A Fool Nation
By Rev. Mark H. Creech
October 5, 2005

(AgapePress) - It's incredibly moving. Each time I hear it, tears well up in my eyes. I'm talking about Red Skelton's rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance. On January 14, 1969, during his weekly CBS comedy variety show, Skelton introduced it as a lecture given by Mr. Laswell, the principal of the Harrison School in Vincennes, Indiana. Skelton said the man was a sage of his time. His recitation of Mr. Laswell's remarks concerning the Pledge of Allegiance have won 42 awards and twice been read into the Congressional record.

But Skelton's closing commentary at the end of Mr. Laswell's remarks is just as remarkable -- even downright prophetic. Skelton says: "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 be eliminated from our schools, too?"

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