Anti-Dubya T-Shirt - A Student banned from wearing one [Archive]

Rastafari

21st February 2003, 13:51

I agree with the boy on some points (e.g Bush is a terrorist), but I think being that active or 'stupid', some would say, is not too smart right now. The fact that the boy's parents let him wear it to a school where 50% of the students were Arab-American (which, assure me, has nothing to do with anything) lets me think that they wanted him to start something. I am a huge pioneer of free speech, but lets start somewhere a little more unmerited, please?

ComradeJunichi

21st February 2003, 15:51

I was the first one ever!!!

http://cypsk.netfirms.com/bushshirt1.jpg
http://cypsk.netfirms.com/bushshirt2.jpg

After I moved here and wore that shirt in school, the first time I got pulled over and got my ass kicked outside of school. I wore it again, and my teacher sent me to the office and they told me not to wear it.

Tkinter1

21st February 2003, 16:21

"Concerned the shirt could spark tensions in a district where more than 50 percent of students are Arab-American, school officials told Barber to turn the shirt inside out, take it off or go home"

If the T-Shirt is found to be disruptive to the school, they can make you remove it. It's a learning enviroment, not a public raly.
It's not like the made him remove it becuase we need to "maintain the propaganda wave".

They were just trying to avoid uneccesary disruption.

Tkinter1

21st February 2003, 16:25

If I wore a shirt that said "Hitler Was Right", we would all agree that that was an uneccesary thing to wear to a school, and that it would offend people.

thursday night

21st February 2003, 17:45

Rastafari what you said was rediculous. Please. Good for the kid for wearing it! I hope he sues the school.

Tkinter1

21st February 2003, 20:23

"I hope he sues the school."

Wow

Pete

21st February 2003, 20:44

Quote: from Tkinter1 on 3:23 pm on Feb. 21, 2003
"I hope he sues the school."

Wow

That would be America for you!

CruelVerdad

21st February 2003, 21:33

Go kid! Don´t let anyone say that you are wrong!
TKINTER1, how can you think that! He has all the right to think what he wants, to wear whatever he wants, to say whatever he wants!!!

Goldfinger

21st February 2003, 22:03

they treat him like a fucking clan member for fucking fucks fucking sake. fuckfuck

mentalbunny

21st February 2003, 23:02

Wouldn't the arab-americans agree with the boy? Maybe that's what the school was scared about, I don't know, but i reckon in times like these we should show solidarity with the types of people who are being oppressed.

commie kg

21st February 2003, 23:48

sweet shirt. I don't have that one yet..

The kid should be allowed to wear it. The school's decision to make him take it off was a bunch of BS. I would have worn it again the next day.

Charlie

22nd February 2003, 01:46

I think it's disgusting that Bretton was forbidded from wearing his shirt. This is nothing short of fascism- once someone opposes the idealogy of the rulling power, his rights are robbed from him. The school has no right to persecute him simply because he has different beliefs, it is unfair to comprimise the rights of dissidents.

The school is displaying a blatant act of fascism and the Bush shirt is therefore uncomparable to shirt supporting Hitler, a fascist himself. Furthermore, the shirt is speaking out against Bush, another fascist. The idealogies cannot be compared.

(Edited by Charlie at 1:48 am on Feb. 22, 2003)

RedCeltic

22nd February 2003, 02:41

I hate to be a prick but I think the school was justifide in asking him to remove it.

However my views on clothing in American Public schools has changed drasticly. When I was in high school I probobly would have told you that they are too strict.

However, when I got older and worked for a living... well.. I remember years ago working in a factory with this guy who told me that his son's shoes cost him one week's wages. About the same for a sirt and a pair of pants. Now, this guy was dirt poor, but would be damned if he sent his kid to school to be picked on and beaten up because he was poor.

School is a place of learning, not a fashon show or a political rally. There is plenty of time to express yourself when you get to a University.

When in high school I think kids should wear uniforms, and this is a good example of why.

Hell, I went to school with "God Bless the IRA" writen on my shirt in magic marker on St. Patrick's day and was made to cover it up. Now that I look back I realize I was wrong.

