Is it an issue of free speech or an issue of tolerance?

[ChristinaB]

Around 12:45pm EDT C-Span is going to broadcast the oral argument for the Harper v. Poway Unified School District case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Background: A California district court has ruled that a student suspended for wearing a T-shirt condemning homosexuality can sue his school district for violating his First Amendment rights to free speech, free exercise of religion, and freedom from establishment of religion, but not for violations of his Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection and due process.

Where you you come down on this issue?

Is this free speech?

Is this a case of unacceptable intolerance by a student?

The T-Shirt said: "Homosexuality Is Shameful"

[TomCollins]

This will get thrown out in a heartbeat. Schools have always been able to get rid of content that will cause an unsafe or unhealthy learning environment.

I'm waiting to see the ACLU pick this one up. I'm sure if it said "Religion is shameful", they'd be there.

[vulturesrow]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm waiting to see the ACLU pick this one up. I'm sure if it said "Religion is shameful", they'd be there.

[/ QUOTE ]

My thoughts exactly.

[PITTM]

yeah, the religious right has it wayyyy too rough...

rj

[Jakesta]

Being a Catholic Republican is kind of like being a black KKK member. How does it feel knowing that 70% of your party hates your guts?

[Cyrus]

This is clearly an issue of free speech.

This is clearly a real-life example of Voltaire's saying, that "I oppose what you support, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it".

This is clearly an open-and-shut case.

Aye, it's a weak ol' democracy, U.S. of A. is, if it can't see this for what it is.

As to the poster who wrote [ QUOTE ]
I'm waiting to see the ACLU pick this one up. I'm sure if it said "Religion is shameful", they'd be there.

[/ QUOTE ] Well, he clearly does not know his ACLU from a hole in the ground.

[lastchance]

I think it is definitely an issue of free speech, and the contents of this speech aren't that important.

Note, however, that this is a school, and students do not have an absolute right to freedom of speech you adults do. (dammit)

[[censored]]

The student absolutely has the right to express the view that homosexuality is shameful. However inorder to schools to function properly there needs to be some reasonable infringement of the student's rights. This seems to be over the line.

However, if shirts like "gay pride" are allowed then something like "straight pride" of "Jesus Loves You" must also be allowed.

[JackWhite]

[ QUOTE ]
Being a Catholic Republican is kind of like being a black KKK member. How does it feel knowing that 70% of your party hates your guts?


[/ QUOTE ]

What? What do you base that on? Last time I checked, Catholics continued to migrate to Republicans. Didn't Bush win white Catholics by a fairly decent margin?

Can you name some major Republican office holders who are anti-Catholic? Sure, there are a few fringe people on the far-right who are anti-Catholic, but that is a tiny fraction. The vast majority of anti-Catholic bigotry comes from the Left.