September 23, 2008
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Obama is a terrorist’s best friend
The father of an 11-year-old boy is saying his son’s first amendment rights are being violated.
The boy wore a shirt that read “Obama is a terrorist’s best friend.” He wore it to school on a day when the students were told to “wear red, white and blue to show their patriotism.” Here is the link: Link
Do you think students should have the freedom to express their political views?
Comments (224)
Absolutely, yes. All free speech should be protected.
Well… I mean, as far as school is concerned, there IS a line you shouldn’t cross… But, I don’t know if I’d say that this has crossed that line, necessarily. Who knows?
God Bless,
Chris
Certainly.
hahaha,,, i dont know why,,, or why not,,, i mean,,, what difference does it make?
it aint like he/she will round up the deciding votes to anything in their classroom.
Yes. Everyone should be able to express their political views. Even people who can’t vote…such as children.
Except governmental auditors who must remain completely politcally independent. Meh!
YES
As long as the shirt doesn’t break school rules on profanity, racism, etc. I see nothing wrong with what the shirt is implying (I may not agree) but if the kid is bold enough to wear it, he’s participating in political opinion, more kids should.
Sure, but I think they should learn how to do it respectfully. Being overtly offensive isn’t unconstitutional, but it isn’t the best way to convey your message, most of the time.
He should be able to express HIS views. Not his father’s. I doubt an 11-year old has a full grasp of domestic and international politics.
looks more to me like this kid would be endangering himself and others. but who cares right? im all for freedom of speech, but im also for lynchings of the idiots.
[i fail to see this as the child's political view, but i have been wrong in the past]
@StephanieMarie7891 - I agree 100%.
He has every right to wear that shirt. EVERY right. Of course the school wouldn’t like it. Most teachers are Liberals and Obama supporters.
Yes
Within reason but on school grounds the school must have some flexibility because they are ultimately held accountable. Could a student wear a shirt that had profanity on it and not have the shirt be a distraction? Could I come to math class in an astronaut’s uniform and not be disruptive? It is reasonable for a school to set some guidelines and have some control when it comes to minors…
Yes
In this case yes… -
Yes, though I don’t think so. Pardon to Georgy Porgy, I think terrorism is just a sticks and stones sort of thing. The powers that be apply pressure to various substances– animal, mineral and vegetable, to get what they think they want. The kid’s a victim and focasing on his shirt would be unwise.
It reminds me of when my friend Hal got
stuffed in a garbage can by the football
team for wearing Old Glory. [1968]
We’ve lost so much of our constitution–we’d better keep what we’ve got.
Sure he does, it’s stupid and sad that his father would use him like a political tool like that, but that’s his right.
Yeah, he had the right to wear the stupid shirt.
But he’s eleven. Those aren’t his political views. They’re his mother’s or father’s political views.
SOMEBODY bought him that shirt.
EDIT: Wait, the picture loaded. That’s some crappy shirt, looks like someone drew on it with markers. Man, I wouldn’t let my kid go to school wearing something as awful looking as that. Couldn’t they find a conservative shirt online? Something that doesn’t look so junky?
Seriously, that is one ugly piece of handcrafts.
I just think it’s cute that an 11-year-old is trying to express a political opinion and I think it’s amazing that an 11-year-old made such evenly sized, perfectly formed letters on that shirt. [sarcasm] This is an example of parents exploiting their child to promote their own views. The crooked “R” in “FRIEND” was a nice touch, but they realized their mistake too late. Political campaigning should stay out of schools. Learning about the electoral process and holding mock elections is fine, but the fine art of slinging mud does not need to be part of our children’s education.
At eleven, do you really have your own political views?
Free speech should be protected but that always seems to be an issue in grades K-12. I along with a group of people wasn’t allowed to set up a Republican club in high school. The reasoning being that there was already a political awareness club even though it had been hijacked by Democrats.
yes.. of course.. but that doesn’t mean its the right thing to do.. especially in a school setting… but it certaintly isn’t the WRONG thing to do…
IF there are disheartened parents… anyone who is to blame is the school for not outlining properly what is expected of the students… it is essential for the school system to stay as neutral as possible…
then again they can’t force children to be patriotic either -_-
That shirt should have been allowed. Especially if they asked for the students to show their patriotism…
Yes they do.
But that was not what that student was doing. I’d say that shirt classifies as “fighting words.”
It’s usually not allowed in school to be disrespectful. And that shirt is extremely disrespectful. I wonder if the commenters here would come to the same conclusions if it were something nasty about John McCain, Sarah Palin or George Bush. That kid’s parents are doing a bang-up job of teaching him to be a mouthy jerk.
Of course.
@babiegrl8069 - Hey, we’re twins!! LOL!!
Yes…provided they are the political views of the student and not of the student’s parents, guardian, grandparents, older sibling…etc…
Students should be able to express their political views but this is just bordering on hate speech.
Yes they should, but being a walking billboard for your dad’s opinion is hardly expressing YOUR view. It was a jerk thing to do though I respect the right to do so and wouldn’t ban it any more than I would ban a t-shirt saying Ilegal Mexicans are Evil Job Takers. You may not like it or might take it offensively but you can’t really tell them to keep their opinion to themselves in this country. You merely fight back by expressing your own.
@PretendPrincess - HAHAH OMGGG!!!!! MY LONG LOST HALF!!!!!… ive searched the ends and depths of the earth to find you!!!!!! LOL
The shirt should have been allowed, even though I doubt that kid knows much.
