Wednesday, September 02, 2009



ROTC student suspended for telling Muslim to respect flag, remove hijab

Must not criticize Muslims
"Maybe it's because her dad served in the U.S. Marines ... or because her high school mascot is a fierce-looking eagle ... or because she plans to enlist in the Army next summer after graduation to defend her country ... whatever the reason, when Heather Lawrence saw a fellow student refuse to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and recite it with the class, the 16-year-old Junior ROTC member saw a teachable moment and took it.

And for that, she's been suspended five days.

Lawrence's troubles with administrators at Springstead High School in Spring Hill, Fla., began last Wednesday when she noticed a female Muslim student refusing to participate in the Pledge. The student was wearing a hijab, the traditional Muslim headscarf.

Later in the day, Lawrence encountered the student between periods and told her she should stand for the pledge, reported Hernando Today. "Take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American," Lawrence told her.

Although the student walked away and filed no complaint, a teacher overheard Lawrence's comment and reported her to school administrators. On Friday, Lawrence was called to Assistant Principal Steve Crognale's office and her father was called and informed she would be suspended for five days.

When pressed to justify the suspension, Crognale said it was because she made a threat, the father claimed. Under further questioning, Lawrence said Crognale "backed off" and said Heather had "caused mental duress" for the Muslim student, even though she had made no complaint. Crognale said school policy allowed him to suspend Heather for 10 days.

"You have someone in the States who is able to enjoy our educational and health care systems, yet it's okay for them to be disrespectful, and it's not okay for my daughter to speak her mind," Mark Lawrence told the Tampa Tribune. "That's her First Amendment right. That's her freedom of speech.".

Source

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shameful

J. Birch said...

CALL THE LAWYERS!

That's how you make these irrelevant leftist bureaucrats, who see their indoctrination camps as their personal kingdoms, back down. Use their tactics against them!

Anonymous said...

Surely it's freedom of speech 'not' to make pledges, whether or not other people think it's inappropriate behavior or unpatriotic, etc. It's surely "unAmerican" to impose your own views on apparently dissenting or unpatriotic individuals, especially in a confronational or threatening way. What if some atheist had confronted a christian praying and reacted in that manner - I can imagine the response here calling for the atheist to be punished for inhibiting the rights of the christian!

Anonymous said...

You want to talk about "mental duress", what about the mentla duress I get from reading stories like this. Of course, I'm referring to the response from the school system, not the original story. Who can I sue?

Anonymous said...

What if some atheist had confronted a christian praying and reacted in that manner - I can imagine the response here calling for the atheist to be punished for inhibiting the rights of the christian!

I would almost bet that you are wrong. We might have condemned the atheist if they interrupted the prayer, but ask that the atheist be suspended?

No way.

Anonymous said...

Another side of the story:

Hernando student lied about seeing Muslim student sit during Pledge, officials say

Anonymous said...

the school is going to lose

Bobby said...

Nobody should be forced to take the pledge of allegiance, period. Besides, who says one has to remove a hijab, a hat, or anything to take the pledge? That's ridiculous.

The 16-year old Junior ROTC needs to learn a lesson about what freedom means. Freedom doesn't mean conformity, it means INDIVIDUAL rights. That is if I don't want to take the pledge or listen to Obama give a speech in my high school, it's my right to abstain from such activities as long as I do not disrupt others.

Besides, the pledge is strictly symbolic, if you want to be a patriot you're better off joining the NRA, voting republican, watching The O'reilly Factor, joining/supporting the military or doing plenty of things that show your patriotism in a real way. The pledge is just words, it's what you do that counts.

Anonymous said...

The much more likely scenario, if an atheist stopped a Christian from praying is that the ACLU would sue the Christian because his or her prayer offended the atheist. If such prayer were going on at a school, bonus points!

Anonymous said...

it is not inappropriate for a female to not remove head gear for
the pledge , however for males it is required
if it where a fez ? think about it .

Ish Gebor

Anonymous said...

