Fifth grader refuses to pledge allegiance in name of GLBT rights

Smart kid.

His mom told him to say what?

It takes some pretty big balls to do what Will has done. I think its so awesome, and super inspiring how this brave young boy from Arkansas has added his voice to the fight towards true equality, liberty, and justice for all. Be them gay or straight....

Boo to the Pledge. Yay to the child who has his own mind.

amazing kid :D

this kids retarded. i bet you his tough guy words wouldnt have been spoken if his regular teacher were there. i didnt stand for the pledge in high school because i dont feel "under god" needs to be spoken every damn day. does that mean i've got huge balls and immense courage? no but this kid gets all this attention. hes 10, he may be right but what the hell has he seen to make him believe theres no liberty and justice blah blah. i bet instead of spongebob this kids parents put on fox news and now that hes grown up a bit he feels the need to be a punk ass on the day his teachers out.

again, this isnt news and this kid just wanted the attention of his class.

Yeah, because refusing the say the pledge of allegiance is a sure fire way to get media attention... I know it certainly worked for me, look at all the times I didn't say the pledge of allegiance and ended up on the news... oh. Wow, I guess that there would be no reason for the kid to think it would end up with him on the news. Maybe he didn't do it for reasons of fame then?

There are probably a couple of factors here that make this story somewhat newsworthy. First, the nation is having issues with gay rights. People are going back and forth, and it is potentially a very very big divider issue. Second, the location is Arkansas. It's not Texas, but Arkansas is still a red state is it not?

Note: Edited. Thanks for pointing out I wrote the wrong state cccocanicola.

!0 yr old's mimic what they absorb at home. it is not until puberty do they start to think they posses their own opinion.
Atleast the 5 i raised were like that.
Once the hormones start it is a losing game.

Considering everything that has gone on throughout the past year, I wouldn't be surprised if the kid came up with his own opinion. Leave CNN on long enough, and he's bound to pick up something.
Besides, some kids are more intelligent than we think.

Wow. Kudos to him for thinking for himself as opposed to mindlessly repeating something that you are told to...

This kid is clearly more intelligent than his principal.

Inspiring.

Well damn. That is one hell of a 10 year old.

who cares, I didn't even know they said it anymore. and this kid is special because his mom told him to say, or not say, what??

Say what you will, but the kid is right.

Atta boy Will!!!!

He's way ahead of his time! Very smart too!

Sounds like some people are a little jealous that this kid is getting some attention and they never did. I never stand for the pledge and I'm not pissed at the kid for getting noticed. I am def not going as far to say that he is "retarded". That is not a word i would use to describe someone who actually seems pretty smart. get over it cry babies.

I don't believe it. No fifth grader would have done this without outside coaching.

The kid has guts and is standing up for what he believes in! I Support! Its little things like this that will push forth the movement of equality!

Bravo! Right on.

Kids at that age have already started to evaluate there own perception of society it's not brianwashing its there own thoughts on how they percieve the world, I wanted to ban non-dolphin friendly tuna from a local store when I was 10 after watching a report on tv about dolphins drowning in nets. This is nothing new he's part of the next generation who will take over from us good for him for having the courage to stand up for what he believes, after all is that not what we all endevour to acheive children to be able to express there views freely.

If America is so terrible, i dont see the problem for you to leave. Yall think you got it so bad here, go to a poor and war ridden country and try and live there. idiots

I remember, growing up in a pretty racist household and community, that at a VERY young age, I questioned the validy of racist opinions and stereotypes. Definitely, in early elementary school, I was questioning and refuting racist ideologies. So, I know for a fact and from personal experience that kids do have the ability to think for themselves. Now, I know that one of my teachers taught me equality, but I also know she did not brainwash me. I don't know this kid; I don't know his whole story. But to say he's incapable, because of his age, of formulating his own opinions and moral-standards--I don't buy that. Don't say it's impossible because it isn't.

I hate people who feel like not standing for the pledge. Sure it is your right, but it always annoyed me when those kids in class refused. Just take a one minute out of your day, to show love and respect to your country. Wether or not you believe in everything that the country stands for.

Also, he was clearly coached here. Opinions pressed upon him from his parentals im sure.

Looks like some parents decided to use their kid to make a political statement. Nice.

A 10 year old has no clue, nor do they care, about gay rights in the United States.