Nova Scotia student suspended over "Life is wasted without Jesus" t-shirt

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Because I think of you as a liberal ninny.....correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you one of the christian bashers around here?

I don't know why anyone would support a week-long suspension over a t-shirt slogan.

I couldn't care less about what someone's t-shirt says. It could say "I hate rednecks" and I wouldn't bat an eyelash....cuz I'm all grown up now.

I've bashed Christianity on many occasions. You don't think there are aspects of it deserving to be bashed? I've also tried to defend aspects of religion on here on many occasions. I'm assuming you believe there are aspects of it worth defending?

And, yes, I am liberal. You know, at one point in time, in certain areas of the world, that word was a compliment and seen as possessing an enlightened education? I'll just take it as that's how you mean it, so thanks.

And, also, because I realize reading isn't something you always normally do before typing angrily at the keyboard concerning liberal ninnies and the lamestream media, the suspension wasn't because of the t-shirt slogan.

[photon]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

cuz I'm all grown up now.

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I think of you as a liberal ninny

....

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I don't know why anyone would support a week-long suspension over a t-shirt slogan.

Depends on the slogan, I can think of plenty that would warrant such a suspension.

That's not what happened in this case though, didn't take long for the straw men to come out.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by valo403

Care to address the fact that there are decades of cases based upon the 'western moral tradition' attempting to crush the ability of anyone outside that tradition from voicing their beliefs? Or do those just cease to exist in your little world?

I'll address it by saying I simply don't care. A successful, prosperous nation needs a dominant culture to have a sense of community.

The pendulum has swung back too far in my opinion. Western morality/culture is being destroyed under the guise of tolerance and political correctness. Somewhere, ....Karl Marx is smiling.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Being suspended for the shirt is stupid....being suspended for not following the rules, about which he was warned repeatedly, is 100% justifiable. Hate the stupid rule, fine. Don't hate the suspension, because he was suspended for breaking a rule.

But rules don't apply to me when I disagree with them because I'm a special snowflake.

[CaptainCrunch]

So much for freedom of expression. In the rush for political correctness and everyone wins, some fundamental freedoms are really being put at the end of the line.

I don't see anything in that slogan that is offensive, or hate filled, maybe the kid does honestly feel this way about.

A week long suspension is absolutely ######ed, considering that you get in a fight and you probably get a three day weekend.

Or someone reports a bullying and the teachers wring their hands and ignore it.

But you put a slogan on your T-Shirt and its circle the wagon, and toss a kid out of school for a week.

Our priorities are really getting out of whack.

maybe they should bring back the strap. You there in the T-Shirt 50 lashes. You there giving that kid an atomic wedgie, well I didn't see nothin.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I'll address it by saying I simply don't care. A successful, prosperous nation needs a dominant culture to have a sense of community.

You support the destruction of minority beliefs and values in support of a dominant culture?

Do you realize what (or who) you sound like here?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I'll address it by saying I simply don't care. A successful, prosperous nation needs a dominant culture to have a sense of community.

The pendulum has swung back too far in my opinion. Western morality/culture is being destroyed under the guise of tolerance and political correctness. Somewhere, ....Karl Marx is smiling.

That quote there pretty much sums up your whole sad little existence

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by photon

But rules don't apply to me when I disagree with them because I'm a special snowflake.

you could argue that the rule goes against individual rights and freedoms though.

If the T-Shirt stunk because he wore it for a week, or it had something really offensive and hate filled on it then I could see the suspension. But that's not indicated anywhere.

Unless the school has a uniform code then its invalid and based upon a enlightened few in terms of what's offensive and what's not.

Someone has made a pretty weird leap in declaring that slogan as offensive.

Last time I checked it wasn't against any rule to wear the same shirt for a week, its probably just gross.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

You support the destruction of minority beliefs and values in support of a dominant culture?

Do you realize what (or who) you sound like here?

Elmo's real self after work hours?

Just fisihing here.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

And, yes, I am liberal. You know, at one point in time, in certain areas of the world, that word was a compliment and seen as possessing an enlightened education? I'll just take it as that's how you mean it, so thanks.

And, also, because I realize reading isn't something you always normally do before typing angrily at the keyboard concerning liberal ninnies and the lamestream media, the suspension wasn't because of the t-shirt slogan.

You are referring to classical liberalism ........that form of liberalism died many, many years ago. Some of the founding fathers were classic liberals.

Regardless of some of the details of this story that I missed (the kid defying orders), you can't deny the general hostility in the public mind towards christianity these days.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

You support the destruction of minority beliefs and values in support of a dominant culture?

Do you realize what (or who) you sound like here?

It it actually Godwining the thread if you don't come right out and say it?

