I have a new hero today in this story of a 10 year old student who refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in class, after considering that there is no "liberty and justice for all" when it comes to LGBT Americans. He’s faced condemnation from students and teachers, and I can more than relate. I attended school from the late 1960’s through the 1970’s and around 3rd grade I slowly began the process of standing silent while students recited the pledge. I got a lot of attitude for it, a couple of threats of violence from fellow students, stern stares from teachers. But I had a number of problems with the pledge, and although the gay issue may have been under the surface somewhere, my main objections were the following…
I couldn’t understand why I would pledge allegiance to a flag, rather than to a country…It was clear that Americans were not treated equally and there was not liberty and justice for all, which at that time applied mostly to minorities and one of my best friends, my next door neighbor was a black American…I didn’t like that God was involved with the pledge, not only because I wasn’t a Christian at the time but because I didn’t see what that had to do with the country…and I have to admit, that having always had a rebellious nature to me, I never liked being forced to do something without a valid reason. My biggest reason though, was something I carry strongly to this day. I don’t understand any group of people, be it citizens, or religious groups, etc, reciting pledges that are in fact, hypocritical. The most hypocritical thing about the pledge is the forcing of children to pledge an allegiance to a mythological creature such as God, when we’re supposed to be about freedom of and FROM religion in this nation. The second is this whole "liberty and justice for all" BS which has never been true in America.
The fact that this happened in Arkansas makes it even more amazing…this kid rocks…
WEST FORK, Arkansas — "When I heard from the principal, I was not happy," said Jay Phillips. Jay and Laura Phillips were shocked to hear their 10-year-old talked back to a teacher at West Fork Middle school Thursday — but were less surprised when they found out why.
"Don’t push him — four days of hassle, hassle, hassle and raise your voice," said Laura Phillips. "He’s going to lose his temper."
Their son told them last weekend he had decided to no longer stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school because he didn’t believe there is liberty and justice for all, especially when it comes to gay rights. "To say them [words] and not mean them would be a lie," Jay said.
This week their son says a substitute teacher prodded him every day to stand up and say the pledge after he had refused. He then says he got angry, and talked back. The Phillips said that they reprimanded him for that, but they don’t want him to be pushed to do something he doesn’t feel comfortable doing.
"We would like to have the school make sure the teachers know the kids do have the right to sit down and make their own choices, even if he is only 10 and in 5th grade," Laura said. She chooses not to say the Pledge of Allegiance, but Jay does. They said that they respect each other’s choices — and their son’s — and they don’t see it as an insult to the country.
"He is not anti-American," Laura said. "He is very proud to live here, but he knows even at 10 he can make changes."
The West Fork School District responded by saying that they don’t require students to say the pledge.