But at least he’s Republican!
well the courts have repeatedly upheld that students do not have constitutional rights when on a public school campus. additionally i agree with @mightymarce - they are fighting words and they are not a political view that can be substantiated with a coherent, logical thought.
of course, free speech should always be protected…of course the answer is not to ban the shirt but use it as the starting point of further discussion.
LOL
I think the dad may be sending the wrong idea to the kid for letting him wear something like that. I’m all for Obama losing, but come on, it’s kind of weird.
I think they should. The only reason this caused a stir is because it happened at a school, most of which tend to have liberal faculty. If the boy had come to school with a shirt opposing McCain or Palin, the school’s administrators probably wouldn’t have made such a fuss. I’m not saying that I agree with the statement on the shirt, but freedom of speech is an inalienable right for everyone, including 11-year-olds who choose to express their opinion. Besides, the only other people who would see the shirt aren’t capable of voting anyways, so could it really cause that much of a problem with the other students? I’m sure some teacher was offended and complained, and now the whole thing has turned into a clusterf***.
Holy shit, that’s fucking hilarious.
Yes, except I’m inclined to say not at school. You could argue that cursing is a form of expression and I don’t believe that kids should be able to wear shirts with cusswords to school.
Just my opinion..doesn’t matter, I guess.
The kid is right, though.
@SAVEDbyTSC - I don’t know what school you went to, but my faculty growing up were pretty much ALL conservative, Republicans and they would have *died* to see a kid wear that.
Basically until you turn 18, you don’t have ANY political rights. It’s the way the country works, it’s the way schools work. (Even if that’s not the view that the courts hold.)
I’m going into Education, and I would ask the student to take it off as well. We must consider the other students, and that shirt is overtly offensive and unnecessary. There are ways that a student can express his political views tastefully in the clothing he or she wears. That’s just rude. Something like this would be acceptable: http://buttons.cafepress.com/design/26821668
P.S. I would never let my child out of the house in something like that.
not
yes…but I have a gut feeling that this is more the work of the father than the child.
11 year olds don’t have political views.
I think so… the kid has a right to free speech and to express his political opinions, no matter how stupid or ugly they might be. Hell, Bill O’Reilly’s still on television, so is Keith Olbermann!
But, on the other hand, we also have to consider the rights and responsibility of the school to provide a safe learning environment for our kids. One person’s “free speech” could be inflammatory and disruptive to others and impede learning while everyone talks about a t-shirt (or gets into fights about it) instead of their studies.
We have to balance these two things, in my opinion. In this case, maybe the shirt is fine in public; but not okay for school. It’s not my decision to make; that just seems like a common sense balance of the two competing needs here.
Clearly he’s expressing his FATHER’s political views.
The father should take some responsibility because he shouldn’t let his son out og the house wearing a shirt like that. Those type of words are ones that cause an uproar among students and will lead to chaos. That shirt is not a show of patriotism. I could understand if he simply wore a McCain shirt or a No Obama shirt but he didn’t have to write all the excess. He is entitled to his opinion, but he should also not put his opinion on display that way.
@soul_survivor - I agree to that!! He’s 11, and he is probably acting out on what he has heard or been taught by his parents.
They should have freedoms to wear anything without curse words on them. Because of course, curse words are forbidden in school.
Yeah, free speach should be protected. Unless it breaks pre-established school rules (like no profanity) then what are the grounds for telling him no?
And I don’t get all these people saying an 11 year old doesn’t have his own political views, that he must just be expressing what his parents think. Um, no. Some 11 year olds are very smart.
Yes.
But I don’t think “Obama is a terrorist’s best friend” is a political view.
And it was supposed to be a patriotic day. Why wear a hateful shirt on a patriotic day?
People keep trying to put the blame on either party for censoring free speech, but the fact is, both parties are guilty of it.
I’d wear that shirt just to piss people off.
I’m sick of people fucking with freedom of speech.
a very loud YES! if adults can then so can teens.
It’s school. They adress a uniform policy and the students follow it. One has to dress respectfully and that includes whatever is said on their shirts. Besides, those aren’t the kid’s views, it’s their parent views. As if a child understand the policies each candidate is promoting, get real.
I certainly do. But I often got yelled at by teachers and administrators for questioning their all knowingness and infallibility in politics. They never liked any form of dissenting opinion though and I was full of them, but in all truthfulness, they brought that upon themselves, with the way they often treated me I lost all confidence in their intelligence or good intentions before I ever got to middle school.
Actually it was how liberal they were and how hard they tried to shove their liberal beliefs down my throat more than anything else that turned me into the staunch liberal hating and government hating conservative that I am today.
@mixcoolchick - But he’s not a teen. The boy is 11. Do you remember what you were doing when you were 11? All I could think about was my next clarinet recital to later on in the day make to it to my tae kwon do class.
@TearsKeepAFalling - Thank you.
@faerieshadow - No one is saying that 11 year olds aren’t smart. Think of when you were 11, what political views did you have? Did they resemble the ones of your parents? A child can not understand foreign policy nor medicare.
That’s an awesome shirt. It cracks me up how people are saying “that’s his parents political views.” Well duh. However, I had some pretty detailed political views at age 11 (and my Mom was not political at all). Plus, when parents put a Barak Obama t-shirt on their kids does that mean that the kid should know fully Barak’s view on all issues (I mean Barak supporters don’t even know this, let alone Barak)?