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

You are referring to classical liberalism ........that form of liberalism died many, many years ago. Some of the founding fathers were classic liberals.

Regardless of some of the details of this story that I missed (the kid defying orders), you can't deny the general hostility in the public mind towards christianity these days.

Sure I can. The vast majority of the public in Canada is Christian.

Are you implying they are generally hostile toward themselves?

Could I ask what the culture and morals that are being destroyed are? Have any been destroyed yet?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Being suspended for the shirt is stupid....being suspended for not following the rules, about which he was warned repeatedly, is 100% justifiable. Hate the stupid rule, fine. Don't hate the suspension, because he was suspended for breaking a rule.

So the kid who saw the rule as wrong was actually suspended for a legitimate protest.

Vive Las Revolucion.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Rathji

It it actually Godwining the thread if you don't come right out and say it?

Judges?

Yes from the East German Judge
No from the representative from Tatooine
Yes from Chuck Norris

Guess it is

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

You support the destruction of minority beliefs and values in support of a dominant culture?

Do you realize what (or who) you sound like here?

No ....who do I sound like HP? Hitler? I bet that's what you were leaning toward.

You can tolerate other "minority beliefs" without undermining/minimizing your own.

Tolerance - a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

So the kid who saw the rule as wrong was actually suspended for a legitimate protest.

Vive Las Revolucion.

If he had a problem with the rule, there are many ways to protest besides just wearing the shirt. If I wanna go out and protest that drugs should be legal, I'm not gonna go up to a cop car, make a few rails and snort away while injecting myself with smack while smoking a doobie, because I know damned well I'll be going to jail.

[photon]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

So much for freedom of expression.

No one's limiting his freedom of expression, he can wear his shirt in public, to the store, whatever.

Freedom of expression does not equate to being able to do whatever one wants whenever one wants wherever one wants.

Freedom of expression is frequently limited for very good reasons... I seem to recall you not being on the side of the Occupiers downtown in Calgary, but the court case with them said that their tents ARE part of their freedom of expression, but there were circumstances that had to be considered and when they were it was reasonable to limit their freedoms.

This is no different, having rules about wearing offensive shirts is a reasonable limitation on freedoms because a) it just promotes the whole "do unto others" idea b) students can't just leave school if they don't like the shirt and c) keeping peace among teenagers is difficult enough without unnecessary distractions.

Wearing a shirt that denigrates others is like trolling the forums, except that people can leave the forums, they can't leave school.

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't see anything in that slogan that is offensive, or hate filled, maybe the kid does honestly feel this way about.

I'm sure he does feel that way, I'm sure he feels that everyone who doesn't subscribe to his particular beliefs are going to hell for all eternity.

The slogan targets others' religion saying they're worthless, which is against the rules.

If the student doesn't like the rule then he can work to get it changed. Of course if it is changed, then there's no problem with wearing a shirt that says "Life is wasted if you're not white." right?

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

A week long suspension is absolutely ######ed, considering that you get in a fight and you probably get a three day weekend.

Weeks of ignoring requests to comply with the clearly outlined rules doesn't justify a suspension? Rules are ok to ignore as long as you really really want to?

[The Yen Man]

I always take these sensationalistic stories with a grain of salt. They always report it in a way that will generate the most outrage from people. My guess is the student is some crazy bible thumping doofus who just won't relent on his "you're all going to hell if you don't believe in my fairy tale" message. The shirt was probably the excuse the school needed to suspend him.

[blankall]

Is there more to this story? Was he being aggressive with the slogan and adding vocal insults to other religions as well? Was he preaching to the other students?

This seems like a clear violation of freedom of expression, if the t-shirt was all ther was.

Edit: The Yen Man beat me to it. My guess is sensationalist journalism.

[CarlW]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

So much for freedom of expression. In the rush for political correctness and everyone wins, some fundamental freedoms are really being put at the end of the line.

I don't see anything in that slogan that is offensive, or hate filled, maybe the kid does honestly feel this way about.

A week long suspension is absolutely ######ed, considering that you get in a fight and you probably get a three day weekend.

Or someone reports a bullying and the teachers wring their hands and ignore it.

But you put a slogan on your T-Shirt and its circle the wagon, and toss a kid out of school for a week.

Our priorities are really getting out of whack.

maybe they should bring back the strap. You there in the T-Shirt 50 lashes. You there giving that kid an atomic wedgie, well I didn't see nothin.

Maybe you don't, but what if someone else does? that's what the rule is there for as long as the message can be interpreted as an attack on someone else's religion/race/beliefs they can't wear it. I can see how it is offensive to others, and the fact that he ignored the principal and wore it for the amount of time he did (hope he washed it every day ) he probably deserved to be suspended. The duration of the suspension does seem a little excessive though, IMO.