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Yes, that was it Isaac Send a noteboard - 14/09/2009 04:17:45 PM

Let's keep in mind that the first amendment is there to protect unpopular speech, popular speech has never needed protection, no one ever gets dragged away by secret police in the middle of the night for saying how much they like their dictator.

In a nutshell.


I'm sure you've noticed by now that a lot of the objections people have been raising are phrased in a way that makes it pretty obvious that if the word 'islam' had been replaced with something else they wouldn't care, or would say the school was overreacting because the schoolboard was full of nuts, or alternatively a lot the people mention free speech here would have been frothing at the mouth if it had said something else. You take two speerate blind groups and have one where a kid walked in wearing a shirt that said 'save the whales' and another that said 'nuke the whales' and watch as both groups have people scream holy heck that would have shrugged if they'd seen the other shirt. A small sliver will be those who liked the shirt and still say 'We shouldn't have messages on shirts in a public school full of minors' and another small group that hates the shirt but goes ballistic when someone tries to ban it. Those two tiny slivers 'get it', the others are just self-selective when it comes to getting offended.

Personally, the existance of that self-selective morals majority is what I blame 99% of the worlds problems and atrocities on. For every blistering insane psychopath sneaking into power you have a thousand 'innocent bystanders' turning a blind eye or shrugging. But I'm rambling off on a morbid streak here, I'm sure you get my point.

I don't really agree that protecting free speech is the same thing as allowing disruptive slogans in school. Period. I'd fight to have my right to say/think whatever I want when I want to, but seriously, in school, when kids are already eager for ways to distract themselves and cause problems, it shouldn't be allowed. My sister's kids go to a school that requires uniforms for just this reason, and everybody is fine with that. Unless that's what you meant by the "small sliver that gets it," in which case, carry on. I do agree with the last paragraph.


