Child Refuses to Speak the Pledge Due to Unequal Rights For Gays

[LChinoz]

theres a difference between social and political. bringing obama into it makes it political automatically.

Agreed. No need to bring up the president...

 

[Cloud]

Somewhere I hear the distinct sound of Canadians laughing at us....

 

[Mesa]

okay, sorry, I won't bring it up again, but I do think there is a comparison to be made between both this kid's behavior towards or opinion of the US flag and the pic I posted.

 

[ProgMatinee]

A lot of American's marry Canadians and people from other countries, and then can bring those spouses to the United States to be with them and share in life and family, etc.

Gay couples from America who meet and fall in love with people from other countries cannot do the same thing. They must stay separate, or be lucky enough to have one of them live in a country gay marriage is legal and WANT to move there.

Also, adoption for Gays isn't legal in all states due to the gay marriage ban.

1)I don't think its as easy for heterosexual people to migrate their parter to America as you may think either. Its a long process either way.
2)Is it the "not being married" part that prevents adoption or the "being gay part"?

 

[ProgMatinee]

okay, sorry, I won't bring it up again, but I do think there is a comparison to be made between both this kid's behavior towards or opinion of the US flag and the pic I posted.

i may agree, but it'll get the thread closed for sure.

 

[Vader AL]

i don't care what this kid decides to do or not do but the lack of respect for the teacher should be dealt with. (telling her to jump off a bridge)

his parent's are an example of a lot of the problems this country has. damn whining hippies.

maybe the other kids will take care of him on the playground.

 

[praxitas]

Not saying the pledge of allegiance in my opinion is a great disrespect to all that have served, fought and died for your liberties and country. There are other ways to voice your opinion if you feel the need. If you don't like it or don't want to say it get the ???? out of my country.

 

[creecher]

I think the gay issue isn't the real crux of the matter. It's just an injustice this kid has observed and feels conflicted by. The teachers, on the other hand, are bound to carry out their duties, as per policy.

This is an ideal situation to educate the young, but it's probably too complex, for kids this young, to absorb it's intricacies. Teachers have a tougher time, these days, than ever before. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, and it's inevitable that it will blow up, like this, from time to time. At least the environment is free enough to allow it to happen. That's a good thing isn't it?

 

[ProgMatinee]

At least the environment is free enough to allow it to happen. That's a good thing isn't it?

This is true. In some countries the kid (and the people the kid is standing up for) would have been killed or something. Thats injustice.

 

[Mesa]

I will say that this story demonstrates perfectly the double standard that the media and some of the public are using on an increasing basis.

Like I mentioned, Carrie Prejean was basically crucified by most news networks for expressing her views on gay marriage, and ultimately lost her crown because of it. Not even to mention she was basically forced to give her opinion on this controversial subject when asked during the competition what she thought about it by that prick perez hilton. Most were ready to string her up for expressing her opinion when asked it.

Then you take this kid, who does seem very intelligent, and he gets his own interview and will probably be made some sort of hero in the media spotlight as such a cute gay rights activist.

Both were examples of freedom of speech. Both are perfectly legal to express those opinions. But in today's overly sensitive and overly PC world, one opinion is put on a pedestal and the other is abhorred.

 

[Bamboota]

I think this kid is awesome and his shirt rocks!!!

 

[Kuzeh]

Dude, Mesa...

I don't know how you do it, but you always find a way to play the republican victim...
This one's for you!!!

 

[praxitas]

I will say that this story demonstrates perfectly the double standard that the media and some of the public are using on an increasing basis.

Like I mentioned, Carrie Prejean was basically crucified by most news networks for expressing her views on gay marriage, and ultimately lost her crown because of it. Not even to mention she was basically forced to give her opinion on this controversial subject when asked during the competition what she thought about it by that prick perez hilton. Most were ready to string her up for expressing her opinion when asked it.

Then you take this kid, who does seem very intelligent, and he gets his own interview and will probably be made some sort of hero in the media spotlight as such a cute gay rights activist.