I can’t believe that the parents would allow this boy to wear something like that to school. Yes I believe in freedom of speech, but a boy 11 years old I don’t think that is his own opinion. That is the opinion of his parents. If you want to advertise it your self that is fine, but don’t put it on a 11 year old child to do it for you.
well i’m gonna make me a t-shirt that says
McCain is a Warmongering DEVIL (with devil in red all caps)
then on the back its gonna say FREE SPEECH BITCH
@The_Church_of_Fat - very true.
@awokenfatality - i agree but obviously this person is. A 11 year has a brain and can think and have their own opinions on whatever subject they want. Maybe he is interested in politics. That is fine! Let it. I think he has that right. IF we as adults have the right to voice our opinions i think a 11 yr old should be able to, too!
lmao…I hate stupid people.
absolutely!
Yes he has the right to voice his own oppinion.
I can think of no reason why he shouldn’t be allowed to wear the shirt.
@mixcoolchick - I’m not saying that a child can’t voice their opinion, just that they don’t have the best of knowledge or even know what’s their opinion. What I thought of back then isn’t the same as now. When I was that age I was pro-life, now I am pro-choice. And why was I pro-life? Because my church was which was enforced to me by my mother. It wasn’t my opinions that I was voicing, but my parents.
@StephanieMarie7891 - Agreed, though I find the shirt highly offensive.
Doesn’t seem like his political point of view. It’s most likely his parents’ point of view. Either way, he should be able to wear what he wants.
@awokenfatality - when I was 11 I was pro-life also—and now? Still am. why? because that is my belief and it was then, not because someone else told me so either! You dont know this boy and you dont know if he is being forced into believing that way or not. He might actually think that Obama is a terrorists best friend or whatever! The point is you nor I dont know this boy enough to say his opinion is his own opinion or not!
Speec shuld be protcted as long as I agree with it. That is the American way.
..:: dante
wow…I’m so sure that the kid doesn’t even know why he’s wearing that shirt…does anyone else get the sneakin suspicion that the father put the shirt on the kid, and now thinks his vicarious ‘civil rights’ are being violated?…
that’s not patriotism anyway…that’s mud-slinging.
@mixcoolchick - In which I am arguing the opposite of what you believe, more or less to prove that a counter opposite must exist for what you’re saying to be true. If you can’t handle a debate, I’m sorry.
@askdante - Yep, that seems to be the way.
If a teacher wore it people wouldn’t even think twice about blasting them. This was meant to be hostile and confrontational. It was not in the spirit of the “wear red, white and blue”.
I’m not sure I agree completely on this one. I believe in free speech, but I find it hard to believe that the child understands the message he is displaying.
If the child does in fact believe the statement then I can’t say much.
@fullmetalbunny - Brilliant and well said
@fullmetalbunny - haha, that’s funny.
Yes.
I think our freedom of speech rights are highly violated at public schools.
We’re forced to go, so shouldn’t we have the same rights there as we do elsewhere?
Well, yeah, but in all fairness an 11 year old doesn’t have a political opinion yet, they’re just mimicking what their parents do and say. I guarantee you that the idea for that shirt was not his own.
@faerieshadow -
Maybe that is his own view. However, having political views doesn’t make a person smart no matter how old they are. Clearly, he wore the shirt to get attention and now he is suspended. The student had a choice between turning the shirt inside out or being suspended. As said in the article….the shirt was an interuption to the learning environment, that’s the reason he was suspended.
My mind is nutty right now.
Somehow I don’t think that was the kid’s first ammendment rights that were violated, but the retarded “parent.”
@awokenfatality - um excuse you it sounds like you can’t I wasn’t upset or anything then u turn around get upset because supposedly I couldn’t handle a debate? HELLO! I didn’t even know this was a debate! And I dont want one! you want a debate go elsewhere I was just pointing out what I believe and think…you want to turn it into a debate then like i said go elsewhere!
Yes, freedom of speech should always be protected. My question after reading this, however, is was this the child’s view or his father’s?
@StephanieMarie7891 - I agree.
Is this his view or his parents’ view?
Students should absolutely be allowed to express their political views. I wonder if he would have even been censored had his shirt been criticizing McCain. I’m not saying that this is what happened, but it’s ridiculous when teachers encourage students to express their opinions and then impose their own political agendas.
Do you think students should have the freedom to express their political views?
This depends on the rules in place at the school. The principle role of the school is education. Forms and sorts of free speech may distract from the education process. Under this could be some political expressions.
It’s clear, for instance, how a Nazi armband might be distracting for some children and of concern for some parents.
@Saevyor3 - Absolutely, yes. All free speech should be protected.
Clear and present danger: “Fire!” in a crowded theater.
@StephanieMarie7891 - As long as the shirt doesn’t break school rules on profanity, racism, etc. I see nothing wrong with what the shirt is implying (I may not agree) but if the kid is bold enough to wear it, he’s participating in political opinion, more kids should.
At school, as in the workplace, a degree of professionalism is required and necessary. As the workplace stress employee productivity, the school does so with the learning process. I think each of us can think if political expression or slogans that is as outlandish as to distract from productivity and the learning process.
As there is a dress code in the work place, there is one at school.
Religious or political clothing should not be allowed in schools, in my opinion. (i am not talking about religious head coverings)
yes. as much as i hate what that shirt says and as much as i hate that parents are indoctrinating their children with this kind of bullshit, i love freedom of speech more.
