Check this kid out! You may have heard about the 10-year-old boy genius (that’s my assessment) who refused to say the pledge of allegiance because gays and lesbians don’t have equal rights.
CNN got an exclusive interview with the boy, Will Phillips, and his father. All I have to say is that this kid is the smartest and coolest 10-year-old ever! Some people are put off by precocious kids, but I think it’s great he’s putting himself out there for our rights, even if it means getting picked on.
Check out the video and let me know what you think!
– Andy
I think that is awesome! The world needs more kids brought up being unbiased to certain cultural aspects of life. I think his father is a great man as well for letting his son’s voice about this issue be heard.
amazing kid..there should be more like him
wow, that is really saying something! kids tell us the truth, umm yeah i think the government and people need to focus more on who our future will be, then live in fascade of what they want it to be
Too bad he’s not old enough to run for President. I’d certainly vote for him.
This is ridiculous…..honestly he’s fucken 10 years old. It’s nothing but a publicity stunt and to get some “cool” ratings for CNN. They completely suck in the ratings and Lou Dobbs was even stated they everyone in the CNN line up was getting poor ratings.
To call this kid the smartest, the new President sounds completely exaggerated.
But its fine to call this kid the “coolest 10yo ever” since its your opinion that what he did was cool.
In all reality…who gives a shit what a 10yo thinks. They can’t vote, they aren’t mature enough per U.S. law.
Lets just take it at face value…the theory of him being for gay/lesbian rights is great….but to take it any further than that by calling him the smartest or coolest kid ever….calm down.
CNN wouldn’t have given a teacher 15 mins of fame if they did the same thing, but since he’s 10…then he gets his 15 mins of fame…
Let’s just move on.
I agree 100% with AP.
What he’s doing may seem “cool”, but it’s not having an real effect on anyone and he’s not changing anything, it’s just because he’s young.
10 year olds with real convictions, uh-huh, right..
wow AP and Marc, you guys are lame. I doubt you didn’t anything like this at 10, or even at whatever ages you are now. He’s doing more than our president, who I’m guessing both of you voted for. Sure he’s not going to change anything, but at least he wants it to change.
LOL….so what social change is this kid bringing? He’s 10…so just let it go.
Doing more than our president? I think any gay rights advocate does more than this president so saying this kid does more….doesnt hold that much weight.
Yes its a cool 15 mins of fame and good sound bit…but now lets move on.
That’s why our rights never get legalized, if in the gay world people thinks like AP, imagine the straight ones?
Amazing kid, amazing attitude, it doesn’t matter if he is 10 or 100yo, less one against us!
I won’t stoop down and argue with you guys because this kid is just smart and great. Let’s move on now to another topic like how is dad is a hot bear man. GRRR!
(btw, this is a rant, but it’s just turning out to be one of those days. sorry y’all)
Thony, Randal: “our rights never get legalized” because of the movement so violently trying to force social change that we’ve pushed the biases into the subconscious of the country. Now instead of someone being uncomfortable being around a gay person, they’re supposed to feel guilty about being uncomfortable, which means what? They move from discomfort to resentment. Resentment is a much taller wall, and we’ve built it ourselves.
The “pride” movement in general walks side-by-side in this criticism. It’s about as big a shot in the foot as requiring the terms “Pan-oceanic-American” or “Asian-American” or “African-American.” If you’re American you’re American. Likewise, we’ve moved past the bipolar system of “gay” and “straight.” We’ve embraced the whole gamut of sexualities, which means we should have a transexual pride day? A bi-sexual pride day? a quarter-homosexual day? No, we’re people. We’re wired to be turned on by the people we’re turned on by, but, just as we can’t choose the country we’re born in or the heritage of our parents, we can’t choose how that brain is wired.
Sorry. Anyways, it would be a more honest effort to try and simplify the legal system than to add special laws on top of an already-too-complex system.
I completely agree with tpsc85. I feel the only way anyone achieves civil rights is by being respected. Who honestly respects “the gay pride movement” when they do nothing respectable? So you marched and picketed a town hall? Awesome. But tell me, what have you done lately that makes me respect you? Did you raise three kids–even without the legal rights in some states to do so–and put them through college? Did you serve in the military? Are you a community leader back home? How do you contribute to making the society I live in a better place for everyone and not just your “minority”? Instead of dressing in rainbow flags and fluffy poofy outfits, dress in a business suit or khakis and walk down the street showing the world what you contribute to society; not how you stand out from it. People are more likely to respect things they can relate to as well. “Oh, you do the same job as I do. You work the same hours, have the same boss. Why should you not have the same rights as me? You’re not like any of those gay guys I see on TV. You’re respectable.”