The 16-year old Junior ROTC needs to learn a lesson about what freedom means.

Was there a threat made here?

No.

Was there any type of intimidation?

No.

The 16 year old understands a lot more that you do on freedom of speech.

Anonymous said...

Another thing Bobby apparently doesn't understand is, respect. If you can't show respect for our national symbols, then perhaps you're in the wrong country. Why not try Cuba, N. Korea, China, or Iran. Don't forget to tell them what you think of their national symbols and traditions. And when you're kneeling in front of a basket, don't mind that guy standing over you with the sword. He's just another one of their symbols.

Dean said...

IIRC members of the Jehovah's Witness church are not required to say the pledge, as it is against their religion. If we can excuse a Christian sect, why not a Muslim. Unless she was showing a personal disrespect for the United States and not obeying a religious requirement.

Anyone know if Islam forbids giving allegiance to a state?

The sixteen year old has the right to express her opinion. Suspending her from school for doing so is ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

The sixteen year old has the right to express her opinion. Suspending her from school for doing so is ridiculous.

Give that man a cookie.

You got it exactly right.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Anon 3:18 - its just as much part of the First Amendment to refuse to stand for the pledge and to wear religious apparel as it is for someone else to say that they think that the person ought stand for the pledge and remove their religious apparel.
I hope the girl's father can see both sides of this.

Anonymous said...

Yes 12:17 and 3:18 - it works both ways.

Nutcase said...

I love the one way "freedom of speech" from the left.

They think freedom of speech is THEM saying what THEY want and if you disagree then that is a "threat!"

I understand what the left does not. Freedom of speech has a price, if you say something, which is your right, I have an equal right to disagree.

I also believe that you do not have to say the pledge, unlike the country where the Muslim student came from! Just a prespective.

Freedom of speech defined:
Standing there listening to someone say something at the top of their voice something that you would spend a lifetime condemning at the top of yours"

THAT my friend is real freedom, celebrate THAT in the classroom!

Anonymous said...

Freedom is like cool, clean water, in that it is essential to life. But be aware of what too much water can do.

Bobby said...

"Another thing Bobby apparently doesn't understand is, respect. If you can't show respect for our national symbols, then perhaps you're in the wrong country. Why not try Cuba, N. Korea, China, or Iran."

---Actually, what you advocate is what they're doing in Cuba, N. Korea, China and Iran, in those countries failing to respect the national symbols can get you thrown in jail.

This country is a land of INDIVIDUALS, that means each of us gets to make individual choices. Forcing someone to participate in the pledge is FASCISM.

You don't make patriots by forcing them to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag. You make them by educating them and showing them the way. What is that muslim woman going to think about America after the way she was treated? I'll tell you what she's gonna think "gee, America is not that different from Saudi Arabia, instead of a religious police you have a "patriot police."

Instead of focusing on the pledges people take we should focus on the principles they stand for. President Obama can take all the pledges he wants, he can wear US flag pins, he can place flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier, he can sing the national anthem yet does that make him a patriot? Do you really want to stand up when he shows up to a townhall? I'll tell you this, if that muslim woman happens to be a capitalist, supports free speech and supports the second amendment, then she's already 1000 times more patriotic and more American than that negro. And that to me is more important than any pledge or flag including ours. Worry about substance, not symbols.

Anonymous said...

You don't make patriots by forcing them to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag.

Do you have any evidence that the young woman in questioned forced the other young woman to stand, take a pledge, recite and oath or wave a flag?

Secondly, when the president of this country goes to another country, he stands during the playing of their national anthem. He does so not out of a loyalty to that country, but rather out of common courtesy and respect for the people of that country.

No one forces him to do so.

It is common respect.

Bobby said...

"Do you have any evidence that the young woman in questioned forced the other young woman to stand, take a pledge, recite and oath or wave a flag?"

---I have the evidence from the article: "Later in the day, Lawrence encountered the student between periods and told her she should stand for the pledge, reported Hernando Today. "Take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American," Lawrence told her."