@fugu62 - of course, free speech should always be protected…of course the answer is not to ban the shirt but use it as the starting point of further discussion.
The goal and means of education isn’t whatever crazy shirt students decide to wear to class. The agenda of the teacher is dictated by her (or his) timing and curriculum.
At the point that the t-shirt may distract from the learning at hand, either direct or indirectly, then it is fair for there to be school policies to ban their wearing. Clearly, not all forms of political expression can be distracting; but this t-shirt seems to be.
The shirt isn’t showing patriotism, and is wrong, but it isn’t obscene. Now the establishment clause of 1st amendment is usually only part applied to schools. If school policy prohibits political shirts, or shirts with inflammatory statements then, the kid should be asked to wear a different shirt. In my high school, wearing inappropriate clothing was never grounds for suspension, at least not on the first offense.
Sure, everyone has freedom of speech, but I don’t think that was appropriate to wear to school and a parent should understand that and not flip out. If you really want to twist up your innocent children, do it at home.
Schools are given special rights when it comes to the law. I think the latin is en loco parentis, or in place of the parent. Basically, the school can act in place of a parent to decide certain things, like rules, dress code, etc. So, the school has a bit of a say in how a kid can or can’t express himself.
But I like to see a kid expressing political views. Hopefully, it shows he has been well educated. A few questions can clear up whether that’s the case.
yes, in an aproppriate way.
@huginn - The standard for abridging free speech has to be much higher than “distracting” to reach the level of endangering or at least threatening. The role of public education is more than allowing teachers to execute their lesson plans without distraction. In part, one of the goals should be to teach that in civil society we tolerate the opinions of others even if those opinions are unpopular with the authorities (teachers). The idea of complleing someone to attend a school then depriving them of a First Amendment right teaches that civil liberties are meaningless in the United States. The fact that a teacher has his or her classroom management skills challenged in a way that makes her or him uncomfortable does not justify a denial of basic liberties. The public schools are government agencies and, as such, are duty bound to respect the rights of citizens, even if those citzens are children.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats like saying you’re first amendment is being violated when you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater or bomb on a plane.
It’s one thing to express political views such as “I support soandso” but a COMPLETELY different thing to bash other candidates ( which is what is the case here in my opinion).
Seriously, enjoy supporting your favorite candidate, but don’t bash the other candidates, because I personally find it very offensive- no matter which candidate is bashed verbally.
Be kind. Have fun. And please don’t be so negative toward other candidates….it’s not their fault you don’t like them, and everyone has their own opinions….that being said….
Let’s support our country in a positive way. And someone should have made that child change his shirt- that is awful that he wore that.
Again these are just my opinions.
Yep. I wore more offensive political shirts than that when i was in school!
-Zlexander the Zounderkite
@j_flo_in_TX - I had political when I was 11 actually. I’m pretty sure they were silly and I don’t remember exactly what they were, but I had some.
Diamonds are my best friend.
If schools allow satanic messages on t-shirts (and yes, my high school did) then I see no problem with a political view being expressed. Honestly, there are FAR more offensive T-shirts that ARE permitted.
that’s pretty sad
@Atomic_emmcee - Maybe if you had grammar lessons when you were 11, instead of political views, your comment would make sense.
Yes, why not? I mean if I have the right as a 22, then an 11 or below should. Then again, his parents political views probably got reflected through him.
a) He’s 11 years old.
b) He’s probably spouting what Daddy thinks.
c) It’s to show patriotism for the things you love about your country, not the things you’re fighting against.
d) The governmet/school systems are a little paranoid. I’d be more worried about the gothic/emo kids than I would that t-shirt.
Yes.
yes, despite whatever views they may have, they should be able to express their opinions as long as they aren’t ridiculously offensive/hurtful to others.
Yeah, of course. Though the odds of that being the kid’s view and not just regurgitation of what Daddy says is pretty unlikely.
@Bobby - Thats like saying you’re first amendment is being violated when you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater or bomb on a plane.
The two examples you site are the assertion of facts which are not true which could lead to direct bodily harm to the innocent if taken to be true. While stated as a fact the student’s shirt was the expression of an opinion and in no way threatened or endangered anyone.
I also have the right to say that this kid and his parents are total idiots who need to be set on fire.
Yes. THEIR views. Not their parents’s views. Nine-years-old seems a little young to have such a strong “opinion”
Nope. Children have no rights…only to be protected.
lol!
@AvenueToTheReal - Lmbo!!
@fugu62 - Stated as a fact its libel and illegal anyways. “stated as a fact” and “expression of an opinion” are not the same thing and you can not have it both ways. As George Orwell would say, doublespeak.
Yes he should have been allowed to wear the shirt.
He may only be 11 but the first amendment freedom of speech still applies to him.
@mini_dachshund_lover - Freedom of speech does not mean you can slander people. Libel is illegal.
absolutely
i see that shirt as an opportunity to instruct the class on how fear-mongering can be an effective campaign tool–especially if voters do not know where they can find out real facts about candidates. it is also the perfect opportunity to teach the class about discernment of fact & fiction on the internet in general…
http://weblog.xanga.com/LOL_CW13/675592479/an-answer-to-thetheologianscafes-question.html
the answer to ur question…
I don’t know in this situation; don’t public schools have control over their dress code and their own policies concerning these things?