Both were examples of freedom of speech. Both are perfectly legal to express those opinions. But in today's overly sensitive and overly PC world, one opinion is put on a pedestal and the other is abhorred.

and if anyone disagrees with what was typed above your blind to facts.

 

[LOTRFan]

Dude, Mesa...

I don't know how you do it, but you always find a way to play the republican victim...
This one's for you!!!

Smooooooookin'

But I heard that Newsweek bogarted the shot from Runner's World?

 

[Mesa]

And rather than disrespect the United States by not standing up during the pledge, maybe this kid can use his energy to change the situation in the middle east where violence against homosexuals is EXTREME.

Legal status

Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, the legal code has been based on a conservative interpretation of Islamic Shari'a law. All sexual relations that occur outside of a traditional, heterosexual marriage (i.e. sodomy or adultery) are illegal and no legal distinction is made between consensual or non-consensual sexual activity. Homosexual relations that occur between consenting adults in private are a crime and carry a maximum punishment of death. Teenage boys as young as fifteen are eligible for the death penalty (see Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni). Approved by the Islamic Republic Parliament on 30/7/1991 and finally ratified by the High Expediency Council on 28/11/1991, articles 108 through 140 distinctly talk about homosexuality and its punishments in detail:[citation needed]
[edit] Male homosexuality

Sodomy is a crime for which both partners can be punished by death. If the participants are adults, of sound mind and consenting; the method of execution is for the Shari'a judge to decide. A non-adult who engages in consensual sodomy is subject to a punishment of 74 lashes. (Articles 108 to 113) Sodomy is proved either if a person confesses four times to having committed sodomy or by the testimony of four righteous men. Testimony of women alone or together with a man does not prove sodomy. (Articles 114 to 119). "If sodomy, or the lesser crimes referred to above, are proved by confession, and the person concerned repents, the Shari'a judge may request that he be pardoned. If a person who has committed the lesser crimes referred to above repents before the giving of testimony by the witnesses, the punishment is quashed. (Articles 125 and 126).
[edit] Female homosexuality

The punishment for female homosexuality involving persons who are mature, of sound mind, and consenting, is 100 lashes. If the act is repeated three times and punishment is enforced each time, the death sentence will apply on the fourth occasion. (Articles 127, 129, 130) The ways of proving lesbianism in court are the same as for male homosexuality. (Article 128) Non-Muslim and Muslim alike are subject to punishment (Article 130) The rules for the quashing of sentences, or for pardoning, are the same as for the lesser male homosexual offences (Articles 132 and 133) Women who "stand naked under one cover without necessity" and are not relatives are punished by up to 100 lashes. (Article 134)
[edit] Application of laws

At the discretion of the Iranian court, fines, prison sentences, and public lashings may be used instead of a public execution.

The charges of homosexuality and Lavat (sodomy) are difficult to discern in Iran. The judiciary allows forced confessions. Other charges are often paired with the Lavat crime, such as rape or acts against the state, and convictions are obtained in grossly flawed trials. Furthermore, homosexuality has been a charge levelled at political dissidents. On March 14, 1994, famous dissident writer Ali Akbar Saidi Sirjani was charged with offenses ranging from drug dealing to espionage to homosexuality. He died in prison under mysterious circumstances.[10]

The United States is one of the most accepting and tolerant nations in the world. that's something that this little brat doesn't understand. Nothing is perfect, and nothing ever will be. I love how we get people who complain about things that would get you thrown in jail and/or executed in other countries, but they are afforded freedom of speech in America per the constitution, and then bash the US for not meeting their idea of how a perfect society should be ran according to them.

It's impossible to please EVERYONE. I think if the Constitution were amended to afford gay marriage, there would be a much larger backlash from a much larger portion of the population who do not believe in it.

 

[agen_kolar]

Not saying the pledge of allegiance in my opinion is a great disrespect to all that have served, fought and died for your liberties and country. There are other ways to voice your opinion if you feel the need. If you don't like it or don't want to say it get the ???? out of my country.

