IWA for Sunday December 3, 2006

Hey folks

Happy Sunday to you. First off Did you see THIS story? "Blind man sentenced to library course"

"A blind Turkish pensioner has been sentenced to a 26-day reading and writing course at his local public library after he failed to vote on time in an election for his village cooperative, his son said Friday."

You see folks, the next time that you feel like complaining about OUR electoral process, think about this,

"In Turkey, people are obliged by law to vote in elections."

SO anyway, it’s Sunday and time for the IWA. OK, so this High School kid is an idiot himself. I get that. What he did may even offend YOU. But the fact that we have this little thing called a First Amendment Right to free speech, he has the RIGHT to be an Idiot. However Principal Deborah Morse of the Juneau, Alaska School System crossed the line.

It turns out that,

"Frederick, then a senior, was off school property when he hoisted the banner but was suspended for violating the school's policy of promoting illegal substances at a school-sanctioned event.

Morse suspended Frederick after he displayed the banner, with its reference to marijuana use, when the Olympic torch passed through Juneau in 2002 on its way to the Winter Games in Salt Lake City."

No first name given . So what did his banner read? "Bong Hits 4 Jesus."

"Frederick said his motivation for unfurling the banner, at least 14 feet long, was simple: He wanted it seen on television since the torch relay event was being covered by local stations. When Morse saw it, she crossed the street from the school, grabbed the banner and crumpled it. She later suspended Frederick for 10 days."

{Laughing} Now I know that some of you out there may be offended at his banner, or maybe even this picture, also. I get that. But he wasn’t even really making a statement. He was a kid that wanted to get on TV. Then again, you have the afore mentioned "Free Speech" thing.

But this story gets better. The school board is digging up a familiar face to argue their case. Now get ready, if you are like me you are about to cringe.

"The justices agreed to hear the appeal by the, school board and principal Deborah Morse of a lower court ruling that allowed the student's civil rights lawsuit to proceed. The school board hired former Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr to argue its case to the high court."

Ken STARR???? Anyway, Principal Deborah Morse really stepped in it.

According to this article,

"The court is expected to hear arguments in the case in late February. In addition to the First Amendment issue, the court also will consider whether Morse can be held personally liable for monetary damages.

The appeals panel said she could be held liable because she admitted to being aware of the pertinent case law regarding student rights. The court said the law was clear and Morse was aware of it when she punished Frederick.

The case is Juneau School Board v. Frederick, 06-278."

So not only did she violate his First Amendment Rights, she may have also violated his "Student Rights." This article doesn’t say of what faith she follows, but one does have to wonder. Perhaps she was personally offended by his banner? Even if she was, she does not have the Right to trump his Rights to satisfy her’s.

Congratulations Ms. Morse, you ARE the Idiot of the Week.
Peter

Source:
Houston Chronicle-"Supreme Court takes 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' case"