I wear anti-war clothing to school at least once or twice a week. I've never been told to do anything about it...but it's not quite as strong as that t-shirt. It doesn't disrupt classes, kids are too busy doing their work to be staring at someone else's clothing. Or at least they should be doing their work
I think it's disgusting the way the Constitution is being censored in the name of National Security. We've given up too many freedoms in order to be free!

War,... this one little, three letter word that is so controversial. As a person, I beleive everyone is entitled to thier own opinion, thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and more. But as an open-minded individual as well and good as opinions are, when it has dangerous potential a greater respect should be held. I understand many people critisize Bush, even despise him, but he is the president and our nation is under his command. A certian respect should be held, and even tho you'd prefer to speak your mind to everyone and let them know how you feel, what kind of reactions should be exepected? What if someone held an opinion that strongly disagreed with your own, and disliked you/your view to the point of violence. As big as the U.S.'s "problem with the middle east" is, as a nation we should be consious of our actions and surroundings. I know war is not the BEST solution, but sometimes it's inevitable. As AMERICANS we should be all for one and one for all, and support our country as best we can. The nation has seen protest, marches, and riots. Mostly all for the simple reason of difference. I say, if we are at war, well damn it, I'm gunna support "My Boys", and my country to get done with A.S.A.P. I live every day with the thought of war, and casualties. Not everyone gets to be blessed with the reality of war. My older brother and best friend is a Marine. He got deployed this month and right now, and everyday for 6 monthes to a year, he gets to play in the sand, in the "danger zone". I can't watch the news most days, because ahlf the time they either don't know what thier talking about, or reporting more casualties. I know what it's like to be torn in war. He's over there defending our country for a greater good, but I still want him home every other second. Is this going to turn into another vietnom? Will anti-war people boo and attack our soldiers? Can the country unite? Remember 9/11, if you cried, or hurt even the slightest, your AMERICAN, and that's what this war is about. When I thought about it, those terorist got and anger, like I've never felt before boiling in my blood. All those people who died,and families torn, that's why I'm fighting this fight. What do you think our soilders fight for? It's not always commands, or orders.They fight for thier families, loved ones, friends, freedoms, rights, beliefs, memories, thier country. Whatever inspires them to get the job done so they can all come home. I take everyday one step at a time, nothing is predictable, why try to control it. War, no matter what context that word is in, it still hurts.

there is no more freedom in this world anymore and has not been for a long time now. i was walking down the street one day with my dog on her leash and this big german shepherd just dodged out in the road and picked her up by the neck and started swinging her left to right like a rag doll. and he bite me on the leg bad. i was told to be in court and when i got there they did not even called me up, they just charged her $20.00 for her dog being loose. now my dogs dead because of it.

I have no doubt that Bretton's right of free speech, and that others' are as well. Even if other's feel differently about a subject, as Americans, we are supposed to be allowed to speak our minds, especially about the government. Being able to criticize the government is specifically mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. The right of free speech should be gaurded specifically because the writers of the Bill of Rights put free speech as the first protected right. We won't be 'America' if we didn't guard our rights.

~klotus714

The above quote is from the French philosopher Voltaire.

I am vehemently opposed to the so called "antiwar" movement that, often (though not always, thankfully), slanders the American government and the right for really no reason. However, I do not think that most people should be persecuted for political opinions. It is important that we as a society do not stamp out any dissent that may occur, so long as it harms no one directly. On the flip-side, we should also be allowed to discredit extremist opinions in protesters and other radical groups.

Do I think that some forms of speech are in fact, fundamentally flawed or deserving of being outlawed? Yes, of course some are. The Klan's cross burning, communist parties, child pornography, all are forms of "speech" but are considered indefensible by all but extremists like the ACLU.

Everyone believes in censorship of some kind, whether they realize or not. Do you believe that hard-core pornography should be shown on Saturday mornings, on national television? No? Then you're advocating censorship. Do you think that someone should be able to go to school with a shirt having an obscene or criminal message? No? That’s advocating censorship again, for fairly obvious reasons. The difference is its censorship within the bounds of common sense, and not a vaguely totalitarian erosion of basic civil liberties.