This is wrong on so many levels. Did you know for example that a General cannot order a civilian? The meanest drill sergeant is not going to bark orders at some cashiers at Wendy's, that's not how it works. So this little woman from the JROTC should have known that it's not her job to bark orders, she dishonored the JROTC by her actions.


"Secondly, when the president of this country goes to another country, he stands during the playing of their national anthem."

---The president is a PUBLIC FIGURE, his actions represent America. Non-public figures are only responsible for themselves, they are not under protocol or any mandate.


"He does so not out of a loyalty to that country, but rather out of common courtesy and respect for the people of that country.
No one forces him to do so.
It is common respect."

---You can respect a foreign country or your own country by sitting quietly or walking away without disrupting those taking a pledge or singing the national anthem. If a non-Catholic goes to a catholic church do you think he's going to kneel when everyone else is kneeling? Do you think he will take communion? Respect does not mean conformity, if I go to a baseball game I'm not forced to do the wave or scream obscenities at the other team.

You need to realize the importance of individualism, specially in the age of Obama. Did you know the president plans to give a speech to millions of school children across America? So far parents are allowed to take their kids out of school to avoid the brainwashing because individualism allows parents to choose how to raise their kids. Will you call them unpatriotic for doing that?

I'm not against taking the pledge of allegiance, I've taken it many times, but no goddamm pseudo-soldier from the JROTC is going to be barking orders at me or anyone else outside her unit. This is still a free country and it should be a CHOICE whether to take that pledge or not.

Anonymous said...

---I have the evidence from the article: "Later in the day, Lawrence encountered the student between periods and told her she should stand for the pledge, reported Hernando Today. "Take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American," Lawrence told her."

Apparently you misunderstood the question. Do you have any evidence that force was used against the young woman by the other young woman?

If this is your "proof," the answer is "no, I don't have any proof that there was force used."

That means your whole premise is gone.

I'm not against taking the pledge of allegiance, I've taken it many times, but no goddamm pseudo-soldier from the JROTC is going to be barking orders at me or anyone else outside her unit.

There is another example of your "respect" for the military.

This is still a free country and it should be a CHOICE whether to take that pledge or not.

No one is saying otherwise. Is it also a choice to tell the young lady that her actions are rude and insulting to many.

No one is forced to say a pledge. No one is forced to stand.

Bobby said...

"There is another example of your "respect" for the military."

---Tell me, do you respect Jeremiah Wright? He was in the military, so was Oliver Stone, so where plenty of people who turned against their country after their service. Do you respect deserters? Then why should I respect someone who says: "Take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American." Part of being an American is being able to wear anything on your head! That's what freedom means, I'm surprised you don't get it.


"No one is saying otherwise. Is it also a choice to tell the young lady that her actions are rude and insulting to many. "

---Since when is it rude not to participate in the pledge? I've visited catholic churches, I don't kneel with the congregation because I'm not catholic. Since when is wearing a hijab rude? Freedom of religion allows that woman to wear what she wears, her lack of participation was quiet and polite. She didn't scream, didn't make a ruckus, didn't sue the school. The JROTC soldier acted like a bully, I thought you didn't like bullies.


"No one is forced to say a pledge. No one is forced to stand."

---That's exactly my point, and if you want to address those that don't, you do it in a respectful manner that honors the JROCT. You need to remember that she's not just an individual, she belongs to an organization and her behavior reflects upon that organization.

Anonymous said...

---Tell me, do you respect Jeremiah Wright?.......

Perhaps you need to read what you wrote again: but no goddamm pseudo-soldier from the JROTC

Once again, your lack of respect for the military is clear for all to see.

---Since when is it rude not to participate in the pledge?

It is rude not to stand as the young lady pointed out. You are free to sit there and be rude. The young woman is just as free to call the woman out on her actions.

By the way, I am still looking for your evidence that the young woman was forced "to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag.

Bobby said...

"Once again, your lack of respect for the military is clear for all to see."

