Red Skelton Explains The Pledge Of Allegiance [VIDEO]

Every day, students across the country stand and salute the flag of The United States and recite The Pledge Of Allegiance. I remember doing it as a child, and how proud I was to stand there, hand over heart, giving an oath to my beloved America.

As I read the news today, I am saddened by current events, political brow-beating, and basically the state of our world and country, and I harken back to those days when I had pride for my country. Real pride.

I wondered, is there anything that can instill some meaning back into those words to lift my soul even the tiniest bit?

I found a video that was recorded in 1969 of comedian Red Skelton explaining The Pledge of Allegiance as it was explained to him as a young boy.

And at the end, there is a very powerful statement.

Watch the video, and when you do, think about your fellow Americans in this country, and your fellow human beings in this world. And try to find love in your heart, wisdom in your head, and pride in your spirit for all of God's creatures. We need a little more light right now.

Here is a transcript of that performance:

The Pledge of Allegiance:

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: For all, which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

And now, boys and girls, 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, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

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?