Ariel Boehnlein
For You Editor, Fused
Every day, as the election creeps ever closer, millions of people discuss their political opinions with friends, family and sometimes even complete strangers. Some people do this to have their opinion heard, some just want those around them to know where they stand. Some, however, don’t say anything.
Those people who choose to keep quiet may be doing it because they feel like it’s no one else’s business who they’re going to vote for. My mother is like this. She says that there is an intimate conversation between her and the voting ballot, and that’s it. However, many people, including some at Bloomington North, don’t want to speak their minds, fearing they might be chastised for having the “wrong opinion.”
The First Amendment, which clearly states “freedom of speech” allows those in America to state their opinions, grievances and feelings without fear of being reprimanded. That’s why America is so unique, and that’s what makes us free. However, a person has lost their sense of freedom when they’re afraid to bring up their political views.
Discussions and debates need to be had, but just because one person’s belief is this and another’s is that doesn’t mean that one stands above all others. All people have a right to their opinion and should be able to speak it, whether those around them disagree or not.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Student punished for wearing American flag T-shirt
Lauren Thiery
To You Editor, Fused
On Sept. 16, 2008, a student at Dos Palos High School in California was punished for wearing a tie-dye T-shirt with an American flag on it. The shirt was worn for hippie dress-up day during the school’s homecoming week.
The school’s new vice principal saw the student and thought the shirt violated the school’s updated dress code. She then asked the student to remove his shirt and put on another one that said, “DVC: Dress Code Violator.” However, the dress code policy only states that the school district prohibits “shirts/blouses that promote specific races, cultures or ethnicities.”
The school principal then had a meeting with the vice principal, in which they reviewed the dress code. Then they had a meeting with the student and apologized for the mistake and “misinterpretation” of the dress code policy’s intent. However, the following day, students protested by wearing all red, white or blue T-shirts. The local media was also present to document the footage.
This occurrence clearly demonstrates a violation of every citizen’s First Amendment rights. Under the First Amendment, the freedoms of speech and expression are guaranteed, among others. However, the California student’s rights were violated when his school tried to censor his shirt and therefore his freedom of speech and expression.
A member of the local American Legion also said, “It is hard for me to believe that a person in power might not know the laws and freedoms afforded to all citizens.” This quote clearly demonstrates how severely harmful it can be for those in power to deprive others their rights. Any person deprived of their rights can be subject to suffer various consequences, ranging from slight to severe. It is important that citizens know their rights and stand up for them, such as the students who protested the censoring of the T-shirt did.
To You Editor, Fused
On Sept. 16, 2008, a student at Dos Palos High School in California was punished for wearing a tie-dye T-shirt with an American flag on it. The shirt was worn for hippie dress-up day during the school’s homecoming week.
The school’s new vice principal saw the student and thought the shirt violated the school’s updated dress code. She then asked the student to remove his shirt and put on another one that said, “DVC: Dress Code Violator.” However, the dress code policy only states that the school district prohibits “shirts/blouses that promote specific races, cultures or ethnicities.”
The school principal then had a meeting with the vice principal, in which they reviewed the dress code. Then they had a meeting with the student and apologized for the mistake and “misinterpretation” of the dress code policy’s intent. However, the following day, students protested by wearing all red, white or blue T-shirts. The local media was also present to document the footage.
This occurrence clearly demonstrates a violation of every citizen’s First Amendment rights. Under the First Amendment, the freedoms of speech and expression are guaranteed, among others. However, the California student’s rights were violated when his school tried to censor his shirt and therefore his freedom of speech and expression.
A member of the local American Legion also said, “It is hard for me to believe that a person in power might not know the laws and freedoms afforded to all citizens.” This quote clearly demonstrates how severely harmful it can be for those in power to deprive others their rights. Any person deprived of their rights can be subject to suffer various consequences, ranging from slight to severe. It is important that citizens know their rights and stand up for them, such as the students who protested the censoring of the T-shirt did.
Homemade T-shirt causes Controversy
By Emily Baugh
Announcements Editor
“Obama is a Terrorist’s Best Friend” was the slogan written across Daxx Dalton’s homemade t-shirt when he walked into his fifth grade class at Aurora Frontier K-8 School in Aurora, Colorado. Needless to say, something went down at the school; Dalton was suspended.
Dalton says he was suspended for wearing the shirt and is now promptly crying out that his First Amendment rights were violated. But should he really be yelling foul? So many people in today’s society say, do or wear something controversial and as soon as they get in trouble they say their First Amendment rights were violated.
The First Amendment shouldn’t be a way to get out of trouble or to do something that they want to do just because they know they won’t get in trouble, just like Dalton. Dalton is now pressing charges against the school.
In reality, Dalton was suspended because he was causing a disturbance. The school administrators thought that the shirt was inappropriate and gave the boy three options: change into something else, turn the shirt inside out, or be suspended. Dalton chose to be suspended. The administrators say that the boy was suspended because he was causing a disturbance and was being willfully disobedient and defiant. So really, who is in the right here, the school that was trying to do its job, or a kid who is screaming that his First Amendment rights were violated?