---Respect isn't given, it's earned. I respect good soldiers, I don't respect thugs who use the uniform to intimidate civilians.


"It is rude not to stand as the young lady pointed out. You are free to sit there and be rude. The young woman is just as free to call the woman out on her actions."

---The way she did it was totally wrong. Who the hell is she to tell someone to take off a hijab? That's not expressing an opinion, that's giving an order. Apparently your patriotism includes intimidating civilians. What you really want is a police state, a kind of Pleasantville where we all have to be polite or else. You're no different than the Obama-lovers that want to control talk radio.


"By the way, I am still looking for your evidence that the young woman was forced "to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag."

-- So you think it's perfectly fine for Heather to say: ""Take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American." You don't think a JROTC member should be held to a higher standard?

I guess your response to perceived rudeness is with actual rudeness. Ever heard of lead by example?

Thanks to people like you and Heather that poor muslim woman is going to have a horrible impression about America. Then she's going to become a liberal and vote for Obama in 4 years. Good job!

Anonymous said...

---Respect isn't given, it's earned. I respect good soldiers, I don't respect thugs who use the uniform to intimidate civilians.

There is no evidence that she was in uniform. Once again you feel the need to lie about people to fit your views.

-- So you think it's perfectly fine for Heather to say: ""Take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American." You don't think a JROTC member should be held to a higher standard?

You seemed to be confused as to the question of whether the young woman was forced "to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag," as you previously asserted (fabricated).

You deflection is therefore irrelevant.

Once again, do you have any evidence that the woman was forced "to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag," as you previously asserted?

The rest of our post is so contradictory and self serving that it is not worth the time to respond.

What really matters is that your hatred of the military and those who serve or wish to serve, and your continued fabrication of incidents and parts of the story to fit your perceived narrative and perceptions.

Bobby said...

"There is no evidence that she was in uniform. Once again you feel the need to lie about people to fit your views."

---That doesn't matter, if a soldier participates in a pornographic movie, he can be discharged. If a soldier out of uniform is seen at a gay bar, he can be discharged. If a soldier goes to a bar, gets drunk, and hits a civilian, he can also get discharged. Military standards are not dependent upon the wearing of a uniform.


"You seemed to be confused as to the question of whether the young woman was forced "to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag," as you previously asserted (fabricated).
You deflection is therefore irrelevant."

---It's not a deflection, the behavior of Heather warrants the suspension and if I was the head of the JROTC I would ban her from that organization to avoid future embarrassment.


"What really matters is that your hatred of the military and those who serve or wish to serve, and your continued fabrication of incidents and parts of the story to fit your perceived narrative and perceptions."

---That's a lie, I don't hate the military, I even like Pvt. England (the woman who "tortured" those Iraqi prisoners), but I do not tolerate disrespect from anyone, in or out of a uniform. This is a free country and I will stand against anyone who seeks to infringe of our freedoms, which includes religious freedom which includes the right to wear a hijab, a hat, a yarmulke or a confederate flag.

You believe in ethics, right? Well, what Heather did wasn't ethical, so there.

Anonymous said...

---That doesn't matter, .....

So your accusation that she was a "thug in a uniform" was another lie a long series of lies you have had to make up to support your position.

---It's not a deflection, the behavior of Heather warrants the suspension and if I was the head of the JROTC I would ban her from that organization to avoid future embarrassment.

I get it. You are against free speech. We can argue whether what the woman said was rude or impolite, but it is certainly protected speech.

So despite all of your posturing, you are against free speech and freedoms.

And by the way, I am still waiting for your proof that anyone was forced "to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag," as you previously asserted.

---That's a lie, I don't hate the military,

Of course you do. You want to deprive a young woman of her Constitutional rights, call her a thug, and make up lies about her - all to protect your little view of what happened.

This is a free country and I will stand against anyone who seeks to infringe of our freedoms,

Unless that person is either in the military or wishes to be in the military and then you want to deprive her of her rights of free speech.

You believe in ethics, right? Well, what Heather did wasn't ethical, so there.

