I lifted the lid of the storage box labeled Fourth of July. Mr. Magoo (my pug) poked his nose over the edge to see if any food crumbs might be there.
No food—just American flags; red white and blue candles; and a stars and stripes quilt hanging. I was setting out my Independence Day decorations.
I understood Mr. Magoo’s lack of interest in the ideals of our country; he belongs to the Dog Nation, but lately I’ve been feeling especially grateful for the ideals on which my country is founded so I explained the Pledge of Allegiance to him.
I paraphrased the wellknown 1969 words of the comic Red Skelton as he explained to children the meaning of the Pledge that he learned as a youngster.
“Mr. Magoo,” I said. “Do you understand the word I?”
He cocked his head in my direction. Clearly he did. He’s very intelligent.
‘I: means me, an individual, a committee of one.’ His brown eyes showed interest so I continued.
‘PLEDGE means dedicate or guarantee all of my worldly goods to give without pity.’ Magoo looked worried. His rawhide bone means a lot to him.
‘ALLEGIANCE means my love and devotion.’ Magoo understood. He knows I am completely devoted to him.
‘TO THE FLAG’… (Let me see… how to explain symbolism to a dog)… In Red Skelton’s words, ‘the flag is 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 business.’
I don’t think Mr. Magoo comprehended that mouthful.
‘UNITED means we have all come together.’
‘STATES: Fifty individual communities that have…come together, all divided with imaginary boundaries yet united to a common purpose …love for countr y.’
Magoo looked bored, but I was on a roll.
‘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.’
Magoo yawned and closed his eyes but I continued.
‘FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE… that means incapable of being divided.’
Magoo snoozed.
‘WITH LIBERTY: That means freedom, the right of power to live your own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation.’
Magoo snored.
‘AND JUSTICE: The principle of dealing fairly with others.
FOR ALL: … means it’s as much your country as it is mine.’
Magoo woke, stretched and came over to have his ears scratched.
I didn’t think he entirely understood the Pledge of Allegiance, but he doesn’t need to.
To see the video of Red Skelton’s beautiful performance, Google Red Skelton’s Pledge of Allegiance and watch it on YouTube.
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