Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rob Klaers on May 5, 2012 at 2:57am

Then again it's also a matter of how they interpret their own rules. 

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Permalink Reply by John Siqueiros on May 5, 2012 at 12:01am

I think in the US the comparable case would be the "Bong Hits for Jesus" case. There, a high schooler was suspended for publicly displaying that sign (away from any school function if I recall correctly). The US Supreme Court upheld the suspension noting that although the government would have no business punishing an adult for that behavior, high school students can be subject to stricter rules of decorum.

By that analysis, the suspension of the Canadian student is probably okay. He was disciplined after being told repeatedly that wearing a shirt saying "Life is Wasted Without Jesus" is offensive to some people (like, say, wearing a "Bong Hits for Jesus" shirt). The principal had told him that if he had worn a shirt saying "My Life is Wasted Without Jesus," that would've been fine.

I'm don't have a strong opinion about whether this kid really should've been suspended. I'm just giving a quickie legal analysis.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Klaers on May 5, 2012 at 1:43am

John... Yes, he lived across the street from the school and was in his own yard.

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Permalink Reply by Jody L on May 5, 2012 at 12:08am

I think the problem lies more in the message.  

The shirt states "LIFE IS WASTED WITHOUT JESUS".  This statement can be offensive to people of other faiths, or those of no faith. Had the shirt just stated "JESUS ROCKS!", I don't think too many people would have cared.  

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Permalink Reply by diggerbanks on May 5, 2012 at 4:28am

I agree, the message is an uncompromising and highly contentious statement that could cause a lot of offence to a lot of different people.

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Permalink Reply by Marc Poulin on May 8, 2012 at 8:07am

The drama continues!

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Permalink Reply by Lewal on May 8, 2012 at 12:34pm

Sounds like the kid got in trouble for being obnoxious and disrespectful more than anything. It's good to see there's some policy in place for dealing with douchery.

Still, we should probably go ahead and annex Canada just in case.

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on May 8, 2012 at 1:02pm

Actually, annexing MEXICO may be the only way to deal with their cartels. Canada is a good neighbor, for the most part, and Mexico wants to be, I'm sure, but they are overwhelmed by the drug cartels who corrupt and bully every aspect of Mexico that might oppose them, from the government at all levels, to the police and army, and now increasingly judges and journalists. The latter is probably the saddest. As the saying goes, "In any war, the first victim is always the truth."

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