Such blatant disregard for the first amendment rights of others shouldn't even have a leg to stand on. The school had every right to tell the students to take it away and I'm damned glad they did.
Why do so many people forget that your legal rights do not extend to infringing on the legal rights of others?
And churches wonder why less and less people want anything to do with them...
PS. I'd also like to note that this goes both ways. Minority groups have just as much of an obligation, so a Muslim wearing the same sort of shirt should get the same treatment in my book.
Why do so many people forget that your legal rights do not extend to infringing on the legal rights of others?
And churches wonder why less and less people want anything to do with them...
PS. I'd also like to note that this goes both ways. Minority groups have just as much of an obligation, so a Muslim wearing the same sort of shirt should get the same treatment in my book.
The school had every right to do what it did for a variety of reasons, the first amendment does not factor into it. First off, children do not have the normal cache of rights awarded to adults of sound mind under the bill of rights. They may not purchase firearms, for instance, nor is age considered a legitmate prejudice under the law, which is why stores can not only ban sale of cigs to minors but also items like matches and lighters, without suffering legal consequences, as they would if they refused to sell me one.
Further, the first amendment does not cover anyone's right not to be offended. You or I can walk up and down the street with T-shirts saying the most derogatory crap we want, there are very few restrictions most of which are never imposed, i.e. you can not incite to panic or riot by screaming a crowded theater is on fire when it isn't. These kids certainly did not violate anyone else's freedom of speech or religion, and were they adults, or were they not in a public school, it would be nigh impossible to take action on the matter.
You are certainly not violating anyone's rights by wearing t-shirts that decry their religion, there are any number of t-shirts sold which make snide or mocking comment about any number of creeds, religions, ethnicities, political affilitions or genders. Crude, tacky, ignorant, and 100% legal... as they absolutely should be.
Such restrictions as do exist were made for very specific reasons and are typically enforced as circumstance demands, they do not apply to minors, any more than spanking your child qualifies as assault or battery, as it would for an adult. Although I certainly agree the parents of these kids could use a good public flogging, they certainly did not violate any laws I am aware of, schools simply have additional leeway on certain matters for common sense reasons that have been upheld by SCOTUS many a time. So too, do businesses and workplaces have a right to enforce dress codes and moral restrictions - in the work place itself, and this too has nothing to do with anyone's failure to obey those restrictions actually violating someone else's rights.
Lastly, I have to take issue in this context with your remark "And churches wonder why less and less people want anything to do with them... " which is more than a tad ironic while decrying t-shirts calling a religion evil. You're criticizing all churches because one criticized a church, you just used nicer words. If the t-shirts had said "Islam is a religion with numerous faults that many of us feel inspire a disproportionate number of its followers to rash and wicked acts" it would have been much the same statement, just politer, like yours were.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Islam is of the Devil
06/09/2009 03:30:51 AM
- 1514 Views
This statement got me:
06/09/2009 06:30:16 AM
- 1135 Views
What you say about those places may be true
06/09/2009 02:16:30 PM
- 836 Views
Regardless...
07/09/2009 04:34:48 AM
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Re: Regardless...
07/09/2009 06:10:18 AM
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I'm not advocating the killing of Muslims.
08/09/2009 07:11:13 PM
- 889 Views
You are free to wear offensive clothing
08/09/2009 08:13:18 PM
- 846 Views
There is a difference between hatred and truth.
09/09/2009 04:04:02 PM
- 782 Views
You do know christans have done that as well don't you?
09/09/2009 06:04:28 PM
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The difference is...
09/09/2009 06:16:13 PM
- 784 Views
really have you actaully read the Qur'an
09/09/2009 06:33:38 PM
- 822 Views
Acrually No I don't.
09/09/2009 07:52:19 PM
- 703 Views
Someone should have told Jesus the OT was void
09/09/2009 10:31:39 PM
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Jesus was the one who voided it.
10/09/2009 12:25:18 AM
- 819 Views
Logicaly, this is a stupid post.
06/09/2009 03:58:43 PM
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As an Englishman, why are you even posting in this thread then? *NM*
07/09/2009 02:49:22 AM
- 415 Views
Because I can.
07/09/2009 10:15:57 AM
- 853 Views
So can he.
07/09/2009 07:54:56 PM
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Yes
08/09/2009 05:59:24 AM
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It means a lot in context to the situation
08/09/2009 07:14:50 PM
- 897 Views
No, it does not.
08/09/2009 07:20:49 PM
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So now you can tell me what I can and can't do with my children?
08/09/2009 11:31:16 PM
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I can tell you what you can't make your children do in school.
08/09/2009 11:59:21 PM
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Re: I can tell you what you can't make your children do in school.
09/09/2009 04:10:19 PM
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Re: I can tell you what you can't make your children do in school.
09/09/2009 04:27:32 PM
- 924 Views
Define "disruptive".
09/09/2009 06:19:36 PM
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The thing I think you are missing...
06/09/2009 07:18:45 PM
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Wait, what?
06/09/2009 08:29:14 PM
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That is why America is different than those countries. Duh. *NM*
06/09/2009 07:58:53 PM
- 555 Views
I don't think I understand your basic reasoning. You can't be saying what it sounds like.
08/09/2009 01:40:42 AM
- 850 Views
Re: I don't think I understand your basic reasoning. You can't be saying what it sounds like.
08/09/2009 07:18:00 PM
- 806 Views
"Their government" is the American government. *NM*
08/09/2009 07:36:27 PM
- 350 Views
And yet I don't see CAIR..
09/09/2009 04:07:05 PM
- 752 Views
Really?
08/09/2009 08:02:42 PM
- 749 Views
Re: I don't think I understand your basic reasoning. You can't be saying what it sounds like.
08/09/2009 11:49:48 PM
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I'm appalled that this was even worthy of note
06/09/2009 06:46:58 AM
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Er? You misunderstand the law quite a lot there
06/09/2009 11:06:04 AM
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I believe the rest of the Church has done a horrible job explaining...
06/09/2009 08:02:25 PM
- 820 Views
The appropriate punishment...
07/09/2009 06:03:25 AM
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Punishment for what?
07/09/2009 09:51:57 AM
- 847 Views
When did I say anything about a law?
07/09/2009 10:48:09 AM
- 811 Views
Since were talking about the law, not your opinion of right an wrong, it's sort of a default
09/09/2009 05:01:08 PM
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Eh... I wish you were right, but I don't think you are.
10/09/2009 03:50:18 AM
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Morse isn't a bad example
10/09/2009 11:23:32 AM
- 800 Views
Fair enough. I'm just a little overzealous with what I see as infringements on civil liberties.
15/09/2009 01:14:48 AM
- 1092 Views
That's the key point so many forget:
07/09/2009 11:42:12 PM
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It's not that they forget, they never 'get' to begin with
09/09/2009 07:18:09 PM
- 841 Views