@Bobby - You can’t say that it was not stated has an opinion because neither you nor I know the boy in question. You may not like what it said but it is freedom of speech if it indeed was his or rather the fathers opinion.
Yes, the child was completely in his rights by law to wear that shirt. As long as it was his idea and he was okay with it.
Now if his parent/s told him to wear the shirt saying that, then that is completely wrong.
@fugu62 - I agree
@Bobby - Opinions often come stated in the form of factual assertions. To say that “we are facing the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression,” takes the form of a factual assertion when it is actually an opinion which can be debated. This is why the “fact checking” people are on a fool’s errand. To express one’s opinion as a fact is not “doublespeak” (a phrase that is routinely misused anyway; doublespeak was a means by which the authorities in the novel 1984 attempted to limit the vocabulary of discourse in order to rob it of nuaunce and thus control the people’s means of expression. Using it to mean propaganda shows a lack of understanding of Orwell’s work) It is actually more a factor of human nature since we tend to believe our opinions are the truth. If all statements of opinion which are asserted as facts were omitted from public rhetoric politicians would have little to say.
Definitely.
I can’t help laughing at that shirt, even as I realize how incredibly sad it is that that kid has been brainwashed into thinking such a thing…
Yes. It has something to do with – what was it again? Oh yeah – THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
@enigmatic_intent - Paranoia FTL, eh? Although I think that Obama is more of a Socialist’s best friend than a terrorist’s best friend…
chances are an 11 yo boy doesn’t even know who Obama is & what he stands for… it’s sad that his parents would exploit their own son that way to promote their own politics.
@mini_dachshund_lover - Here here!
Why not. It’s kinda nice to see students involved in politics.
@SladeTheGreyFox - i agree completely. i highly doubt that kid has any political opinion.. not at 11. i know i didnt care about politics when i was that age.
I think that they should be able to wear whatever expressing their views, but “where I come from, they’s fighting words.” Probably they just didn’t want him to get hurt or something.
There’s a difference between “free speech” and “incendiary hatred” that many people in these comments fail to grasp.
@StephanieMarie7891 - I agree compleatly.
This seems like a deliberate attempt to get a lawsuit going if you ask me. If the father thinks the public system is filled with “liberal loons” then the only reason he put his kid there is to use him as a political martyr. Which to a certain degree of irony, is the very thing terrorists do with their kids.
@fugu62 - The standard for abridging free speech has to be much higher than “distracting” to reach the level of endangering or at least threatening.
In the public sphere: Yes, I would agree. Employers have the right to set dress and speech standards in the workplace. Likewise, parents have the right to set rules of the house. Eductors have guidelines and rules for students.
The role of public education is more than allowing teachers to execute their lesson plans without distraction. In part, one of the goals should be to teach that in civil society we tolerate the opinions of others even if those opinions are unpopular with the authorities (teachers)….
The principle aim of primary school is education of curriculum content.
The boy was in the fifth or sixth grade. Education of government and civil concepts probably doesn’t formally happen until high school.
The idea of complleing someone to attend a school then depriving them of a First Amendment right teaches that civil liberties are meaningless in the United States.
The logical extent of your position would bring chaos to the school. With your position, any racial epithet or deragoatory word could not go unpunished because it would be a violation of a student’s first amendment rights. Going to school with KKK-ware or a Nazi armband is just as kosher as a Yankee baseball cap.
In school, there can’t be free reign to what students say, do, and wear. Expressions are accepted in so far that they don’t interfere with the education process. This isn’t a whole-sale denail of first amendment rights.
The fact that a teacher has his or her classroom management skills challenged in a way that makes her or him uncomfortable does not justify a denial of basic liberties.
Free speech exists in the classroom. It is simply curtailed to resaoonble extents.
The right towards racial and political t-shirts in the fifth grade isnt’ exactly a “basic liberty.”
The public schools are government agencies and, as such, are duty bound to respect the rights of citizens, even if those citzens are children.
The United States Supreme Court has interpreted that the role of the school is as surrogate caretakers for the studens’ moms and dads. Just a parent have rules at home, the school can have their rules too.
@j_flo_in_TX -
At the age of 11, I had political views.
I do not quite remember what they were. Also, I’m pretty sure they were silly. Still, I had them.
I’m sorry if I did not write my comment properly the first time. It was in no way meant to annoy you.
I think the shirt is inappropriate.
But I think this hardly falls into “incendiary hate speech.” It may be wrong, it may be libel, but its a stretch to call it hate speech. Stop being so ridiculously easily offended.
Certainly its something to disagree about, but if this shirt were to bring children to fighting, these parents need to take a long look at themselves and their failure at child rearing.
There is something wrong with YOU if you feel the need to HIT someone that has a different political opinion.
yes, he should be able to wear any shirt he wants. It’s his right. That being said, the view expressed by the shirt is repugnant and is EXACTLY why people have lost faith in american politics – which are unbelievably nasty. But as I said, people have the right to wear nasty shirts.
@mightymarce - Exactly.
While the student should be able to express political views, he shouldn’t have to basically slander a presidential candidate. If it simply said McCain 08, or had the crossed out circle over Obama, fine. But to say Obama is a terrorist’s best friend is just wrong.
I doubt an 11-year-old’s political views are that strong yet.
