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Last week we told you about young Will Phillips, a boy who refuses to pledge allegiance to the flag and the United States of America until gays and lesbians are allowed to marry. While Will is finding support from op-ed columnists and his parents, the kids at school are not as kind. They are harassing Will and calling him a "gaywad."

Well, last night Jon Stewart decided to do something about it. After praising this precocious 10-year-old, he decided the boy must be protected so he brought out professional wrestler Mick Foley to deliver a message.

"I was touched by young Will's plight so I'll tell you what I'm going to do: 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. Teachers, faculty, students beware because the eyes of Mick Foley are upon you."

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Comments

[JeremiahA]

Growing up in California, I always saw the repeating of the Pledge as a kind of affirmation of the ideals of liberty and justice for all, and as a way to honor all those who fought for this country. No teacher ever taught us that "liberty and justice for all" had already been accomplished and that we no longer had any civic duties. So this young boy's form of protest strikes me as not quite fitting the situation.

And I was disappointed to see an adult, a professional wrestler, talking about bringing a "world of pain" to elementary school students.

[atexasdem]

We had recently had a company wide class on sexual harrasment and discrimination at work.
Next day as I sat in the break room all I heard was "homo this" and "fa**et that". Fortunatly we had just had the class so when I said " I am offended by your comments and would like you to stop". Amazing thing, it stopped.
If we had not had the class the previous day I'm not sure what the group reaction might have been but bottom line is, they got the message. I would suggest people try this. It was non threatening, but people definatly got the message.

[Tim303]

"Pain will be your study buddy." !!!

[nsmavrik]

Religion has NO place in the classroom or in the Pledge of Alliegence.

I come from a christian family and my parents had infused in me the moral values of our religion, but made sure that it was COMPLETELY sepreate from any education that I would learn in school. They made it clear that religion was something that the church taught and not what the schools should teach. This is the reason that every Sunday I went to Sunday school. It was to get my RELIGIOUS education.

In the counter balance, they also instilled in me what it means to be a civilized human being and a true patriot of this magnificent country. It is to stand up to every fellow American who is hurting and needs an advocate for their rights. To deny someone something just because they are different from you in appearence and in lifestyle (as long as it hurts no one) is immoral.

My religion tells me a lot of things that are just and that are immoral. However, ultimately I will make the decision on what I think is moral and what is unjust and NOT someONE else.

This boy is the reason I still have hope for the next generation and the next one after that. Conforming to outdated believes doesn't make you a civilized person, it makes you a lemming.

Bravo young man. I applaud you.

[JeremiahA]

"To deny someone something just because they are different from you in appearence and in lifestyle (as long as it hurts no one) is immoral."

I could be wrong but isn't this moral based on a religion? How can anyone be certain that an action will not hurt somone, unless they were omniscient? Just some thoughts...

[Rock Jocelyn]

I'm not sure where you'd get the idea that saying it's wrong to discriminate comes from religion. Religion plays an important roll in both sides of that argument, but ultimately the rights of minorities are won in the public square. It's basic human decency to be good to each other. No religion invented that idea.

Also, as I'm sure you're well aware, there's a significant difference between knowingly hurting someone and unknowingly hurting someone. I'm all for asking questions, but yours aren't really well thought out and seem to reflect an interest in being contrarian rather than an interest in making interesting or relevant points.

[nsmavrik]

So you are saying that people would not know morality if it weren't for religion?

Oh brother.

You are kidding right?

I guess by your definition we need religion to know that killing someone is immoral? Or torturing someone. Or inflicting enough emotional pain on someone. Or stealing from someone. Or denying people rights that you have.

[sammyscout]

Awesome, Will

[MikaS]

No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only queer people are those who don't love anybody. ~Rita Mae Brown, speech, 28 August 1982

[Kiabell04]

LOL@Mike Foley. I heart Jon Stewart for doing this! That little boy is being harrassed for standing up for human rights. The bigots and their children aren't nearly as smart as this little boy. I commend him for doing something most adults wouldn't do.

[MagicalPossibilities]

The guy who got fired sounds like a graduate of one of those programs to "cure the gay"

[KIVPossum]

I admire the kid for standing up for his beliefs. Few kids that age are mature enough or brave enough to make such a stand. That doesn't mean I agree with him. There are many things in America I detest, but I am, and will always be an American and give the country my loyalty.

To me it shows how we have progressed, ever so slowly. When I was his age (4th grade) we would have felt the principal's paddle for that. I can remember being graded on the quality of our prayers (the teacher rotated through the class so everyone had an opportunity to give the morning prayer).

[Averred]

When I was in 7th grade at a Middle School in Florida back in 81' I had teacher that ridiculed a Jehovah's Witnesses child in my class because he would not recite the pledge. It was bad enough that this kid was always picked on because he wore the same style clothes to school everyday, but this teacher went overboard. She yelled at him and admonished him and insulted him. When he politely stated why he would not recite the pledge she yelled at him some more and called him names and finally made him stand outside every morning while the rest of the class pledged elegance to a flag. Her actions, at least for me, served the opposite effect of those she intended. I had more respect for this kid and less for her.

I hope that this intelligent thoughtful child does not suffer for his ethics and that he becomes stronger for it, and perhaps one day in the future we will get rid of this archaic oath once and for all.

[Averred]

\ˈplej\

6 a : a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear
b (1) : a promise to join a fraternity, sorority, or secret society
(2) : a person who has so promised

al·le·giance

1 a : the obligation of a feudal vassal to his liege lord
b (1) : the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government
(2) : the obligation of an alien to the government under which the alien resides
2 : devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause

A rather serious oath that I do not believe most adhere to.

This is nothing more than propagandist indoctrination.

[Chipher]

...as a minor, he can't make a legally binding pledge of allegiance, and taken under duress, it wouldn't be legally binding even if he was an adult, anyway...

[IrishTaco]

what is it the christians say? Out of the mouths of babes...

[MagicalPossibilities]

Amen to that. Kids should not be indoctrinated. As a child I had resistance to this custom. I don't blindly pledge allegiance to anything.
As I see it, the Pledge of Allegiance should be used only during certain ceremonies such as becoming a U.S. citizen or taking an oath of office.

[Averred]

I took an oath when I enlisted in the Army. I was an adult and I knew what it meant to raise my right hand and say what I said and I took every word very seriously. A child does not appreciate what they are saying when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance "every day" at school. Furthermore, why should a child be making a pledge to an inanimate object or any pledge to begin with other than for nationalistic indoctrination?

[jasonfebery]

Poor kid doesn't deserve to be picked on for standing up for this at all. Good for him. He has my respect.

http://jasonfebery.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/fear-tactics/

[ddanimal]

hahahahaha! LOL so funny.

[brooklyncitizen]

THe kid is brave....and his dad seems to be very proud of him.
Very funny response from JS.

[jdrourke]

Nice, Stewart! Who better to protect this kid from gay-bashers than a bunch of sweaty men in tights...? Puurrrfect!

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/

[Imzadi]

Fantastic!!!!!