Monday, November 30, 2009
Standing up for Rights by Sitting Down
So this post is maybe a bit delayed, but a few weeks ago I was watching a news show on the TV, I can't remember which one, but they had a story that caught me by surprise. On the show, there was a ten year-old or so kid, who was being interviewed. This boy had caught media attention by refusing to stand up for the pledge of allegiance in school. Why was he doing this? His reasoning was that he was and still is (I assume) refusing to stand up until the pledge is a reality for all Americans to have "liberty and justice", in his case he was sitting down for Gay-Rights. Yes, that's right, he is refusing to stand for the pledge until gays have equal rights to marry in our country! Of course this courageous child had been ridiculed by his classmates, who called him names and such, but he seems to be the poster child for all of the politically active existentialists we have been reading about, Martin Luther King came to mind when I heard this. Specifically it made me think of a quote from MLK's Letters from a Birmingham Jail, "I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice" (King). I thought of this because as a few of us were discussing the issue of equality for gays during office hours (brought up by a poorly written article in the school paper regarding the topic) it is clear that many people simply do not have a strong opinion either way that creates obstacles for progress. This pioneer of primary school has set an example for how true change is enacted. Anyway, I thought this was an interesting story, what do you guys think?
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I find it unreal that a child who is only 10 years old has more courage than the majority of the population. At a young age most children are taught to conform to society's expectations of a 10 year old. However, this child did not conform even with the teasing that his peers gave him. Though I most definitely believe in gay rights, I would not have refused to stand. In this case, according to Foucault, I would be considered a slave while this child would be exercising parrhesia. I feel that this example shows how everyone can use parrhesia because a child was able to make such a profound statement when children are generally not considered to be contributing members of society (at least not yet since they cannot vote or really be heard).
ReplyDeleteps. the title to this post is very clever. Nice one Steven.
I agree with Elise. This is a pretty amazing story. I don't think I even though about what the pledge meant when I was 10 years old. This story is a good example of what we were talking about today in class with Thoreau. This child did what Thoreau suggested. By not pledging allegiance and showing his lack of support of the government, he was taking action instead of being a moderate and excepting gay rights as is. I think this child should be a motivation to others that if a 10 year old is standing up for what he believes and showing is discontent for the government than we should be doing the same. Obviously, he has already made an impact on people and us included.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think I was that cool/smart/courageous as a ten year old but Im pretty positive I wasnt. I think MLK is right when saying that moderate whites are the ones to fear because they have all the power to make the change, but they often don't say/do anything. Through this perspective, moderate whites sound pretty worthless. But then again, I'm all for gay rights and think they should be allowed to marry but I don't really do anything about it either. Sure we can say how appalling moderate whites are, but then looking at our own lives its tough to realize most of us are moderate whites. I think if we were all as brave as that ten year old kid and took action, like refusing to get married until same-sex marriage is allowed, the world would be a different place. Unfortunately, I don't think many people are willing to make such a sacrifice in their own lives in order to help others.
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ReplyDeleteClaire said...
ReplyDeleteI would also agree that this young ten year old demonstrated courage that is hard to find in even the bravest of adults. By enacting parrhesia he not only actively fought for justice, but he demonstrated the ought most respect for liberty and equality. Anyone who tolerates the present conditions of gays is inactively supporting injustice.
We all read or heard this amazing story of an exceptional child ardently standing up for what he believes in with wisdom beyond his years, and we have criticized the moderates, who have chosen to step aside because they don't think it is their issue, but the irony is of course that we are criticizing ourselves. As Mary said we have not really become active in fighting for equality, and that says a lot about how we perceive ourselves. We know what we have to do, but we are afraid to do it (myself included) for any number of excuses (I'm busy with 15 page papers, I don't know what to do, etc). Ignorance is bliss my friends, ignorance is bliss!
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad to see the kid protesting, I think it's great to see people expressing an opinion and standing up for what they believe in. We all need to attempt to follow the example that he is setting, if we believe in something we should be willing to sit down for it. If everyone in America was as strong willed as this ten year old so much important change would be accomplished. I do know though how bad apathy can be, I never attended gay rights protests or did anything really to help advance the cause until I came out. I'd like to be able to pat myself on the back for protesting but I can't really since its an issue that affects me personally. As far as Stevens posts are concerned he has it exactly right, ignorance is bliss, we have to be willing to expose ourselves to awkwardness and discomfort in order to make progress.
ReplyDeleteEveryone agrees here that we can't sit back and tolerate these conditions if we ever want to see change. But my question is what can we do as college students to make effectively make this statement? What ever it is let's do it!
ReplyDeleteCases like this make me realize how I have taken a back seat to all these issues and, unfortunately, the country cannot progress without people taking a stand just like MLK did. If a ten year old child can do it, I would like to think I could too.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think is amazing about this story is the simplicity of this kid's actions. He did not even have to go out of his way to stand up (or sit down as the case may be) for his beliefs. I think this is a great lesson for all of us to see that while it does take courage, it really doesn't take a whole lot of of effort. We don't necessarily have to go out of our way to fight injustice, we usually encounter it every day.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ben. This kid's simple action sends a significant message. It's inspired talk among us as well as attracting the media. It's an ironic shame that this story has attracted so much attention. Acts like this kid's shouldn't be uncommon occurrences, but unfortunately, they are. I know I am condemning myself by saying so, but those who just watch injustices happen without doing anything to bring about change are truly the most dangerous people. I guess part of the difficulty today is that, like Claire brought up, we don't know how/where to begin.
ReplyDeleteI think the following quote by MLK is particularly relevant to this situation. It's from his Letter from Birmingham Jail.
"I hope you are able to ace the distinction I am trying to point out. In no sense do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law."