you imagine such a thing) And at a time when it was shown to us on television and even more unbelievable the movies. Now it seems that Hollywood is doing the reverse of McCarthyism, black listing patriots. It must be their version of payback.

Saturday morning television was full of patriots such as Superman; "Truth, justice and the American way." Captain Midnight aka Jet Jackson, flying his Douglas "Skyrocket" called the Silver Dart. Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, and the list goes on and on. It has been said by some that the Golden Age of television was gilded and just mindless entertainment. But as I watched and grew I learned family values, right and wrong and patriotism, these are not bad things to learn. I can't say the same for today's television and movies.

Every school day started with the *Pledge of Allegiance. I doubt that many of today's young people can recite it or, more importantly, know what it means. I do remember the words and what they mean. I guess I am a patriot.

*to be continued

A Recipe For Life

No one will ever get out of this world alive.
Resolve therefore to maintain a reasonable sense of values.
Take care of yourself. Good health is every one's major source of wealth, without out it happiness is almost impossible.
Resolve to be cheerful and helpful, people will repay you in kind.
Avoid angry abrasive persons they're generally vengeful.
Avoid zealots they are generally humorless.
Resolve to listen more and talk less. No on ever learns anything by talking.
Be wary of giving advise, wise men don't need and and fools won't heed it.
Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and wrong; at sometime in your life you will have been all of these.
Do not equate money with success, there are many successful money makers who are miserable failures as human beings. What counts most about success is how a person achieves it.

Why Am I Here?

Why am I hear? A philosophical question yes. But the operative word is HERE. In this context here means this blogging site. So,then, Why?

As a parent and now a new grand parent I am concerned for my new granddaughters future here. ( HERE in this context being the U.S. of A.) Still the best place to live on this big blue marble we call earth.

I was a child in a time when 9Th grade Civics taught you how government ran, about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. (not the Bill of Rewrites that most of the current electorate, judiciary and forth estate subscribe to.) I'm was also a child from a time when the Pledge of Allegiance was required and God was not a dirty word. Today all this seems so far away and almost forgotten. I want my granddaughter to know of these things, not to indoctrinate but to educate. Because education is the only key to good sound decision making.

My maternal grandfather taught me that moderation was the key to good living. He also told me that responsibility was a good characteristic to have. I taught my children moderation and responsibility through my actions. I believe they will teach their children the same. So here I am. For What It's Worth.