I never really understood the whole "Pledge of Allegiance" thing. Since I was old enough to start thinking for myself, I've always thought it seems so...I don't know. Odd? Arrogant? Not sure what words really describe how I feel about it. I feel like Americans in general have this "holier than thou" attitude towards all other countries, and I don't like it. Especially when there are countries who have gay rights and such, when we can't even get our act together with that. People let their religious beliefs get in the way, and that's a problem for me.

I'm very, very grateful for those who have fought and died for the US, but in my opinion, that doesn't really have much to do with the Pledge of Allegiance. The way I see it, that's more of a pledge for what America stands for, and we don't even have what the pledge claims we do. I disagree with the addition of "under God," as well. Personally, I'll say the pledge when we have liberty and justice for all. As of now, and for the forseeable future, we do not.

Let me conclude this by saying that I respect everyone's opinion on this matter, no matter if it's the complete opposite of my own.

 

[LChinoz]

and if anyone disagrees with what was typed above your blind to facts.

Those are not facts...that's playing the victim card. And to add, Carrie Prejean is a sorry excuse for a conservative.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I love how we get people who complain about things that would get you thrown in jail and/or executed in other countries, but they are afforded freedom of speech in America per the constitution, and then bash the US for not meeting their idea of how a perfect society should be ran according to them.

The dirty secret is that liberals (I'm speaking about social issues, not political) don't really care altruistically about people. They just care about their own little pet agendas and will sacrifice their stance on one issue such as gay marriage to conjoin with other groups with issues such as pot smoking or abortion. They get all their pet issues together and become a big rainbow coallition. But the second you bring up the injustices of an entire race of people (who unfortunately for them don't have a voting block) they say we shouldn't be standing up for them.

 

[Mesa]

Those are not facts...that's playing the victim card. And to add, Carrie Prejean is a sorry excuse for a conservative.

Perez Hilton is a worse excuse for a human being IMO. I think he gives homosexuals a bad name because of how much he whines/cries, how immature he is, his flamboyance, pretty much the whole disgusting package of skin he is. But I totally support his right to make an ass of himself on a regular basis.

I could give two craps if he's gay or not, he starts that feminine sissy baby crap in front of me, I'll tell him to MAN up. Oh wait, Will I Am already did that. Serves him right, this whiny cry baby thinks he can go aroudn and run his mouth without any repercussions, looks like he finally learned what he should have learned in grade school.

And who's playing the victim card? Are you denying that there weren't any negative or hurtful intentions by the media after she gave her opinion on the matter of gay marriage when asked it? Are you denying that her crown was taken away as a result of her answer? If yes, obviously you supported the effort by the media to rub her name through the dirt and can't see the facts when right in front of you. Palin is another example, but you'll probably just say she's a stupid women because the media/CNN/MSNBC has you brainwashed.

Personally, I think Carrie Prejean is a very strong person and represents the conservative party just fine. She doesn't bow to media persecution. She doesn't bow to the "politically correct" left-leaning popular opinion. I respect that a lot, she stands for her ideals regardless of how unpopular the media wants to make you believe they are.

 

[Cloud]

Not saying the pledge of allegiance in my opinion is a great disrespect to all that have served, fought and died for your liberties and country. There are other ways to voice your opinion if you feel the need. If you don't like it or don't want to say it get the ???? out of my country.

Why don't you read your country's Bill of Rights, where it clearly says we have the right to free speech, and you cannot force us to conform to your socialist viewpoint of "Say it or GTFO." The first amendment gives us the right to speak what is on our mind, or keep our mouths shut! OUR FREEDOM.

And by the way, technically it is MY people's country that your people raped and pillaged and cheated from them. Before you want to send me away for not saying something that I don't feel like saying, why don't you f'ing go back to your family's country of origin ya ignorant immigrant!

My ancestors were settled here since the ancient days. When did yours sail over?

If you were so f'ing patriotic you'd know that what you would force people to do is the exact opposite of being patriotic according the founding fathers.