Really? Which "ethic" did her actions run contrary to?

If you are so concerned about "ethics," why do you feel the need to lie about what happened in this and other incidents?

Bobby said...

"So your accusation that she was a "thug in a uniform" was another lie a long series of lies you have had to make up to support your position."

---You don't think it's thuggish to tell someone to remove a hijab? Or are you saying a military uniform gives you the right to act like a jerk?


"I get it. You are against free speech. We can argue whether what the woman said was rude or impolite, but it is certainly protected speech."

---So now your argument is that schools can't suspend anyone for verbal attacks. Hey, I went to school and when I got out of line with words I paid the price. There is a difference between wearing a confederate flag and calling someone a nigger. There is a difference between questioning someone's patriotism and telling them to remove a hijab.


"Of course you do. You want to deprive a young woman of her Constitutional rights, call her a thug, and make up lies about her - all to protect your little view of what happened."

---She acted like a thug! I am not lying, I am judging her behavior and her words.


"Really? Which "ethic" did her actions run contrary to?"

---How 'bout treating people fairly, respecting religious freedom, doing unto others as you'd have them do unto you. How 'bout asking someone a question before questioning their patriotism?


"If you are so concerned about "ethics," why do you feel the need to lie about what happened in this and other incidents?"

---I do not lie, I give an opinion based on the information presented. What Heather did is not different than the liberals referring to townhall protesters as "brownshirts" and nazis, it may be free speech but it still crosses the line.

It's bad enough we have Obama acting like Hitler, we don't need the Obama Youth asking others to take pledge. What Heather did wasn't patriotic, it was mean spirited and if you can't see that then you have no sense of fairness, balance or empathy for your fellow human being.

Anonymous said...

---You don't think it's thuggish to tell someone to remove a hijab? Or are you saying a military uniform gives you the right to act like a jerk?

No, I am saying that the woman wasn't in uniform. You made that up. In other words, you lied.

---So now your argument is that schools can't suspend anyone for verbal attacks.

So now what the woman said is a "verbal attack?"

Sorry, you made that up as well. What she said was protected free speech.

---She acted like a thug! I am not lying, I am judging her behavior and her words.

Your "judging her" in this comment is a deflection from the original point - you attack on the people that serve or wish to serve in the military. In other words, your response does not address the initial point, and so your perpetrating that it does is another lie from you.

---How 'bout treating people fairly, respecting religious freedom, doing unto others as you'd have them do unto you.

How was the woman treated "unfairly?" How was she disrespecting another person's religion? And is there any indication that the woman would not want to be told to stand for the pledge if she were sitting? (Which addresses the "do unto others" part of your post.)

How 'bout asking someone a question before questioning their patriotism?

Oh this is rich. You attack the woman, lie about her, attack the military, and then say "how about asking someone a question?"

You were talking about ethics and treating people as you wish to be treated?

---I do not lie, I give an opinion based on the information presented.

No you didn't. You have accused the woman of things that were not presented in the original post or article. In fact, when repeatedly asked for a citation that anyone was forced to ""to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag," you have not offered one iota of proof.

You made an accusation without asking any questions, without treating the person like you would want to be treated, attributed motives and actions to her that were demonstrably false.

You lied about the situation.

When your lies were exposed, you continued to make more lies.

What Heather did is not different than the liberals referring to townhall protesters as "brownshirts" and nazis, it may be free speech but it still crosses the line.

Did the woman use any derogatory terms at all? If not, how are her words the same as names such as "brownshirts" and "nazis?"

The fact is that they aren't. You saying they are is simply another lie.

What Heather did wasn't patriotic, it was mean spirited and if you can't see that then you have no sense of fairness, balance or empathy for your fellow human being.

It was mean spirited to ask or even tell a woman that she should be standing during the pledge?

How is that unfair? How is it lacking empathy? How is it lacking balance?

It isn't.

It is just another baseless attack by you.

In other words, another lie.

Bobby said...

