10 yr old refuses to Pledge Allegiance

[loaslaen]

I think you dislike his cause and are back flipping all over the place to avoid coming right out and saying so, and I'm basically laughing at you for calling what you have an opinion and what others have an agenda. That's it in a nutshell. I get the explanation and the attempts to differentiate. I just don't buy it. Again, if he were standing (or being punished for "inapproprately" standing) for your favorite cause, you'd be all over it as past discussions indicate.

It doesn't matter whether or not I dislike his CAUSE. His CAUSE is not the issue. His RIGHT is to choose whether to recite the pledge or not. I support that regardless of the cause or reason. If he said that he didn't want to stand because everyone is not equal because babies in the womb are not being treated equally through abortion, then I would still support his RIGHT to refuse to recite the pledge, but I would NOT condone his actions of telling the teacher to jump off a bridge, and I would still call foul play by saying he is using his INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT to unjustly get media attention.

No one treated him unfairly for this to get attention, he chose to ACT OUT inappropriately to get attention.

[Smee]

Sigh. Ok then.

[mxmom99]

i somehow doubt seriously that this 10 YO said that to his teacher to get media attention.....

[loaslaen]

i somehow doubt seriously that this 10 YO said that to his teacher to get media attention.....

I didn't say he said it to get media attention, I said he USED it to get media attention. Many kids refuse or have refused to stand during the pledge without incidence or media attention. What did the school do IMPROPERLY in his refusal to stand? NOTHING. The school reacted to his improper conduct of telling the teacher to "jump off a bridge". If ANY student told a teacher to "jump off a bridge", then they would/should be sent to the principal/punished.

No rights were being infringed upon that led the parents to seek media attention. Their son ACTED OUT INAPPROPRIATELY in order to stand up for his rights and got in trouble. What is the message in that? This story is an example of how NOT to stand up for your rights. He could have simply kept refusing and if they sent him to the principal for refusing...then that's newsworthy, and admirable...telling off the teacher is NOT!

[ATLmom]

That's how I always interpreted the last line of the pledge as well, that it meant that the person reciting it was pledging to ensure liberty and justice for all, not that they were pledging that there already WAS liberty and justice for all.

I think he's an intelligent, brave kid, but what he's doing isn't at all unique. I remember many kids who didn't say the pledge when I was in school, and that was quite some time ago. Apparently this kid just had a back asswards sub who didn't realize that it's pretty common now for kids to sit out the pledge, especially for religious reasons.

Respecting this country has nothing to do with reciting the pledge, or ensuring that you stand still as a statue with your hand firmly on your chest for the anthem. It's about doing what's right and trying to keep this country free and just for all and about making it better. Gestures are not the same as actions.

Very well said! I agree with everything you said. We had kids that sat out the pledge for religious reasons or whatever (in the 70's and 80's). No one made a big deal out of it. All they had to say was "I do not recite the pledge for reasons of my own" and that was the end of it. No one made fun of them or threatened to suspend them. I don't know what that teacher's problem was.

[ATLmom]

OK, I just went and actually the whole thing. I saw the part where the kid said "with a little malice..." As someone who has a precocious 10-yr-old son I can so relate to the father's embarrassment AND pride there. Not pride at the boy telling his teacher to jump off a bridge but pride that he was able to communicate his reasoning and feelings so well.

If the news is THAT slow for CNN why not let the kid have a little spotlight? Show him it's a good thing to have clearly thought-out convictions and stand up for them. But NOT a good thing to speak rudely to your teacher. Even if she was being overbearing and petty. To those that say well he should have just kept quiet and let her send him to the principal or he should have this or that... this is a 10-yr-old! He HAS to make mistakes in order to learn from them. Just because this kid is obviously intelligent and well-spoken does not mean that he is a miniature adult. It does however mean that he gets to be on tv when they can't find any more sex-scandals to talk about at the moment.

And for those of you making fun of this kid and saying how nerdy he is --- SHAME ON YOU! I bet you called kids with glasses 4-eyes or overweight kids fatty didn't you? Picking on kids for being different is FAR worse than telling a teacher to jump off a bridge! This kid's IQ is probably higher than any of yours. I would be proud to have this kid as my own. In fact he reminds me a whole lot of my own 10-yr-old. Nerd? Absolutely! But don't say that like it's a bad thing.

[derketchup]

Sorry, but he was just plain annoying! Good point or not, he just screamed nerdiness..if a 10 yr old talked to me like his interview, I would have a hard time keeping a straight face.

Actually, I found him to be both intellectually stimulating and refreshing at the same time.

This country was founded on the "right to pursuit nerdiness" and if you don't like it you need to move to a country with less geeky people, like Sweden or Iceland.

[nutts4coups]

I don't think kids should be forced to recite something when they may not even understand what the words mean. It's funny how Americans see footage of children in other countries reciting a pledge and call it "propagana" but when Americans kids do the same it's "patriotic". When I was in college I took a summer job at a US wildlife refuge and had to be sworn in and say the standard federal jobs pledge of "defending the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic". All I wanted to do was pick up some litter and do some painting. I certainly was not going to defend against any enemies with a paintbrush! But it didn't occur to me at the time that I could refuse. I applaude anyone, no matter what their age, who stands up for their convictions as long as they do so respectfully.

[QponClippinQueen]

I haven't read the thread yet and something tells me I'm may regret saying this lol but...
I never said it in school. I will not put GOD into anything I'm saying. I choose not to believe in something that can't be proved and anyone who has proof is more than welcome to share with me. Now I will saw that for what he's going through yeah I think he's brave but it's very common. My DS will not say it either and he's 6. We spoke about it when he started pre k and he asked me to practice with him. I told him I had to look it up cause I don't recall all of it. It opened a discussion and then HE made his OWN choice to not say it and told me why as well. But his has nothing to do with God since he goes to church and all.

Do I think we have freedom yeah sure sorta.. True freedom in every sense of the word no. But yes more freedom than many many many other places. I do love this country but I do have my issues with it as well..

Flame away.

He's a smart kid who is a little misinformed.

[MaryMary]

Do I think we have freedom yeah sure sorta.. True freedom in every sense of the word no. But yes more freedom than many many many other places. I do love this country but I do have my issues with it as well..

Flame away.

He's a smart kid who is a little misinformed.

As long as we live surrounded by other humans with own needs we'll never have "True freedom in every sense of the word" . And I do not think many wants it because it means anarchy: everybody does/says anything they want regardless of anybody else wants/needs/feelings.