Daniel makes stuff, and, in his spare time, writes about things like movies, kid culture, and geek stuff.
A 10-Year-Old Who Won't Pledge

The story of fifth grader Will Phillips in Arkansas – who respectfully refuses to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance in his school, out of a moral dismay at efforts to take away the rights of homosexuals.

“I’ve always tried to analyze things because I want to be lawyer,” Will said. “I really don’t feel that there’s currently liberty and justice for all.”

After asking his parents whether it was against the law not to stand for the pledge, Will decided to do something. On Monday, Oct. 5, when the other kids in his class stood up to recite the pledge of allegiance, he remained sitting down.

The decision landed him in a lot of hot water: first with a substitute teacher and the principal, and then with many of his peers, who ridicule him for his support of the gay community. Still, he’s continuing his refusal to pledge.

All I can say is that it’s kids like Will who make me proud to be an American.

(Via Michael Johnson.)

Nov 13, 2009 :: Tagged under: , , :: #

Brooks: 'In Search of Dignity'

I hate old people rants – you know, the ones where somebody goes off about how this “younger generation” and “kids these days” don’t have any sense of civility or respect. Luckily, David Brooks never goes there in his current op-ed, but instead discusses the absence of dignity in general American adult culture.

While I’m a bit more culturally relativist in regard to social manners of discourse, Brooks is always worth a read. Especially when he ends his pieces with a reflection on the cultural impact of President Barack Obama’s election.

Jul 12, 2009 :: Tagged under: , , :: #