Mazdak

22nd February 2003, 03:18

I agree with RC on uniforms. They should make uniforms mandatory. However, the uniforms we wear are ridiculous. They should be made in larger sizes and reasonably comfortable. The ones we wear are way too small and horribly uncomfortable. However, i applaud this student for his intentions nonetheless.

Tkinter1

22nd February 2003, 03:39

"TKINTER1, how can you think that! He has all the right to think what he wants, to wear whatever he wants, to say whatever he wants!!!"

Of course he has the right to think what he wants! But what if someone was offended by that shirt? The administration was not trying to stifle his mind, they were trying to avoid uneccesary confrontation!

Lefty

22nd February 2003, 06:22

If someone was offended by that shirt, they could make a shirt that said "Bush is not a terrorist."

There shouldn't be anything stopping them.

Socialist Pig

22nd February 2003, 07:02

Did the shirt actually disturb the learning process?

synthesis

22nd February 2003, 07:06

When I was 16, I wore a "Fuck Emo" shirt and no one cared.

It was cool.

Tkinter1

22nd February 2003, 07:25

"Did the shirt actually disturb the learning process?"

Most likely the adminstration thought it would.

"If someone was offended by that shirt, they could make a shirt that said "Bush is not a terrorist."

There shouldn't be anything stopping them."

One of the adminstration's jobs to keep order in the school. They wouldn't have done it unless they felt that some disruption might occur.
If I wore a KKK uniform to school, would you make me remove it? Or would you have everyone else dress in black panther attire(whatever that may be...)?

Socialist Pig

22nd February 2003, 08:34

Does anyone really believe that shirt could have caused such a huge disruption? I think it had more to do with the principals/adminstrations opinions of Mr Bush rather than any harm the shirt could have done.

sigh

Why do I always end up defending inanimate objects?

Comrade Daniel

22nd February 2003, 09:46

The kid had the right to wear that T-shirt, I heard it on the news and and told it to my friends. They found something to laugh about...

Liberty Lover

22nd February 2003, 09:55

The kid has a right to wear a shirt. But the school also has a right to tell him to piss off if they don't like kim wearing it.

Comrade Daniel

22nd February 2003, 09:59

No, then they take away the kids freedom of speech. For instance: I 've got a T-shirt of Che Guevara I wear it to school teachers accept it but some dislike it but they CANT force me to take it of. Simply because we in Holland and other parts of the world know something wich they do not know in the US: Freedom of speech!

Liberty Lover

22nd February 2003, 10:04

It's their school, they decide the rules. Don't like it...go to a different school.

mentalbunny

22nd February 2003, 11:59

I go to a school with the worst uniforms in existence, trust me (or ask GR). But it would probably be worse without them.

suffianr

22nd February 2003, 12:03

Stop being such wankers. It's just a bloody T-shirt.

It's clearly a matter of perspective; on one hand, it's great to know that kids are now walking advertisements for political opinions that most of them aren't mature enough to even understand, and on the other, there are more pressing issues than worrying about the livelihood of politically-sensitive apparel in high school. :)

This discussion, imho, is bordering on the senseless. Bin it.

Blibblob

22nd February 2003, 12:27

Hmm, one question. If i see somebody wearing a shirt with a US flag on it, i can complain and they can make the kid take it off?

Rastafari

22nd February 2003, 15:04

Thank you, suffianr. Thats what I have been trying to say

truthaddict11

22nd February 2003, 15:48

I am on both sides of the coin here. I wear an Anti-War shirt around school and dont get a hard time about it. What surprised me the most was a kid asked me where I had gotten it.
I believe that uniforms can be benifictial because it can end what I nicknamed "the clothing apartied" that happens in public schools. But I do believe that the action taken by the school in this case was too extreme. the shirt was not vulgar and I am sure it probally wouldnt cause a "disruption" other "than cool shirt where did you get it?"

truthaddict11

22nd February 2003, 15:52

the only way he could sue the school would be if the school allowed Pro-Bush shirts and barred Anti-Bush Shirts.

Tkinter1

22nd February 2003, 20:30

which they most likely would.