I think that’s sometin the parents of this young boys’ fault. They probably brain washed this boys head to think that Obama is a horrible person, probably because he’s black. Just assuming I guess. But to answer the question, I don’t think they should be allowed to wear a shirt like that. That’s putting negative thoughts into kids heads, not cool.
*Peace*
Jenn-A
There are more controversial shirts than this one. As long as the person wearing this shirt understands the message he’s trying to convey, this student’s freedom of speech should be protected. It’s not like he cried “Fire” in a crowded theater.
They absolutely should, no matter their age or the influence that mayo r may not be going on behind the scenes.
To everyone who insists that it is only his parents’ view, I have an eleven-year-old nephew who knows exactly how politics work and has his own opinion on what he feels about this election’s candidates.
i’m sure his is a house of light-hearted childhood fun.
*sigh
but yes, he should be able to wear it.
(btw, i had to mention you in my latest post. it was just a natural fit.)
yep
Of course the kid can say whatever the hell he wants, but do 11-year-olds even have political consciences? -_-
Do any of the respondents here actually think this was a legitimate, independent political view of an 11 year old boy, or was it one spoon fed to him by his father? Come on. It is reprehensible when parents manipulate their children to try and make a political statement for themselves. This was the passive aggressive equivalent of putting a bomb in a basket and having your child deliver it to a soldier. It’s crap. Total complete crap. And I don’t care how close Obama is to Palin, I don’t think they are best friends.
Why not? It’s thier future this election will be forming.
like, duh! this is one of those things I had to fight my school district(s) about growing up.
I disagree with what the kid says, but he absolutely has a right to say it. Kthx.
I’m sure that the shirt doesn’t state the 11 year old’s opinion. It’s probably his father’s opinion.
Heck yeah.
yes!
he’s one brave kid. i admired him!
i wouldn’t dare to wear it to school if i were him cause i don’t want to get suspended. -_-
@Innuendo__X - You are exactly right.
what more patriotic expression is there to voice your political view. what more patriotic expression is there in portraying what you believe is wrong with the nation. be it wrong or right. the child does have the right to wear this ugly hideous outrageous t-shirt. he is not threatening anyone.
Well it must be patriotic to wear a rebel flag to huh
I think that they banned him for saying ‘terrorist’, not for expressing his views.
If the shirt read, ‘Anti-Obama’ or something, he probably would not have gotten suspended.
@saintvi - I totally agree with what you are saying. And just adding to it… Part of what a school authority (be it teacher, principal, etc.) is supposed to do is insure that students are being taugh in safe learning environment. When somebody is wearing a t-shirt that disrupts that environment they have every right to ban it. If the kid had been walking down the street and the teacher happened to drive by and tell him to take the shirt off it would’ve been a different story. Needless, I think the school should make the kid hand in a nice long essay about why Obama is a terrorists best friend. Of course, I’m sure that essay would be another self made masterpiece…
I’m not so sure of the terms of charging with libel, but if that really is the kid’s view (which I doubt, as I think that very biased parents have done something about this) then it should be whatever that the kid wears that shirt. Damn.
@Bobby - I agree with you. Bleh.
No, I don’t not think students should have the freedom to express their political views in this situation. This CAN be charged as libel, in my opinion, since it is based solely upon ignorance and is only out there to hurt Obama’s reputation.
He’s a terrorist’s best friend? How fucking retarded can people be. Whether he was Muslim at one point is completely irrelevant — only an ignorant person would generalize all the Muslim population and assume that all Muslims are terrorists.
Funny how the Oklahoma bomber, the Columbine shooters, the VA Tech shooter, and all this other shit that happens every day involves non-Muslims, yet no one is quick to say, “Omg, Polish people (the unabomber), white people (Columbine) and Asians (VA tech) are terrorists!”
People want sooo badly to believe that Muslims are all terrorists — they see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear. This is why they choose to turn a blind eye to 90% of these tragedies that happen in America, all commited by non-Muslims.
Get a life, people. Pick up a damn book and educate yourselves. We are truly a country filled with the stupidest, most uneducated people ever.
Don’t you think the people who told him to take it off are protecting their own political views?
Everybody’s gonna piss about something. If it wasn’t his shirt, it would be someone else. What about all the people protesting animal rights/abortion? They show graphic images, and are allowed to do so. As long as it doesn’t disturb the mind, it should be okay.
Yes, that’s what I would classify as “Free speech” which deserves protection. I’m not saying it’s having the effect he/his dad wants, but it certainly should not be censored.
There’s no such thing as free speech in school. In my adolescent days I felt this was pretty unfair, but now I see that the line has to be drawn somewhere. There’s too much that immature or naive students can say that will disrespect their educators or peers, so it’s just easier to throw a wide net. When you’re living in the real world and have to responsible for yourself, then you can say whatever you want (and deal with the consequences).
No matter how stupid the shirt, he should be allowed to wear it.
Buck Fush shirts are allowed, I don’t see why anyone with feelings against Obama should be denied freedom of expression.
sadly, he should be able to wear the shirt.
I refuse to vote this election, but I agree on the lines that the parents are a little stupid for making the kid put their beliefs out there. he probably has no idea which is a good candidate to vote for and hes probably to young to really care anyways
@mightymarce - Are you serious? Fighting words? You have got to be kidding. Look at all the people going around wearing t-shirts that say things like “1/21/09: The end of an Error.” There is no difference here. Yes, the shirt is offensive to people of a certain mind, but so are a lot of other things that I don’t see people getting up in arms about. Furthermore, the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, not freedom from offense.
