On CNN Monday morning (Nov. 16, 2009), ten-year-old Will Phillips his reason for refusing to say the pledge of allegiance in his fifth-grade class:
I’ve grown up with a lot of people and I’m good friends with a lot of people who are gay and I think they should have the rights all people should, and I’m not going to swear that they do.
For more on Will Phillips, see this story in the Arkansas Times.
I thought it would be fun to watch his CNN interview, and follow that by watching Former Miss “opposite marriage” California Carrie Prejean’s answer to Perez Hilton’s question in the pageant; so I’m making that convenient by posting them both here (below).
Aside from how they present themselves verbally, it’s interesting to see the visual contrast. Note (above, right) that the T-shirt Will is wearing on CNN started out as black — from how it’s faded in the interview, we can see that he likes to wear that one, with the message “NERDS 22 EVER.”
Ms. Prejean’s public presentation seems as different as can be, in every way.
Is the photograph (below, at left) sexist, demeaning, and inappropriate? I think it is. Normally I wouldn’t look even look at it, much less post it on my blog. (If it was Ashton Kutcher, on the other hand …)
But this represents the choices she has made, even as she seeks to deny choices for others.
So let’s have that debate. [Is Carrie Prejean “smarter than a fifth-grader“? Let’s watch and see … ]
For a preview, here’s Will Phillips:
And here’s Carrie Prejean:
shortlink for this post: http://wp.me/p1V0H-Nu
Tony's curricublog 
7 Comments
Interesting that Carrie’s Biblical beliefs are based on the “sinfulness” of homosexuality, but not of near nudity.
If I remember bible class, the sins are not numbered in some order of least offensive to “you are going to hell in a hand-basket!” A sin is a sin and we all are sinners. And that naked lady is acting like she is without sin and throwing the first stone. (Did I say acting?) HA funny, if she wants to be an actress!!
“I Stand with Will for his Right to Sit Down” That’s a saying Im seeing on T-shirts and bumper stickers and in store fronts.
Right on! I’m just a 45 year-old housewife in Chicago and jumped outta my chair to find Will Phillips online and tell him he Rocks!….But I when I went to Facebook I was overwhelmed to find that about a ba-zillion others had the same idea that day! WOW it’s been so wonderful, and if we want a brighter future, I feel the need to help this kid get into the best law school possible.
You can find his college fund info on him and his Dad (Jay Phillips) Facebook page. And there is a static website. That is sanctioned my Laura Phillips (Mom of the Year!!!) With the same info. They cannot use paypal, as that is taxable income and their tax guy said they might end up in higher tax bracket and will lose more than they collect. That part SUCKS! So find a stamp (44cents now) and a checkbook and let’s do this thing. I stand with Will for his Right to Sit Down!!!
http://www.willphillipscollegefund.org
There’s some repetition in Deb’s comments, but that’s not her doing. Two of her comments were held up as possible SPAM, so she redid the substance. (Thanks, Deb!) Now I’ve approved them all, and that’s why there’s repetition.
I’ve never even had Spam. What IS it made of?…is it Pork Shoulder and hAM? But what’s all the fatty gooey stuff?
Will is soooo smart it’s scary. I’ve seen his speeches he gives and he writes them himself.
I feel we need to make this kid’s dream of Law School come true. The family in in a lower tax bracket as you can see if you follow the facebook pages and the photos in their home.
They had to hire a tax lawyer to be told what to do with contributions and they got Will a tax-free College Savings account, so to donate without make the family pay the taxes on this income ya gotta find stamp….I know, I had to buy some. And a checkbook and follow the instruction on Will Phillips Facebook page, or you can go right to their static site with the exact same info:
http://www.willphillipscollegefund.org
Will is soooo smart it’s scary. I’ve seen his speeches he gives and he writes them himself.
I feel we need to make this kid’s dream of Law School come true. The family in in a lower tax bracket as you can see if you follow the facebook pages and the photos in their home.
They had to hire a tax lawyer to be told what to do with contributions and they got Will a tax-free College Savings account, so to donate without make the family pay the taxes on this income ya gotta find stamp….I know, I had to buy some. And a checkbook and follow the instruction on Will Phillips Facebook page, or you can go right to their static site with the exact same info:
willphillipscollegefund.org
One Trackback/Pingback
[…] reminds of the also impressive Will Phillips, the 5th-grader who took a stand for gay rights in […]