"No, I am saying that the woman wasn't in uniform. You made that up. In other words, you lied."

---I already explained that a soldier is held to certain standards whether he or she is in uniform or not. So it doesn't matter, she dishonored the JROTC by her behavior.


"So now what the woman said is a "verbal attack?"

---You don't think so? How would you feel if you where in Saudi Arabia and the religious police told you "take off that cross and act like a muslim."



"Your "judging her" in this comment is a deflection from the original point - you attack on the people that serve or wish to serve in the military. In other words, your response does not address the initial point, and so your perpetrating that it does is another lie from you."

---If I hated people in the military why would I defend Pvt. England? It's obvious that I attack anyone who I perceived doing something wrong. What Heather did was wrong even if it was free speech.



"How was the woman treated "unfairly?" How was she disrespecting another person's religion? And is there any indication that the woman would not want to be told to stand for the pledge if she were sitting? (Which addresses the "do unto others" part of your post.)"

---We're going in circles, he told that woman to take of her hijab. That's disrespecting someone elses religion. It's no different than me telling a jew to take off his hat.


"Oh this is rich. You attack the woman, lie about her, attack the military, and then say "how about asking someone a question?""

---She's not here so I obviously can't question her directly. But in my dealings in the real world you can bet I don't go around barking orders and accusing people of not being American enough.



"It was mean spirited to ask or even tell a woman that she should be standing during the pledge?"

---Is the way she did it that was mean spirited, and you keep avoiding the "take off your hat" part of the sentence she said.

Anonymous said...

---I already explained that a soldier is held to certain standards whether he or she is in uniform or not.

Yet you claimed she WAS in uniform. She wasn't. You lied and now don't have the moral guts to admit it.

---You don't think so?

I know it isn't.

How would you feel if you where in Saudi Arabia and the religious police told you "take off that cross and act like a muslim."

I must have missed something. Do you have any evidence that the woman in the story was told by the religious police here to act like a Christian?

No you don't. So to try and make a point, you fabricate a hypothetical that has nothing to do with the situation.

---If I hated people in the military why would I defend Pvt. England?

Because England was and is an embarrassment to the men and women who serve in the military. Of course you will support her as you feel her illegal actions are those of the rest of the military. You support her because you are attacking the good name and service of millions of others.

It's obvious that I attack anyone who I perceived doing something wrong. What Heather did was wrong even if it was free speech.

There ya go. You attack no matter whether your knowledge of the situation is complete or accurate. You lie about the incident to prop up your misconceptions about events and knowledge of the law, history and civics.

You attack and then claim that those who respond are somehow mean spirited, all the while you continue to show your moral superiority by lying and being hypocritical.

The fact of the matter is, that you don't have a moral leg to stand on. Your posts indicate that you are a self-centered, ignorant little whiner who wouldn't know a fact if it hit them in the face.

---We're going in circles,.....

You are talking in circles. No one else is. You do that because your arguments are so transparent that you never rise to the central issue. Your lies become exposed and then you try to play the wounded victim.

---She's not here so I obviously can't question her directly.

I see. So since you don't know her, never talked to her, or never saw her, THAT gives you the right to attack her. I get it.

When someone on here says something to you that you perceive as an "attack," you whine like a little child. Yet you feel that you can attack others without the same consideration you want.

What was it you were saying about "treating others as you want to be treated?"

But in my dealings in the real world you can bet I don't go around barking orders and accusing people of not being American enough.

Well, that could be because you are against most of what America stands for, but that is a different discussion.

I don't bark orders out either and luckily for us discussing this incident, neither did the young Heather Lawrence.

---Is the way she did it that was mean spirited, and you keep avoiding the "take off your hat" part of the sentence she said.

I am not avoiding anything. Unlike you, who has still yet to prove his accusation that anyone was forced to "to take pledges, recite oaths and wave a flag."

As to your point, first, the woman never said that she was offended by Heather's comments. She did not report the incident - a staff member did. One must wonder if the person was offended as you claim if she never said anything.

