First it was an attempt to ban a 'pro-life' t-shirt at a Virginia high school [circa 2004].
Then a teenager was in trouble for a t-shirt where the words, "International Terrorist" framed President Bush's picture. [Also circa 2004]
Now an 11-year-old Colorado fifth grader has been suspended from school for wearing a t-shirt to school that read, "Obama a terrorist's best friend". Oh yeah, did I mention that dad intends to sue?
Debate the legal ramifications all you want but ... Why Can't We All Just Get Along?!1!
H/T to R. Enochs, Esq and The Volokh Conspiracy
4 comments:
It's more fundamental that getting along. It's about the right of free speech, which is guranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The problem is too many people use it as a cover for their own despicable or unbalanced actions. But kids wearing t-shirts to school should not be the focus of infringement on that basic right.
When I was in H.S., circa 1978, we would get dressed up for Halloween. My best friend at the time came to school wearing a white sheet, a turban and a rawhide belt - you get the idea. She painted her face to look like she had a full beard, then actually wore a fake beard. She also wore a sign that said:
The Ayatollah is an Assahola.
This was at the time of the US Hostage Crisis in Tehran. No one asked her to leave school or change her costume.
Which is at is should be.
Kris, the "get along" comment was more or less tongue-in-cheek. Just in case you didn't get that. ;-)
As for the rest of it, yeah, I agree. 'Twas my point (presuming I actually had one), I suppose.
I don't necessarily believe in free speech for minors. They do not have some rights which adults enjoy. If we are forcing them to attend school, then we have the right to restrict their behavior. We require (or should) them to behave in a mannerly fashion, and we require them not to use profanities and vulgarities.
I believe this proscription should last until graduation, regardless of whether the student has reached his/her majority.
But then, I believe in manners. Sadly old-fashioned and out of date.
It's simply far easier to same something crude than something thought-provoking and intelligent.
I despair.
d
Sorry Michelle - I've been in a somewhat foul mood for the past couple of days. My tonge-in-cheek-awareness-monitor has been malfunctioning.
Post a Comment