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Forum: Internet Links Topic: Gay student defends suspended teacher started by: Leisher Posted by Leisher on Nov. 16 2010,12:42
< Article and video. >A nice speech that has probably touched many, many folks, particularly those who have been a victim of hatred towards gays. I feel for those folks. I've got gay family members and friends, and believe they should have all the rights anyone else does. However, this kid is wrong and so was the teacher. In fact, the kid's defense of the teacher is completely pointless because the teacher didn't get suspended for defending gays. He was suspended for telling a girl to remove an article of clothing he found offensive. QUOTE McDowell was suspended for one day without pay after the student in question complained about the removal of her belt buckle. This isn't about hate speech against gays, it's about free speech period. The teacher started this whole controversy by displaying his own prejudices about the confederate flag. (I should point out that being a Yankee, I'm not a fan, but smart enough to know that it doesn't mean the same thing to all people.) Nothing is known about the girl who wore the belt buckle except that one could assume she has poor fashion taste. Beyond that, to assign her a belief system based on an article of clothing is wrong. Didn't the swastika actually stand for something decent before the Nazis used it? The confederate flag only stands for hatred to those who, through their own hatred and prejudice have assigned it that meaning. The other student, who spoke up in her defense, was very wrong to make anti-gay statements, but his argument about free speech was dead on. He was correct in telling the teacher that he had no right to tell the girl to remove the flag. And again, that's what the teacher got suspended for, not defending gays. Thus, nice story, but it doesn't fir the facts. Posted by TheCatt on Nov. 16 2010,13:53
It's certainly odd to find a confederate flag in Michigan, no?At any rate... I agree, he was suspended for the right reasons. Posted by Malcolm on Nov. 16 2010,14:13
QUOTE Lindsey Forbes, spokeswoman for the local teachers union, the Howell Education Association, tells The Lookout that McDowell followed school policy in asking for the belt buckle to be removed. Teachers are supposed to ask students to remove "inappropriate" or distracting clothing, she says. Confederate flags are not specifically listed as inappropriate, but Forbes says the flag is a symbol of hate, especially in Howell. Forbes is also an idiot and is obviously unfamiliar with how the teenage mind works. Stop demonizing images and perhaps dumb-ass high school students won't regard them as "anti-establishment" or "something to piss off the authority figure nearest me." Then maybe they'll stop wearing them. Posted by unkbill on Nov. 18 2010,17:57
(Leisher @ Nov. 16 2010,12:42) QUOTE . Didn't the swastika actually stand for something decent before the Nazis used it? The confederate flag only stands for hatred to those who, through their own hatred and prejudice have assigned it that meaning. Didn't the Roman Legions use the Swastika? I know some Buddist sects used it long before Hitler and Kempo( a kind of Karate self defence) uses it backwards. You really have to look to see that it is backwards. My wife has that shirt and I almost shit the frst time I saw her wear it. She has the right being a black belt but I told her some people just wouldn't understand, don't wear it. As far as Stars and Bars. THE SOUTH SHALL RISE AGAIN! Posted by Malcolm on Nov. 19 2010,20:27
(unkbill @ Nov. 18 2010,19:57) QUOTE Didn't the Roman Legions use the Swastika? Nein. Posted by GORDON on Nov. 20 2010,05:44
I think it was a symbol used more in the Indian area. I don't know everything about the Romans, though you are probably thinking of the Roman imagery the Nazis were very fond of.
Posted by Malcolm on Nov. 21 2010,12:15
The Italians were the idiots fighting for the "New Roman Empire" or whatnot. The Nazis were more Nordic & Teutonic.
Posted by unkbill on Nov. 21 2010,12:59
During World War I, the swastika could even be found on the shoulder patches of the American 45th Division and on the Finnish air force until after World War II. Now that would be a collectable. |