West Fork 10-year-old gets protection from a pro wrestler
The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart enlisted a pro-wrestler to protect 10-year-old William Phillips from West Fork on yesterday’s show.
Phillips, a fifth-grader at West Fork Elementary, recently made local and then national headlines after refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance until there truly is “liberty and justice for all,” particularly for gay people, who are not allowed to marry.
Phillips told CNN’s John Roberts that since the incident, some of his fellow students have assumed that he is gay and have repeatedly called him “gaywad.”
After being asked what a “gaywad” is, Phillips told CNN, “I really don’t know. It’s a discriminatory name for homosexuals.”
“This is a very valuable child. This child…must be protected,” said Jon Stewart during yesterday’s The Daily Show before introducing pro-wrestler Mick Foley.
“Like a lot of my professional wrestling brethren, I was touched by young Will’s plight. If I find out that anybody has hassled this young man or teased him or called him a wad of any sort, I and perhaps a few of my friends will come to his school and bring a world of pain,” said Foley.
Full video from The Daily Show:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Gaywatch – Peter Vadala & William Phillips | ||||
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Links of note
- A boy and his flag – Why Will won’t pledge. – Arkansas Times
- Will Phillips, 10-Year-Old, Won’t Pledge Allegiance To A Country That Discriminates Against Gays – The Huffington Post
- Gaywatch – Peter Vadala & William Phillips – The Daily Show
- Tip/Wag – U.S. Speedskating Team, NY Lottery & William Phillips – Colbert Nation
Discussion
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By Kyle Judkins on November 20th, 2009
One word….Awesome!
By roger on November 20th, 2009
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Lawrence Caesar on November 20th, 2009
In my opinion, the parents or whoever influenced…or better word…coerced this child into making this mockery of himself should be punished. This reeks of parental mental abuse. Does this ten year old even have a full grasp of just what limitations are there for “same sex couples”? Maybe his parents are same sex…which should give me even more incentive to oppose “their” adoptions in the future.
By burgerboy on November 20th, 2009
The kid seems pretty intelligent on his own.
I guess I am surprised that schools still say the pledge of allegiance at all.
By Me on November 20th, 2009
I have mixed feelings about the pledge in general, but I don’t think a kid refusing to say it should be punished. Many schools are so draconian that they miss the point of what students are there for… learning to become a productive member of society. I also read about schools banning skinny jeans. I hate skinny jeans, but think it is wrong to ban them in school. Banning baggy pants makes sense since it usually is combined with indecent exposure. I made it through high school with flying colors, but my rebelous side wanted to drop out several times because of crap like that.
By David Franks on November 20th, 2009
Lawrence Caesar–
You are such a clear thinker and so finely attuned to family dynamics and the mental development of children that I want you to be an ex officio member of every school board in Arkansas.
(No I don’t.)
By Sarah Tomlin on November 20th, 2009
@Lawrence. I love people like you, who without an educated view of any situation, can just pass judgement.
(No I don’t.)
By Sarah Tomlin on November 20th, 2009
Oh, and MICK FOLEY ROCKS!
By yrfuneralmytrial on November 20th, 2009
“Misery will be your study buddy”!!!!!!!! Holy crap, that’s awesome. Hopefully, the local idiots won’t accelerate the name calling in an effort to bring Mick Foley here. Hey kid, if you need local muscle, I’m your man.
By Sardon on November 20th, 2009
John Brummett said it well:
“the very idea of forcing anyone to pledge allegiance to a symbol of freedom is wholly antithetical to that freedom.”
Since 1945, few other countries even consider such loyalty oaths, and young Will has revealed this wrong to the world. When I take the pledge, I just say the last word a lot louder, because, as Will knows, we do have a way to go to make it true.
By Tony Wappel on November 20th, 2009
William Phillips rocks!!
By OutOfAR on November 21st, 2009
Whoa, Lawrence. I didn’t even know that republicans knew how to use the internet.
By yrfuneralmytrial on November 21st, 2009
I think their internet usage is primarily reserved for checking the Drudge Report and various gay porn websites. Just kidding.
By ARKinOK on November 21st, 2009
@OutOfAR…of course they do, FOX news can be found on the internet.
Lawrence, pay attention, the kid coerced the parent, the parent doesn’t even understand the kid’s comments
Sorry folks sometimes I can’t help myself.
By Mike Clark on November 21st, 2009
@Lawrence – You’re right, there’s no possible way that kid could’ve been genuine… if Balloon Boy has taught us anything, it’s that all parents are manipulative jerks vying for attention. They coached this kid pretty well, don’t you think? I mean, the way he ad-libbed that “gaywad” line *almost* had me convinced.
Sarcasm aside, this kid rocks! How does it feel to completely outclassed by a 10 year old?
By George on November 23rd, 2009
If William Phillips is a gaywad, then I am a gaywad too.
By five by five on November 23rd, 2009
@LarryCaesar– within 1 post you’ve made numerous baseless accusations & stated that at least 3 rights of American individuals should be denied. according to your “logic,” YOUR parents are the ones who should be punished, as you are the one making a mockery of himself.