Well, I referenced two small slivers that I thought got it, and that was one. The other were the sort that would say the shirt was fine. Of the two, I happen to be with the former, I rather approve of school uniforms - big surprise, I'm in the military, I like rigid dress codes in work environs and regard school as such - but barring those I tend to feel it's perfectly fine to have a 'no message' policy. The especially vociferous free-speechers that make up the other sliver, while I'd disagree with them on this score, do understand the purpose of free speech is not supposed to be "I get to say whatever I want, but turn a blind eye when people try to stop somebody else doing the same". So while I happen to disagree that limiting distractive expression would endanger rights in this sort of case, I appreciate where they are coming from more than I do the loads of people who I consider to have very mercurial ethics where liberty is concerned.
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
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Islam is of the Devil - 06/09/2009 03:30:51 AM 1765 Views
I swear, the levels of crazy are just increasing these days. - 06/09/2009 06:04:19 AM 1038 Views
People are stupid. - 06/09/2009 06:25:42 AM 1184 Views
This statement got me: - 06/09/2009 06:30:16 AM 1430 Views
Re: This statement got me: - 06/09/2009 07:20:17 AM 1033 Views
What you say about those places may be true - 06/09/2009 02:16:30 PM 1029 Views
Regardless... - 07/09/2009 04:34:48 AM 976 Views
Re: Regardless... - 07/09/2009 06:10:18 AM 1075 Views
I'm not advocating the killing of Muslims. - 08/09/2009 07:11:13 PM 1095 Views
Re: I'm not advocating the killing of Muslims. - 08/09/2009 10:15:55 PM 1064 Views
Okay... - 09/09/2009 04:04:29 PM 998 Views
You are free to wear offensive clothing - 08/09/2009 08:13:18 PM 1077 Views
There is a difference between hatred and truth. - 09/09/2009 04:04:02 PM 990 Views
You do know christans have done that as well don't you? - 09/09/2009 06:04:28 PM 1063 Views
The difference is... - 09/09/2009 06:16:13 PM 972 Views
really have you actaully read the Qur'an - 09/09/2009 06:33:38 PM 1042 Views
there are some unsavory passages, and he knows it. - 09/09/2009 06:46:59 PM 1034 Views
Acrually No I don't. - 09/09/2009 07:52:19 PM 907 Views
Someone should have told Jesus the OT was void - 09/09/2009 10:31:39 PM 1047 Views
Jesus was the one who voided it. - 10/09/2009 12:25:18 AM 1049 Views
so he was lying when he said he didn't? - 10/09/2009 03:27:14 AM 1114 Views
Christ never said that. - 10/09/2009 02:14:53 PM 1012 Views
Logicaly, this is a stupid post. - 06/09/2009 03:58:43 PM 1063 Views
+1 *NM* - 06/09/2009 08:56:02 PM 489 Views
+2 *NM* - 06/09/2009 10:04:34 PM 460 Views
+3 *NM* - 06/09/2009 10:36:48 PM 476 Views
As an Englishman, why are you even posting in this thread then? *NM* - 07/09/2009 02:49:22 AM 496 Views
Because I can. - 07/09/2009 10:15:57 AM 1080 Views
So can he. - 07/09/2009 07:54:56 PM 985 Views
Yes - 08/09/2009 05:59:24 AM 1068 Views
It means a lot in context to the situation - 08/09/2009 07:14:50 PM 1105 Views
No, it does not. - 08/09/2009 07:20:49 PM 1072 Views
So now you can tell me what I can and can't do with my children? - 08/09/2009 11:31:16 PM 1084 Views
I can tell you what you can't make your children do in school. - 08/09/2009 11:59:21 PM 1030 Views
Re: I can tell you what you can't make your children do in school. - 09/09/2009 04:10:19 PM 1093 Views
Re: I can tell you what you can't make your children do in school. - 09/09/2009 04:27:32 PM 1151 Views
Define "disruptive". - 09/09/2009 06:19:36 PM 1026 Views
No. *NM* - 09/09/2009 06:26:43 PM 503 Views
Well said *NM* - 09/09/2009 06:55:22 PM 478 Views
Ooh, look, I'm being baited. - 09/09/2009 07:59:28 PM 994 Views
Then your argument has no merit. *NM* - 09/09/2009 07:52:47 PM 470 Views
you are making no sense - 08/09/2009 11:35:12 AM 1079 Views
Quite a bit. - 07/09/2009 04:31:59 AM 1054 Views
Luke 6:31 *NM* - 07/09/2009 08:41:54 PM 547 Views
That applies to them as well. *NM* - 08/09/2009 07:08:55 PM 387 Views
The thing I think you are missing... - 06/09/2009 07:18:45 PM 1123 Views
Wait, what? - 06/09/2009 08:29:14 PM 1090 Views
I... kinda have to agree with Ghav, there. - 06/09/2009 10:39:28 PM 1075 Views
Yeah, what you said! - 06/09/2009 11:51:19 PM 1149 Views
don't make me get all vulcan on you. *NM* - 07/09/2009 06:13:18 AM 457 Views
Wrong. - 07/09/2009 04:36:49 AM 1082 Views
That is why America is different than those countries. Duh. *NM* - 06/09/2009 07:58:53 PM 661 Views
Because in America - 07/09/2009 04:35:24 AM 1139 Views
Re: Because in America - 07/09/2009 06:16:05 AM 981 Views
And... - 08/09/2009 07:15:49 PM 997 Views
Jesus, you are a real piece of work. Moron. *NM* - 07/09/2009 11:52:02 PM 362 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 1064 Views
Go, Tash, go! - 08/09/2009 05:52:01 AM 1022 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 1015 Views
"Their government" is the American government. *NM* - 08/09/2009 07:36:27 PM 435 Views
That is a concept many people can't seem to grasp *NM* - 08/09/2009 08:14:50 PM 450 Views
The elf has a point. *NM* - 08/09/2009 10:18:26 PM 506 Views
And yet I don't see CAIR.. - 09/09/2009 04:07:05 PM 973 Views
Why on earth should it? - 09/09/2009 05:14:30 PM 1053 Views
Because... - 09/09/2009 06:25:41 PM 1086 Views
Re: Because... - 09/09/2009 07:06:24 PM 1291 Views
Really? - 08/09/2009 08:02:42 PM 963 Views
Re: Really? - 09/09/2009 12:11:36 AM 1018 Views
Well it's not about whether it scans right to you. - 09/09/2009 04:06:06 PM 927 Views
Oh, I was just clarifying. - 09/09/2009 06:05:49 PM 982 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 1081 Views
Failed edit. *NM* - 08/09/2009 11:50:50 PM 480 Views
Exactly. *NM* - 09/09/2009 12:12:52 AM 483 Views
I'm appalled that this was even worthy of note - 06/09/2009 06:46:58 AM 1067 Views
Re: I'm appalled that this was even worthy of note - 06/09/2009 07:22:59 AM 1199 Views
It didn't infringe on the First Amendment rights of others. - 06/09/2009 07:28:35 AM 1041 Views
Er? You misunderstand the law quite a lot there - 06/09/2009 11:06:04 AM 1044 Views
I believe the rest of the Church has done a horrible job explaining... - 06/09/2009 08:02:25 PM 1029 Views
When will people learn tolerance/=support...? - 06/09/2009 12:30:23 PM 1108 Views
Well said *NM* - 06/09/2009 12:50:11 PM 482 Views
The sad thing is ou know it is the parents driving it all - 06/09/2009 02:37:08 PM 1162 Views
The parents are disgusting idiots - 06/09/2009 03:57:17 PM 1058 Views
Fundamentalist nutjobs. Sheesh! *NM* - 06/09/2009 07:57:09 PM 555 Views
The appropriate punishment... - 07/09/2009 06:03:25 AM 1064 Views
Punishment for what? - 07/09/2009 09:51:57 AM 1067 Views
When did I say anything about a law? - 07/09/2009 10:48:09 AM 1039 Views
That's the key point so many forget: - 07/09/2009 11:42:12 PM 911 Views
It's not that they forget, they never 'get' to begin with - 09/09/2009 07:18:09 PM 1096 Views
No, that's pretty much it. - 10/09/2009 03:42:25 AM 1146 Views
You're right. - 14/09/2009 11:11:38 AM 1223 Views
If I understand you - 14/09/2009 03:05:39 PM 1055 Views
Yes, that was it - 14/09/2009 04:17:45 PM 1222 Views

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