Poor kid. His father should be smacked! That child doesn’t even know what the hell his shirt means. His father is an idiot who needs to keep his opinions to himself or know when they’re appropriate.
I believe students forfeit their right to their ammendments when they are in school grounds. I know this to be true because I’ve been in trouble in grade school for thinking I had rights as well. It is unfortunate that the child had such a negative statement to make, but irregardless of the content, the child did not have the right to make public such a comment while under the jurisdiction of the school.
That shirt was a tacky and inappropriate thing to wear to school, perhaps he had the right, just maybe should not wear it all the same.
Freedoms are restricted at schools, so perhaps there is ground to disallow this shirt.
@cre13 - How is discrimination patriotic?
@ClintPlumlee - I never said it was patriotic. Maybe this boy’s view of patriotism is speaking his mind. I don’t agree with him by no means. I wouldn’t have worn the shirt. But exercising his freedom is speach is pretty damned patriotic if you ask me.
I find it funny that you wrote “Do you think students should have the freedom to express their political views?” rather than “Do you think students should be allowed to wear shirts that claim others are best friends of terrorists?” Maybe I was blind to it then, but I don’t remember your posts being as biased before as they are now. Yes, they should be able to express their political views, but not to the point of hurling insults with no back-up. If he wore a shirt saying another boy in the CLASS were a terrorist, I think we all could agree he would not be allowed. Those are fighting words, and outright slander. Should kids be allowed to wear shirts to school that say “Palin – a rapist’s best friend?” That’s freedom to express political views, too.
idk and idc bt thats HILARIOUS!!!
i LOVE THAT KID!
He has the right for free speech, but the school also has the right to suspend him because he would be disruptive for a classroom setting by wearing that shirt. Imagine how other kids would feel if they were affected by terrorists attacks???
You have to be careful with that sort of language. Fight words, maybe?
YES. For a government entity to restrict freedom of speech is a flagrant violation of the constitution.
Since when are students not American citizens? (Thus being covered by the first amendment rights, etc.)
I’m of the conviction, that just because the local authority doesn’t agree with something, does not mean that they have the right to punish the offender. If it is illegal, or if they are breaking a rule, then consequences may be doled out. But if an eleven year old boy wants to flaunt his/his father’s political views, then so be it.
Yes, they can express political views, but promoting terrorism is not a political view. It is the promotion of forms of combat which are viewed as inhumane and illegal.
Yes, they should.
The kid should have been able to wear that shirt.
Down with the censor.
lulz. ugly shirt. but in any case obama is crossed out.
and all free speech should be protected.
Students should have the right to express their political views. But I must say, even if you don’t like Obama isn’t that going a little extreme (especially for an 11 year old boy)? On top of it all, there’s a 99% chance it was his father’s doing and the school was certainly smart enough to figure that out. The MAIN problem is that 11 years old is right under that borderline from childhood going into teen years. Some 11 year olds hearing that Obama is a terrorist or is friends with terrorists could spark some problems and false information to young ones. The school took the appropriate action without a doubt. Elementary School is not a political battleground
Yes. They are citizens of this country, too. But do they have rights under 18?
I don’t think an 11 year old can be informed enough to have an opinion on this matter. What he did was stupid. Some morons take “freedom of speech” too far. If you’re idiotic enough to wear an ignorant, stupid, and hateful tshirt to school, you deserve to have your rights taken away. Freedom of speech my ass…more like freedom to be a moronic idiot…which is not protected by the constitution.
All free speech should be protected up to a point, but this doesn’t go past that point. But the kid’s only in 5th grade. I don’t think he should even have political views yet. It’s likely that his father made him wear the shirt.
So he had the right to wear the shirt, but we aren’t sure he really wanted to wear it. Maybe when he can vote he’ll be a Democrat. Or maybe he really thinks that because he was misinformed. Or he could just be an idiot.
Of course students should express their views. That t-shirt sounds like a good teaching opportunity to me. What a great time to teach children about the “sticks and stones” mentality of those words and the exaggerations and misleading propaganda used in elections (not to mention advertising in general!)
Yes
Absolutely. Free speech is guaranteed by the first amendment, and as such freedom to express one’s political views is as well.
I might not agree with them (like in this case), but everyone is entitled to their own opinion and has the right to make that opinion known.
This is just hilarious.
Yes, but not in a derogatory way. I remember way back in my grammar school days….we had buttons that proclaimed our choice, which of course was our parents choice.
I think that everyone should be allowed freedom of speech. UNLESS it defames someone’s character.
Yes, students SHOULD be able to express their political views in school… however they should do so in a respectful manner. Instead of attacking Obama, he should have wrote a postive statement about McCain… Why not: “Vote for McCain!” Instead of “Obama is a terrorist!”?. Statements like that just fuel ignorance… and should be discouraged by the school.
I had a “dress-down” day once when I went to a Catholic Highschool. I chose a Bad Religion T-shirt including a large white cross with a red circle around it and a diagonal slash right through. I was most definitely kicked out of school for the day and awarded a saturday detention.
If there isn’t freedom of speech in a situation in which the ‘perp’ isn’t even making any outrageous or untestable claims (but was merely expressing an opinion; that symbolism is bad), there shouldn’t be a situation in which a child is allowed to openly SLANDER an individual politician in an environment where his peers are more likely than adults to agree with him based on the fact that he took the time to put on a T-shirt alone.
