ACLU gets one right
We read:
"The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed a federal lawsuit today against a state school district, claiming administrators illegally infringed upon their students' right to free speech.
The suit alleges that Alachua County School District officials violated the constitution by suspending high school, middle school and elementary school students for wearing tee shirts which publicized their religious beliefs at school events this year, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The tee shirts which induced the suspensions said "Jesus answered I am the way and the truth and the life; no one goes to the Father except through me'" on the front and "Islam is of the Devil" on the back.
Before filing the lawsuit, the ACLU submitted 27 slogans the students wanted to wear to the school district and asked which would be acceptable to wear to school events. The district did not offer any guidance.
Howard Simon, ACLU of Florida executive director, told the news source, "The message on the t-shirts is an unfortunate expression of religious intolerance, but the School Board's policy of banning any messages that are offensive to others or inappropriate, unfortunately draws the line in a way that unconstitutionally prohibits freedom of speech."
The ACLU has said it does not support the message printed on the tee shirts.
Source
ACLU logic-chopping is too deep for me to follow. But the courts are probably to blame too.
12 comments:
The school actually violated both the first and the second amendment here. They infringed on their right to free speech AND their right to the free exercise of their religion. This is not a case of state sponsorship of religion and if anyone is offended, that is just too bad.
Obviously, America needs what we take for granted in Australia: school uniforms. Then there wouldn't be any such issues as this.
I agree with the messages,,Islam is a satanic death cult.
"Islam is a satanic death cult."
So is Christianity. Eat Jebus' body and drink his blood. Lovely.
Good point Malcolm. And it is nice to see the aclu take a rational stance for once.
School uniforms are great. Not only do they help with certain issues (bullying, equality etc.) they teach kids how to dress properly. Young girls dress more lady-like and young boys learn to wear a tie and a jacket. That builds character and self respect.
Not sure if I agree with school uniforms entirely (although having worn one of sorts myself for several years) I think that the school district set itself up for this by its over-broad 'no offense' policy.
Now, the old over-broad 'disrupt schooling' policy - that's another matter.
Anon 6:02,
The school actually violated both the first and the second amendment here.
Second amendment?
I long for the good old days when snot nosed punks didn't have any rights.
2:24,
and when has anybody actually done this? lol so out of context
Catholics believe/d they were literally consuming the body and blood of Christ thru' the doctrine of "transubstantiation".
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