Announcements Editor
“Obama is a Terrorist’s Best Friend” was the slogan written across Daxx Dalton’s homemade t-shirt when he walked into his fifth grade class at Aurora Frontier K-8 School in Aurora, Colorado. Needless to say, something went down at the school; Dalton was suspended.
Dalton says he was suspended for wearing the shirt and is now promptly crying out that his First Amendment rights were violated. But should he really be yelling foul? So many people in today’s society say, do or wear something controversial and as soon as they get in trouble they say their First Amendment rights were violated.
The First Amendment shouldn’t be a way to get out of trouble or to do something that they want to do just because they know they won’t get in trouble, just like Dalton. Dalton is now pressing charges against the school.
In reality, Dalton was suspended because he was causing a disturbance. The school administrators thought that the shirt was inappropriate and gave the boy three options: change into something else, turn the shirt inside out, or be suspended. Dalton chose to be suspended. The administrators say that the boy was suspended because he was causing a disturbance and was being willfully disobedient and defiant. So really, who is in the right here, the school that was trying to do its job, or a kid who is screaming that his First Amendment rights were violated?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Patriot Act still very problematic
Talia Shifron
To You Editor, Fused
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the US constitution guarantees citizens the right “to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” The Patriot Act is violating this right and still causing many problems in the U.S. today.
The Patriot Act created a new category called domestic terrorism which gave the government far reaching powers to stop domestic terrorism. Through this act, the government is allowed to detain people without giving them the right to a proper trial. If the government even claims that someone is a terrorist, they can immediately put them in jail without any proof.
After September 11, people were so terrified of terrorism that they were willing to compromise their basic liberties even if it could lead them to detention or being accused of being terrorists. Now, people even need to be careful about what they say in public because it could lead to persecution. It is ridiculous that any person should have to live in fear or feel that they need to compromise their freedom of speech. It is more important to protect our individual freedom than to randomly decide that a person might be a terrorist.
The Patriot Act is slowly taking away individual freedoms. If the government is able to capitalize on people's fears like they did with the Patriot Act, then it will only be a first step to the many freedoms that a citizen can lose in the future.
The Patriot Act has already been challenged by the ACLU and it needs to be revoked because of the flaws associated with it. More than 400 communities across the United States are trying to reform the Patriot Act. However, it needs to be done much more quickly. If the Patriot Act doesn't get changed immediately, then our liberties will be slowly chipped away, one after the next.
To You Editor, Fused
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the US constitution guarantees citizens the right “to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” The Patriot Act is violating this right and still causing many problems in the U.S. today.
The Patriot Act created a new category called domestic terrorism which gave the government far reaching powers to stop domestic terrorism. Through this act, the government is allowed to detain people without giving them the right to a proper trial. If the government even claims that someone is a terrorist, they can immediately put them in jail without any proof.
After September 11, people were so terrified of terrorism that they were willing to compromise their basic liberties even if it could lead them to detention or being accused of being terrorists. Now, people even need to be careful about what they say in public because it could lead to persecution. It is ridiculous that any person should have to live in fear or feel that they need to compromise their freedom of speech. It is more important to protect our individual freedom than to randomly decide that a person might be a terrorist.
The Patriot Act is slowly taking away individual freedoms. If the government is able to capitalize on people's fears like they did with the Patriot Act, then it will only be a first step to the many freedoms that a citizen can lose in the future.
The Patriot Act has already been challenged by the ACLU and it needs to be revoked because of the flaws associated with it. More than 400 communities across the United States are trying to reform the Patriot Act. However, it needs to be done much more quickly. If the Patriot Act doesn't get changed immediately, then our liberties will be slowly chipped away, one after the next.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Students Suspended in Nebraska
Last June, a high school student by the name of Julius Robinson was shot and killed. Authorities believe it was gang-related, and therefore when a group of students wore shirts to commemorate him, they were suspended.
The school called the police station to see if "RIP Julius" could be interpreted as a gang sign, and then decided to call the students into the office. I find this completely, and utterly absurd. Even if a student was a horrible criminal, he still deserves to be respected upon death. Had students worn "RIP Heath Ledger" shirts after Ledger's death, it is most likely they would have not been suspended.
The article of splc.org states that authorities were not even sure if Robinson was a gang member, however the suspicion was enough to suspend a few of his friends who had no other intention but to remember their lost friend. I find this a horrible violation of first amendment rights. In Tinker v. Des Moines it was established that students do not leave their rights outside when they enter school. The students were simply showing their view on the death of a friend, and they had the right to do so.
The school called the police station to see if "RIP Julius" could be interpreted as a gang sign, and then decided to call the students into the office. I find this completely, and utterly absurd. Even if a student was a horrible criminal, he still deserves to be respected upon death. Had students worn "RIP Heath Ledger" shirts after Ledger's death, it is most likely they would have not been suspended.
The article of splc.org states that authorities were not even sure if Robinson was a gang member, however the suspicion was enough to suspend a few of his friends who had no other intention but to remember their lost friend. I find this a horrible violation of first amendment rights. In Tinker v. Des Moines it was established that students do not leave their rights outside when they enter school. The students were simply showing their view on the death of a friend, and they had the right to do so.
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