If i had that shirt I would have worn it all around the city just to show how much i despise what Bush is doing. He should not have been kicked out of school. Someone is always trying to tell us how we should think and what we should say. So our freedom of speech is being taken away.

This isn't suprising. Yes, the constitution *does* grant Freedom of Speech, but unfortunately certain people believe it is "Freedom of Speech--to a certain extent." This happens a lot in the school systems, where statements that offend school officials/staff are labelled "disruptive." No, she shouldn't have had to ditch the shirt. It's her own opinion, and as long as it isn't harming anyone, than it should be allowed.

The constitution basically seems to say a person can say or display anything, as long as it does not negatively affect the freedoms of another person. Just a t-shirt is not a violation. Now, maybe if the t-shirt had jumped up and slapped everyone who had not agreed with it, I could see where it would be unconstitutional. But it's just a shirt. People don't have to read it if they don't want to.

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You people are taking this issue way to far. School is a place of education, not a place for free speech. if there was free speach in school, a students right to an education would be infringed upon.
Rebellion against your school won't get you anywere anyways. Trust me, i've been there. I decided to Rebell instead of learn and i am paying the price right now. undereducated for my age, my english and math suck, and i have to work twice as hard as most in high school. all because i thought i would rebell, because i didn't get my way in school.
~shawn

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Rebellion? If expressing your opinion is a form of rebellion, than do we even *have* constitutional rights?

OUr country was based on the right to freedom of speech a basic liberty am I not right? Just because someone doesn't like what you are saying... does it give them the right to forbid you to say it? NO! Yes they might be offended but that's there issue to deal with. Why can't this logic fall with the tshirt issue? THe American dream was based on fundamental freedoms.... why must they take them away?
God bless!
*Katie*

Personally, I say way to go. I want one of those shirts. There is no reason why these kids should be punished for expressing their opinions, it's a basic right *guarenteed* to all American citizens. It's not a rebellion, but we could turn it into one. So they can either let us express ourselves or have a major anti-war protest/rebellion on their hands brought on by teenagers in High School. Which do you think is better? I want one of those shirts!

I heard about teh story but I coulnd't find the story anywhere on the news channel's site afterwards. Does anyone have a link?

From what I hear this is the summary:

I think it might have beena special day of some sort, but I'm not sure. The student (Bretton Barber) goes to Dearborn High in Dearborn, MI - which, on a side note, has one of the largest Arab-American populations in the nation. He wore a shirt with a picture of Bush and the words "International Terrorist" on it (personally I want ot know where he got/made it). He was asked to change shirts, turn it inside out, or go home. He chose to go home.

The school made it a point to mention he hadn't been suspended. That kinda confuses things. It means that theoretically no action was taken (thus nothing to challenge in court).

The ACLU was contacted but they hadn't put anything on their site last I checked and there was no word about whether they were goign to try to do anything.

I just think it's rather interesting, some places you can go through high school with a playboy bunny hat or a "F*ck Fashion" shirt, but other places you can't call your elected leader a criminal and a terrorist...

i think they should!

People all over this board keep saying school is about learning and getting an education, ok, lets stop worrying about what this guy is wearing on his shirt and get to learning then! Just because some moronic teacher or whatever didn't like or agree with what his shirt had to say, they have to make a huge scene and make him take it off??!?!!? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! So,ok if the shirt is a threat to anyone he shouldn't be wearing it but as far as I know, he was exercising his right to free speech and shouldn't be punished for it! Just because you don't agree with something or someone doesn't make them wrong, as long as their not breakin any laws, leave em the hell alone!! Maybe they don't like you either!

Just my opinion folks, please don't attack me for taking advantage of my freedom of speech! LOL!

~*~ I AM GESYKA...
I AM FANTASTIC~*~

Did you hear about what happened to 16-yr-old Bretton Barber in Michigan this week? He got sent home after refusing to take off a t-shirt that implies President Bush is a terrorist.

The shirt has a pic. of George W. and says "International Terrorist." Wearing it was Bretton's way of expressing his anti-war position.

