A 10 year-old Arkansas student is challenging the time-honored tradition of saying the pledge of allegiance because he feels the values stated aren't currently holding true, due to the current lack of equal rights for gays and lesbians.
After taking a good hard look at the pledge and deciding he didn't think the ideals were currently being upheld by our country today, Will refused to stand for the pledge on Monday, October 5 while a substitute teacher was in the classroom. After angering his teacher and administrators (and of course, being punished), Will has exercised his right to freedom of speech (or unspeech) and has chosen to repeat his boycott each day since.
Will, who wants to be a lawyer, says he always tries to analyze things for what they are. In the case of the Pledge of Allegiance, he says "I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all."
"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," the ten-year-old Phillips said.
His quiet boycott has met criticism from both school staff, administrators and students, some of whom have taken to calling him inappropriate and hateful names like "gaywad." Will says he doesn't see his protest ending anytime soon.
Jay Phillips responded to questions about whether his son is using this as a ploy to gain media attention, saying it is a cause very near to his heart. "He felt that just because he's ten years old doesn't mean he doesn't have opinions, doesn't mean he doesn't have rights, and doesn't mean he can't make a difference."
Will and his father appeared on CNN Monday morning to explain his choice in boycotting the pledge of allegiance:
What do you think about Will's quiet boycott against the Pledge of Allegiance? Can you see where he's coming from (and do you think you'll join him) or is it uncalled for?
If you were holding onto that inkling of hope that the nations of the world would come together next month in Copenhagen and finalize the much-needed treaty that puts a global plan of action in place to combat climate change, you're going to be disappointed. World leaders announced this weekend that the treaty will be definitely delayed, perhaps another whole year.
For the past several months, news about these leaders coming to an agreement to save our environment has been up and down, sometimes seeming very optimistic, at other times appearing to be a lost cause.
“There was an assessment by the leaders that it is unrealistic to expect a full internationally, legally binding agreement could be negotiated between now and Copenhagen, which starts in 22 days,” said Michael Froman, the deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs. “I don’t think the negotiations have proceeded in such a way that any of the leaders thought it was likely that we were going to achieve a final agreement in Copenhagen, and yet thought that it was important that Copenhagen be an important step forward, including with operational impact.”
Though they still plan to meet in Copenhagen, they'll be reaching much less "politically-binding" agreements, once again pushing these very important issues to the side. All parties agreed to come to an agreement (ha) in 2010.
What do you think about the delay? On one hand, we can understand the need to really sit down and work this through rather than patching together a rush job global climate treaty. On the other hand, this is one of the most pressing issues facing us as humans today. Guess all we can do now is hope for the best in 2010, and of course, do what we can in our daily lives to reduce our impact.
Human soldiers aren't the only ones putting their lives on the line to defend their country in a time of war. Sari is a bomb-sniffing black Labrador, who, until fourteen months ago, was dutifully working with a joint Australian-Afghan army patrol in Afghanistan.
In September of 2008 Sabi was assisting troops in Uruzgan when they were ambushed, resulting in a fierce combat that left nine troops being wounded and earned one Australian soldier a prestigious bravery medal. Though no lives were lost in that battle, Sari the dog went missing.
After months of searching for his whereabouts, Sari's comrades had nearly given up hope, but this week they got a very pleasant surprise.
Defense officials released word that a U.S. soldier found Sabi at an isolated patrol base in Uruzgan on Thursday. The dog was promptly returned to the Australians' base, where he was greeted by Prime Minster Kevin Rudd and photographed being petted by U.S. Commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal.
"Sabi is back home in one piece and is a genuinely nice pooch as well," Rudd told reporters.
Before Sabi can return to her real home in Australia, she must be tested for diseases, but it appears that someone was taking care of her, as she is in good condition.
Over 1,500 Australian troops are in Afghanistan, primarily used for training Afghan security forces. Many units enlist dogs to sniff out roadside bombs and other potentially harmful explosive booby traps.
Today is a day to celebrate those brave individuals who have served and are currently serving our country in war. In honor of Veteran's Day, IAVA put together a really creative and inspiring PSA encouraging vets to become a member of IAVA.org so they can connect with their fellow veterans for support.
If you want to show your support for our troops and veterans today (and really, why wouldn't you), IAVA is giving you a bunch of cool ways to do so, like finding local Veteran's Day parades, watching as IAVA vets take over Hulu, or sharing their mission via Twitter and other social networks. See a list of all the ways you can help here.
