One boy's Will to sit down for Justice for ALL

"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."
--William Phillips

At first it was difficult to grasp the concept that this kid is 10 years old, albeit a mature 10 considering he did just skip a grade, but still only 10. Even after watching his speech I still have trouble grasping that this small person, still 8 years away from his right to vote could be so eloquent in his understanding of such a complex and diversely argued issue as gay rights.



Many bloggers argue that he can not possibly understand the concepts and legalities of what he is fighting against, the marginalization of the GLBT population. And coincidentally, in his stand, Will has effectively stationed himself directly opposite the Catholic Church, who have recently decided that they will take the stand against same-sex marriage by threatening to discontinue their social service programs. And by threating to discontunue these program the Church is proving his point that justice is, in effect, not for all.

It is true he has a family that is socially active in the movement for GLBT rights, but to a child who has not yet even begun puberty what would marriage, let alone gay marriage mean to him? Then it occurred to me, it is not only about the fight for gay rights. This child is fighting for justice; justice for everyone, every group, every American. In his life he hears the cries for justice and in the pledge of allegiance he hears the proclamation of justice. At 10 years old he realized the discrepancy between the two, and as the child of social advocates he knows how to take a stand.

If more parents, communities and institutions as a whole were to raise children to be as insightful and socially aware as Will is, the war on social injustice would finally be a thing of the past. If every parent, teacher, civil servant, religious elder, and the such were to instill in our youth the same vigor for equality, as this child’s parents have in him, it would serve to influence and change the landscape of our society.

We discuss how it is our silence that perpetuates social injustice. Ironically it is this child’s silence that has become a shout for fair treatment for all peoples. If a child of 10 has the tenacity to stand up against the social injustices of a marginalized group, even in the face of adversity and persecution, what are you willing to do?

It begins with one.