@huginn - I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree since you seem to think that some teacher’s classroom management plan is more important than a fundamental human right and, well, I disagree. Just one thing to think about which is a quote from William Pitt:
Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
Hell no! Should I be allowed to wear a shirt to my fourth grade class that says, “Anal cunt: ha ha I fucked your wife”, with two naked, tied up women? Obviously not. This would offend people. He should ahve been wearing Tommy Hilfiger like every other mother fucker int hat goddamned classroom. Schools are not the place to offend others with your clothing. Malls are.
It’s impressive that a 10 year old even has political views in this day and age…..!
Anyway, the lil shock-jock has the right to wear his shirt, just hope he realizes this probably won’t win him very many friends (and isn’t that what’s really important in school?)
I think he just did it for the attention, though…..!
@fugu62 - 1. Again, you misrepresent my position. Having extents to free speech does not equal its strangling.
2. You drop my argument in how in the family and in the workplace, there are always limits to expressions in dress and speech.
3. You drop my argument in how your position is unpractical. You argue for unregulated free speech; your position is that profanity, gang attire, and hate speech should go unnoticed and unpunished. Silence means consent.
he has the right to yeah, but im pretty sure its his dad’s idea
and being a student at a public school, im also sure its against school code to wear something that says something as offensive as that, my friend got yelled at for having a skull as a belt buckle
anyways, there are more respectable ways of showing your political views
If that’s teh kid’s opinion and not his parents uslling him as a billboard for their views, his rights were violated.
He should have the freedom to do whatever he wants, but this won’t stop the bullies from beating him to a pulp.
YES. Free speech. Unless the school has a written policy or dress code, then that kid certainly never should have been suspended.
If the kid was wearing a simple “Obama ’08″ shirt than nothing would have been said.
The kid is trying to send a message he believes in, whether anyone agrees or not, its his right to do so.
That kid has the right to express his political leanings. This is America, people!! READ THE CONSTITUTION!!!! Besides that, the t-shirt is absolutely correct!!!!
Sure, free speech should be protected. But this kid is 11 years old. He doesn’t know what the hell he is talking about. I think there’s a possibility that this boy’s father is the one who is violating the rights of his child by not letting him form his own opinions. What 11-year old has a political opinion?
I believe the legal definition is that a student has the right to wear clothing that makes a political statement as long as it is not disruptive. If this shirt caused disruptions in the class, then legally the school had the right to act.
I have an 11 yo old son. I know that he has listened to the arguments of one Republican parent, one Democratic parent, an uncle in the Green party and a brother-in-law who is a Libertarian. He has definite opinions on issues and political races. I would not dismiss this child’s opinion as the opinion of his parents.
As far as the school goes, someone should inform them that flying a flag or wearing a certain set of colors does not demonstrate patriotism. It is demonstrated by acting as responsible, informed citizens.
Of course this is America…but I think that those people who stopped that child probly didn’t want a riot.I do believe that if Obama doesn’t get elected there will be a riot all across America.
The parent has as much a right to dress their kid that way as I do to show up at that school wearing a “War is about young men dying for old men’s greed” t-shirt. It’s all relative. 11-year old kids are not stupid, but I doubt that they’ve come up with these ideas on their own. Raising your kid to be aware of current events is actually admirable, but no matter how old you are, people need something/someone to believe in. It’s just a shame that the habit of tearing down someone else’s beliefs is being passed on to the next generation.
Yes as long as they are not hurting anyone physically.
I believe that in a elementary/middle school this shirt is highly inappropriate and that no eleven year old child has a grasp of something such as a terrorist or of political views other than what they are being taught at home…in a high school maybe depending on the school’s policies because this may be offensive with what it is implying. I’m all for freedom of speech but not when parents use their children as billboards.
no…children are puppets; they have no political views, they just parrot what their parents say. it takes a certain level of sophistication to develop a personal opinion of something as esoteric as a political position, and children don’t have that ability. that’s why they don’t get to vote.
they should all wear uniforms until they reach high school; that way there’s no early development of peer pressure because johnny doesn’t wear tommy bahamas and air jordans.
Regardless of free speech, looks like this fat kid is
well on his way to grow up to be a perfectly fine redneck. To live in a
perfectly fine dumpy trailer. He sure has got the body for the role. And his
father is turning out to be the perfect role model to prepare his son
for this noble future.
if it’s truly their own.
the kid’s views may have been a bit inflammatory.
Yes, of course but maybe with at leat a tiny bit of grace and respect. Freedom of speech is a must-have, but there has to be some regulations on how you use it…
NO. Kids can’t vote…who gives a crap what they think….unless it’s for class president.
@SladeTheGreyFox - couldn’t have been said any better than that.
1st admendment. it doesn’t matter what he says or who views he expressing, he still has the right to do it. i might not agree with whats on the shirt but i’m not going to say that he shouldn’t do it because of so and so.
Seems everyone’s in favor of free speech until they hear something they don’t like. Everyone has the right to express their opinion. ANYONE. Regarding ANYTHING. There are no exceptions.
Everyone has the right to disagree, but no one has the right to forbid disagreement.
IF ONLY more students shared their political views.
However, when they said that about Obama
it was slander and violating his rights.
His first amendment rights were totally stomped all over. Shame of all of them.
If the shirt had read “McCain is a terrorist’s best friend,” no one would have cared.
Because everyone is a liberal these days.