Secondly, the woman could and perhaps should have said "it is not a hat - it is a hajab and a tenet of my religion that I wear this."

In a school, we could have had a true "teaching moment" where kids were free to express ideas and cure ignorance on different cultures and religions without interference and without the school's illegal actions.

But I suspect that you wouldn't have been satisfied with that outcome. You want more to spread lies, hypocrisy and attack the military.

Schools are there to not only educate, but to cure ignorance.

You should try one sometime.

Bobby said...

"The fact of the matter is, that you don't have a moral leg to stand on. Your posts indicate that you are a self-centered, ignorant little whiner who wouldn't know a fact if it hit them in the face. "

---You are such a liberal, only liberals engage in personal attacks rather than debate the issues. It doesn't matter, it's clear to me that you like Heather and nothing I have to say will change your mind.

Whatever, I hope someday someone treats you the way Heather treated that student, then we'll see if you like it.


"As to your point, first, the woman never said that she was offended by Heather's comments. She did not report the incident - a staff member did. One must wonder if the person was offended as you claim if she never said anything."

---Students rarely rat on each other, I'm glad a teacher saw the incident and decided to report it, otherwise the muslim student would have become a pariah in that school. But I guess you don't remember high school, oh well.

Robert said...

It would really help if we could hear the original tone of voice that Heather used when talking to the Muslim student. That's one thing that does not come through in print. Was her tone more like "(You know,) you really should stand for the pledge," or "(Who do you think you are, not standing for the pledge?!!!) You should stand for the pledge!" And there would be quite a difference between "(Why not) take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American," vs. "Take that thing off your head (NOW) and act like you're proud to be an American (or else)!"

Knowing Heather's tone of voice used would be a big help. If her tone were more like the courteous former in each set, that would explain why the other student didn't complain - she saw no need to. If her tone was more like the bossy latter of each set, there would be justification in claiming that she intimidated the other student, in which case one could easily figure that she was afraid to complain.

Anonymous said...

---You are such a liberal, only liberals engage in personal attacks rather than debate the issues. It doesn't matter, it's clear to me that you like Heather and nothing I have to say will change your mind.

There ya go. Stick to your hypocrisy. You say that I don't debate the issue and then lie about the incident itself. You say that I engage in personal attacks right after you say something to attack me.

You claim that you have the right to judge people based on their actions and yet when the same standard is applied to you, you whine and say how unfair it is.

It is not that I like or dislike Heather. What I dislike is hypocritical, ignorant people who misrepresent the truth.

---Students rarely rat on each other, I'm glad a teacher saw the incident and decided to report it, otherwise the muslim student would have become a pariah in that school. But I guess you don't remember high school, oh well.

You're glad a teacher reported an student exercising free speech? This from the guy who always claims that he supports freedoms in all its forms?

Once again, you have been exposed for what you are.

Bobby said...

I'm not debating you anymore, anonymous, you argue for the sake of arguing. You disagree and are disagreeable. You never concede anything. I'm done.

Anonymous said...

I'm not debating you anymore, anonymous, you argue for the sake of arguing.

TRANSLATION: I can't win a discussion with you because my lies can't stand up to your facts.

You disagree and are disagreeable.

TRANSLATION: How dare you not agree with me simply because I say so?

You never concede anything.

TRANSLATION: You're mean because you won't say that I am right even though I don't have any proof and have to lie to make it seem like I am right!

I'm done.

TRANSLATION: Mom!! The mean man on the internet is showing me for the person I am! Can I have some more pizza rolls?

Bobby said...

"TRANSLATION: Mom!! The mean man on the internet is showing me for the person I am! Can I have some more pizza rolls?"

----Tell me, where you born an asshole or did you study?

Anonymous said...

----Tell me, where you born an asshole or did you study?

TRANSLATION: I spend my days writing and working in the advertising business, trying to convince people to buy items and influence their thinking and the best I can come up with is this infantile attempt at an insult.

Mom! Can I have more pizza rolls? I want to watch another movie!