CheViveToday

23rd February 2003, 07:08

Several years ago in the 7th grade, I wore a Marilyn Manson shirt to school [No, I'm not a big fan of his anymore] which said American by birth, Antichrist by choice. The assistant principal made me turn it inside out. My sister helped me write a letter complaining to the school, she was pre-law at the time in college, and is now in actual law school, so she knows her stuff. I sent the letter to all three of the principals. My argument was that you cannot keep someone from wearing a shirt that says antichrist when there's people wearing What Would Jesus Do t-shirts. Also we used the point from some case [I forget the name of it] where several student wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. The school faculty suspended them, but the Supreme Court overturned it, stating that STUDENTS DO NOT LEAVE THEIR RIGHTS AT THE SCHOOL ENTRANCE. I never got a reply from the principals [assholes, they should have at least responded since I took the time to write a fairly polite letter, and I know they got them because I put them directly in their school mailboxes in the office], and my mom wouldn't let me wear the shirt again, LOL. Well, that's my story.

(Edited by CheViveToday at 2:10 am on Feb. 23, 2003)

Palmares

23rd February 2003, 22:59

I want the shirt.

http://www.internationalterrorist.com

CheViveToday

24th February 2003, 00:16

Yes, you can also buy an ELZN shirt there and a percentage of the proceeds go to the Zapatistas in Chiapas. I should get one...we all should. They've already sent a few thousand dollars which is a lot coming from the sale of $20 t-shirts. I'm sure the Zapatistas can use all the money they can get.

Tkinter1

24th February 2003, 01:23

If the shirt is deemed "offensive" by the adminstration they can ask you to remove it. However you do have the right to argue it, and you might win.

Wearing shirts that say "antichrist" is extremley anti-social, and people are offeneded by anti-social people. You can't expect anything less than a mal reaction when you wear something like that. Honestly, stop faking surprisal when people take offense to what you're wearing.

CheViveToday

24th February 2003, 01:33

I was not surprised that it was offensive, and I do not believe that I ever stated that I was surprised. I understand it is offensive, but perhaps someone wearing a Jesus shirt is offensive to me. It all really depends on what the faculty deems "offensive". I'm sure my shirt wasn't distracting or offending too many students, if any at all. I don't wear that shirt anymore because I don't exactly enjoy offending people [plus it's way too small now, LOL]. However, it is my right to wear it whether it's in school, my house, or a restaurant etc....

Tkinter1

24th February 2003, 01:52

"It all really depends on what the faculty deems "offensive"."

Exactly. If your going to wear that shirt you need to be prepared to defend it.

"but perhaps someone wearing a Jesus shirt is offensive to me."

and you can reuquest that they remove it. but at the same time they can deny your request.

CheViveToday

24th February 2003, 20:54

I agree with what you are saying, but if you read my post you should have noticed that I said I did defend my shirt by writing a letter.

Tkinter1

25th February 2003, 00:03

I have a problem with skimming... my bad...

CheViveToday

25th February 2003, 03:09

I understand, and enjoy the opposition.

truthaddict11

26th February 2003, 15:11

what ever happened to that Anarchist girl over her shirt?

mentalbunny

27th February 2003, 17:35

As Tony (Blair) was in my town today there was an anti-war protest which I went to but I was in my school uniform and a teacher went and said I'd have to change. I had to go anyway but I was outraged! At least someone got to take a pic of me holding my "drop bush not bombs" sign first!

kylie

28th February 2003, 16:00

ruyk

RedPirate

28th February 2003, 19:10

Forget the school systems. I live in Indiana the 2nd most conservative state in the union. Think about the punks here. I was kicked out of school for my hair. How rediculous... I say REVOLUTION!

RedThreat

4th March 2003, 01:15

I go to the same school as RedPirate, our principal came up to him in the middle of lunch with our friends and told him to cut his hair or he would be suspended, and it was only 2 or 3 inches long and he wore black clothes, now there is another kid, in honor classes i might add, that had hair about 5 or 6 inches long, and nothing was ever said to this kid. Apperence ins't the only thing that influences admenistative proceedures, if the honor class kid wore that shirt, they would have probably influenced him, but if my friend wore a anti-bush shirt, the same actions would have been taken against him as the kid in Michigan.