In case you missed it this weekend, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the much-talked-about health care bill on Saturday evening. Democrats came out on top with a 220-215 vote, which will result in an overhaul of our nation's current healthcare system.
Despite this small victory for healthcare reform supporters, the bill still has a very long way to go before it is official. Tennessee Democratic Rep Jim Cooper, who has publicly spoken against the bill in the past, is hopeful that it will become stronger as it now moves through Senate.
“This bill will get better in the Senate,” said Cooper. “If we kill it here, it won’t have a chance to get better.”
Representative John Dingell (D- MIchigan) compared the close vote to that of past victories that barely squeaked by. “Today’s may be a tough vote, but it was in 1935 when we passed Social Security,” said Dingell, who is also dean of the House.
Responding to questions about whether the bill will make it through Senate, President Obama released a statement following the vote saying, “I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.”
While the Democrats were high-fiving each other and cheering, most of the Republican Representatives who condemned the vote sat quietly as the final count was read by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D). Only one Republican voted for healthcare reform, Representative Anh Cao of Louisiana.
Representative Kevin Brady (R- Texas) said he will fight "tooth and nail at every turn" to ensure this bill does not make it to the President's desk. “Health care is too important to get it wrong.”
To watch the bill as it was passed, check out the clip below. It's no World Series, but it is just as exciting.
Supporters of same-sex marriage suffered a blow in Maine yesterday as the state voted against the legalization of gay marriage.
Polls numbers show that the vote was very close, with 53% of the voters voting "Yes" on Proposition 1 that would ban same-sex marriage in the Northeastern state.
This comes as a shock to many residents who considered the vote a shoe-in due to heavily liberal state legislators. Neighboring states such as Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire all passed laws allowing gay marriage earlier this year.
Frank Schubert, campaign manager of Stand for Marriage Maine, announced to the crowd on Tuesday night:
"It has all come together tonight, the institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine, and across this nation," Schubert said.
Gay rights activists are not ready to give up so easy. "We're in this for the long haul," said Jesse Connolly, manager of the pro-gay marriage campaign. "For next week, and next month and next year -- until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family and that will always be something worth fighting for."
Maine is the 31st state to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples following a popular vote.
Following through with a measure that was begun by Congress and President Bush last year, President Obama is lifting the ban on travel into the US for those living with HIV/AIDS. The administration will publish the final rule on Monday that lifts the band that has been in effect for 22 years.
The President said of the decision:
"A couple of years ago Michelle and I were in Africa and we tried to combat the stigma when we were in Kenya by taking a public HIV/AIDS test. And I'm proud to announce today we're about to take another step towards ending that stigma.
Twenty-two years ago, in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact, the United States instituted a travel ban on entry into the country for people living with HIV/AIDS. Now, we talk about reducing the stigma of this disease -- yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat. We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic -- yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people from HIV from entering our own country.If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it."
The ruling will allow families living with HIV/AIDS to stay together and will encourage people who have come in contact with the disease to get tested and get treatment.
This is a monumental step forward in treating those who suffer from HIV/AIDS not as individuals who should be quarantined, but as valuable members of society who deserve to be treated as equals.
The FBI announced on Monday that with the help of many law enforcement authorities, they have safely rescued 52 children and arrested 60 pimps contributing to and responsible for a nationwide child prostitution ring.
In total, nearly 700 people were arrested on both state and local charges over the past three days, according to the FBI. The arrests were made due to an ongoing nationwide investigation conducted on federal, state and local levels.
"Child prostitution continues to be a significant problem in our country, as evidenced by the number of children rescued through the continued efforts of our crimes against children task forces," Kevin Perkins, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, said in a written statement.
"There is no work more important than protecting America's children and freeing them from the cycle of victimization."
Operation Cross Country IV spanned 36 cities across 30 FBI divisions as a part of the FBI's program Innocence Lost National Initiative, created in 2003 with the goal of putting an end to sex trafficking of children in the United States.
The operation was conducted with the cooperation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and to date has resulted in the rescue of nearly 900 children and the conviction of more than 500 offenders.
It is repulsive that something like this could be happening right under our nose for years, but we're relieved to know that our law enforcement agencies are taking action to shut down these repulsive and horrendous operations.