By Lawrence Caesar on November 23rd, 2009
I still disagree with you all. Instead of defending the issue, you attacked me…so I can see you don’t have a way to defend your thinking on this issue.
I wish to re-iterate for those who missed my comment, since it was removed for “vulgarity” (even though the above comments have been left alone….hmm….)
If anyone actually believes this ten year old child has not been coerced, then I don’t know what to tell you. Are you all THIS DESPARATE for a spokes person?
By Innarested Observer on November 23rd, 2009
I don’t like the name “Lawrence”
By Me on November 23rd, 2009
I love how people insult Lawrence for using blanket statements about gays that you consider offensive… with your own offensive blanket statements about republicans.
By Lawrence Caesar on November 23rd, 2009
The main problem I have with it is the poor boy. He is facing years of redicule for things I believe he doesn’t understand. Whomever it was that coerced him into it should share in the onslaught. He’s ten years old…did they/he think there wouldn’t be any repurcussions? Does he have a firm grasp on why gay marriage is NOT legal? If he doesn’t, then I would venture he has been brainwashed. And if that is true, that definitely is not legal and certainly should not be “praised”.
By David Franks on November 23rd, 2009
Lawrence Caesar–
I’d rather think that your comment was removed because of its ignorant content: you called everybody else who had posted to this thread a homosexual, and you claimed that William Phillips’ parents are of the same sex. Neither is true.
Perhaps you will be kind enough to explain to all of us why same-sex marriage is not legal. Perhaps you will then explain why biblical standards apply. Finally, perhaps you will explain why you are so obsessed with homosexuals.
By SAM on November 23rd, 2009
If this kid really cared about what he was saying he would be upset about more than just this. He talks as though if we would just allow gay marriage (which I, too, am against) then there would be liberty and justice for all. And I agree with Lawrence that this kid probibly didn’t come up with this on his own. What kid uses words like ‘discriminatory’? If his parents made a big fuss about this it would be white noise. But if a ten year old appears to be afflicted by such current affairs that can get national attention. Plus it affords the gay community the opportunity to go crazy posting stuff again.
Kids that age are easily influenced. You could convience a ten year old that polar bears really do drink Coke. This kids parents’ voices aren’t strong enough to be heard so they put their thoughts in his head and used his voice. Now he is going to have to pay for their abuse.
By five by five on November 23rd, 2009
@LCaesar– i very clearly stated why i took issue with your first post; try reading it before including me in your generalizations. i wasn’t pushing a social, sexual, or political agenda; i was defending this kid’s freedom of speech and his parents’ freedom to TEACH him whatever the heck they want. ASSUMING he picked up his line of reasoning from his parents, rather than on his own, why does that qualify as brainwashing? oh yeah, because YOU don’t agree with it. of course, whatever ‘education’ you’d like to pass along to the kiddies (and everyone else) is just hunky-dory. ridiculous.
By milky on November 24th, 2009
OH NO! This kid has gotten national attention, so those crazy gays are going to go posting their evil, propaganda! The nation will fail! The sinners will take over the earth!
Please. Ten year olds are fully capable of listening to an arguement and coming to their own conclusion. I think that the parties who are most prone to the brainwashing are the folks spewing hateful slurs all over teh internets.
By yrfuneralmytrial on November 24th, 2009
To think a kid (this kid) who was placed in 5th grade after completing the 3rd grade would be incapable of a “hey, wait a minute” thought about inequality is crazy. I don’t know him whatsoever, but I can easily imagine him watching a world news TV channel and having an opinion on a number of surprising topics. And, even if his parents (or whomever) initially “influenced” him, who cares? His opinion on the matter is solid and tolerance of others is a good lesson for any kid to learn.
By Infidel on November 24th, 2009
I would think the kid could think this through for himself…it’s painfully obvious that not allowing rights to a group of people is wrong. Also, don’t just about all parents indoctrinate their children with some sort of belief system? I’m looking at you, Christians.
By pwolf on November 24th, 2009
Words can’t describe how awesome this is.
By jesse on November 24th, 2009
Anecdote: My kids’ school. 8 AM PTO committee meeting. Morning announcements and pledge. I stand but do not say pledge. Will Phillips shames me. He shames us all. (And isn’t raising responsible, socially conscious adults the point of parenting?)
By yrfuneralmytrial on November 24th, 2009
@Jesse, I’ve read and re-read your post. So, you arrive for PTO and when pledge comes around you stand silently. And, Will Phillips shames you? You lost me.
By David Franks on November 24th, 2009
He avoids the pretense of standing up.
By yrfuneralmytrial on November 25th, 2009
Well, if that’s his/her meaning, that’s about the most spineless display of rebellion I’ve ever encountered.
By jesse on November 25th, 2009
That’s my point yrfuneralmytrial. I felt spineless. Will Phillips’ story calls attention to how even the most progressive among us are often complicit. How there are opportunities daily to take a stand, so to speak, and we don’t because it’s easier not to.
By Infidel on November 25th, 2009
Well put, Jesse.