This reminds me of what's happened to people like Katie Sierra, Elliot Chambers and Kisteesha Lanegan.

What do you think? Is this an example of freedom of expression or public defamation?

Should students be able to wear anti-war clothes to school or is it just too disruptive?

where can i get one of those shirts? Doing something like that is right up my alley. More power to Katie!

"Free thinker from Nazareth?" Do you mean to imply that 'Jesus' was a freethinker?

and, by the way... George W. Bush looks like a monkey and he smells like one too.

hey- I didn't read the story, but I do think freedom of speech is being taken away from us. what the heck is wrong with the government! I sware! what's the use of freedom of speech if we can't use it!

The government is pissing me off. Republicans and Democrats, both, are pissing me off. Free speech is one of the things that make this country different from a Fascist nation like Iraq, and people like W. Bush are taking it away. Dante is very right, if we don't take action now the world will fall back into Tyranny and we'll be nothing but peons to the government.

I hate midterms.

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You people are taking this issue way to far.

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Basic freedom is something we sould all take rather seriously.

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School is a place of education, not a place for free speech.

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That goes along with marine's rant about blindly supporting your government as one of the most disturbing things i've read here.
School is a place of education, so why don't we learn about the 1st Amendment?
School is a place of education, so why don't we learn to be free-thinkers?
School is a place of education, so why aren't we allowed to learn in the best way possible, by experiencing?
School is exactly the place for fre speech. If it doesn't start there where will encroachments on our liberties stop? If we can't have basic freedom in our formative years the damage may become irreversable and a generation of creativity, innovation, and radical adn beautiful ideas could be lost.

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if there was free speach in school, a students right to an education would be infringed upon.

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Explain how we learn les by being able to speak and converse freely.

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Rebellion against your school won't get you anywere anyways. Trust me, i've been there.

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If at first you don't suceed, try try again. Since when has it been a good idea for the underdog to quit simply because he is the minority? With that line of thinking we're all slaves and hopeless stuck without a chance at life.
What if a little free thinker from Nazareth decided it was a bad idea to go up against the weight of teh Roman Empire simply because it was the most powerful and dominant empire in history? Where would that get us?
If success is all you care about, and not actually doing what's right then I pity you, and may your god take pity on your lack of conviction as well.

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I decided to Rebell instead of learn and i am paying the price right now. undereducated for my age, my english and math suck, and i have to work twice as hard as most in high school. all because i thought i would rebell, because i didn't get my way in school.

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What were you rebelling against exactly? Being smart? Learning?

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this katie person is a moron, so frankly I don't care if she gets kicked out of her school.

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So quick to condemn the person who disagrees with you, even when it would impact you immensely to lose your freedom to express your views. Sad.

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If she wants to wear her dumb shirt she can do it outside the school.

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And inside the school.

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we don't need peaceniks with idiotic shirts in our schools, there are enough everywhere else.

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Personally, I think a little more peace would do us good. But the point is her freedom to wear the shirt and express a view that is clearly unpopular.with you and others.

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the words on that shirt suggest that we thought killing children would help national security, like we were trying to kill them. .

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Well, we didin't really care which is just as bad.

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What is she objecting to? people making mistakes? good grief, do they expect bombing to be perfect?

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It goes beyond simple error. More innocents were killed in teh retaliation for 9/11 than in the actual act itself. The utility of bombing has long since expired. The balance between preventing attacks or getting revenge and actually causing more damage has been more than reached adn any action is excessive and unnecesary by any moral standard.

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face it, nothing in this world is perfect

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And that justifies kiling innocents? What happened to the "sanctity of human life"? Isn't needlessly killing people immoral?
When did god life the ban on murder? I sort of thought all that was literally carved in stone: 'Thou shalt not kill". Pretty darn simple if you ask me. None, nada, zip, zero, zilch. No murder.

Ironic that you posted about warmongering earlier...

the words on that shirt suggest that we thought killing children would help national security, like we were trying to kill them. What is she objecting to? people making mistakes? good grief, do they expect bombing to be perfect? ANYTHING
any country does has the possibility of killing someone. face it, nothing in this world is perfect.