And gays on TV and how the media portray them are completely different rants I won’t get into.
But what this child has done is awesome and respectable. He stood up for what he believes in. Publicity stunt or not by CNN or the parents, this child was smart enough and awesome enough at his age to say, “Hey, these people are people. Why do they not have justice or liberty?” He is going to be picked on, made fun of, and assumed as gay by his piers all because he decided to not say the pledge. And in this time of discrimination AND patriotism? He’s going to be called gay AND an anti-American for not saying the pledge. Children are brutal in grade school. I went through it, and I remember it. I have two nieces his age, and although I love them to death, they are no where near being that aware of the struggle of others. I fortunately taught them how to hold their own against bullies since I was one of those picked on kids that thought outside of the box. That child on CNN has got a hard road ahead of him for what he believes in. Give him credit.
Thank you awesome 10-year-old on CNN for being respectable.
I am pretty amazed what a 10 y/o kid just did, and it’s not a common thing for a child to find a meaning to the pledge. Their parents should be proud of him not by the fact he is a genius, but the fact is that he is fighting for his right, a voice to be heard. This is a very meaningful thing because it is reminding us that equality does comes in different sizes. Today he is a child who already has his ideas focused on what he wants to do, but tomorrow he will be one of many who can make a difference to all of us.
For all who thinks this is his “15-minute act of fame”… grow up. Stop ranting about a “what a 10 year old should say if he doesn’t vote or do something” –maybe not now, but tomorrow who knows. Whatever media wants to show it as an “unusual exclusive”, think about what he really wants to say to all of us… to all who watches him. His voice is more important to what we have to think about.
many of you are just jealous cause he has better english then you hookup focused cardboard heads 😛
BlockedUser, chinin, justamsboy, and tpsc85 are SO right!
The only way to get your rights is to get respect. And while getting pretty, dolled up, and practically half-naked is one avenue to show off your “Pride”, it’s NOT the way to gain respect – especially in our country. The way we’re portrayed 95% of the time in the media DEFINITELY isn’t helping our image. We’ve got to break down the doors of ridiculousness that are keeping us from truly getting our rights, but we have to be proactive. I can’t say I know all the answers, but I know that it doesn’t lie in apathy or being nonchalant about the situation.
There’s much work to be done, and with that said, I’m beyond proud of this kid, who doesn’t even HAVE to stand up for us, but he chooses to because he respects people for people. Which, I must say, is even hard for some of us in our own community to do!
Wisdom has to start somewhere, and in this case, it starts at age 10!
Oh yes, I forgot: Human rights are only given if you’re “respectable” (aka, if you wedge yourself into the normative values of the greater society (Aka; keep it in the bedroom and accept society as it is)).
Sorry, I’ll pass. Fighting for equality, while simultaneously buying into, and acting out the heteronormativity it pushes just doesn’t work. Respectability is one thing and, yes, it’s needed for prominent figures but not as a collective group. I think the double standard came out best a couple posts up: The whole “Are you a this? A that? What about this?” and then saying that people respect what they relate to “Oh, you have the same job as me”….
So, ya know, what are we doing wrong? We are acting just like everyone else. And that’s the point. We shouldn’t need to be “better” or MORE respectable than any other group in order to be granted the equality guaranteed to us under the US Constitution. To say otherwise is…I honestly don’t have a word for it. “Stupid” is too insulting, and really isn’t what I mean. Naive is closer, but still doesn’t quite hit the mark.
That kind of logic breaks down to this: We need to be BETTER than the majority…in order to be equal with the majority.
In what world does that make sense?
Now, if we want to get into how the media portrays Pride events and such, that’s a whole different kettle of fish (dear gods I really just said that, please shoot me). Media focuses on what’s out of place, unique, eye catching, etc. What’s gonna get a stare? The typical crowd, or the oddball in the bunny costume?
Nuff. Bleedin. Said.
nice how you forgot to give this the “CNN” tag 😛