No 1st amendment for Christians

[einheit 13]

While I'm not a Christian, I agree that they were denied thier 1st...........first "bussing", grading on the curve, dress codes, discouraging individualism, now more of this.......

Twelve high school students who were suspended for voicing their opposition to homosexuality are considering a lawsuit against their Roseville school.

The Oakmont High School students wore T-shirts to school printed with the message “Homosexuality is sin. Jesus can set you free.” School officials warned the students to remove the shirts or face a two-day suspension. The students took the suspension.

The students were participating in a nationwide event called Day of Truth, intended to be a peaceful expression by students of Christian beliefs on homosexuality. The event countered the Day of Silence observed one day earlier by students in support of homosexuality.

The principle of Oakmont, Kathleen Sirovy, said the suspensions were justified since “many kids were upset because their shirts were rude,” reported the non-profit legal group representing the students, the Pacific Justice Institute, in a press release last week.

The students have filed appeals of the suspensions with school officials, and are considering a lawsuit, according to PJI. The organization said the school “did not address whether religious students might have been equally offended by pro-homosexual expression connected with the Day of Silence.”

Some students who supported the Day of Silence objected to the school’s action against the students. Lance Chih, student and co-chair of the Sacramento Regional Gay Straight Alliance, told the Sacrament Bee, “If they’re stating their own belief that homosexuality is wrong, that’s not promoting hate of violence against us. If I want to promote my civil rights, I can’t tell another group of students that they can’t do it.”

In a similar instance last month, a San Francisco student who was removed from his class and threatened with suspension after wearing a T-shirt that said homosexuality was “shameful,” citing a Bible verse, lost an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court after a lower court ruled against the free speech claims of the student.

Judge Stephen Reinhardt, who has favoured abortion, homosexual rights and assisted suicide in previous rulings, upheld the lower court’s decision on the basis of controversial studies saying homosexual students are more likely to receive bias and therefore need special protection from opposing views, said the PJI in a press release.

Brad Dacus, president of the PJI, said, “This is, without exaggeration, one of the worst student free speech decisions the Ninth Circuit has ever issued-and that’s saying a lot. We are hopeful this decision will eventually be reversed and remembered as an embarrassing moment of hypocrisy for those who advocate tolerance and diversity. Although this was not a PJI case, we will continue to vigorously defend students’ rights.”

[CyberOtaku]

I can see why the school had a problem (though I do not agree), but I think schools tend to be way too, for lack of a better word, opressive.

Judge Stephen Reinhardt, who has favoured abortion, homosexual rights and assisted suicide in previous rulings, upheld the lower court’s decision on the basis of controversial studies saying homosexual students are more likely to receive bias and therefore need special protection from opposing views

Then blacks, hispanics, and everyone other than white males also deserve special attention since they are more likely to recieve bias than white males. So everyone can speak their mind except for the majority. Yup, sounds about right.

[mgeoffriau]

I am a strong supporter of 1st amendment rights.

However, as a Christian, I strongly doubt much good came from wearing t-shirts pasted with some oversimplified doctrinal statement. Instead, these kids ought to be spending their energy on reaching out to their peers who are struggling and in need of help. It's one thing to talk the talk, but it's another thing to walk the walk.

[Krackels]

Originally Posted by mgeoffriau

I am a strong supporter of 1st amendment rights.

However, as a Christian, I strongly doubt much good came from wearing t-shirts pasted with some oversimplified doctrinal statement. Instead, these kids ought to be spending their energy on reaching out to their peers who are struggling and in need of help. It's one thing to talk the talk, but it's another thing to walk the walk.

It's hard to say with this kind of stuff. A provacataive shirt like those that were worn can open up dialog. "What do you mean homosexuality is a sin?" and the students are able to give the ones asking the whole story.

If there's one thing everybody should understand (about America as we know it) it is this: Freedom for everybody, except those 'Christians'.

Feel free to replace the word Christian with Conservative. (most of it still holds true.)

[SkyRat]

Originally Posted by mgeoffriau

I am a strong supporter of 1st amendment rights.

However, as a Christian, I strongly doubt much good came from wearing t-shirts pasted with some oversimplified doctrinal statement. Instead, these kids ought to be spending their energy on reaching out to their peers who are struggling and in need of help. It's one thing to talk the talk, but it's another thing to walk the walk.

I agree, but...

The one thing the 1st Amendment does guarantee is that you will be offended by someone else's right to free speech. Let's just not allow some to be offended while protecting others from that same offense.

The school can actively sponsor a "Day of Silence" to show support for those that believe in Homosexuality. Do you think a Christian might have been offended by that? Perhaps. It seems the only people that are allowed to be offended in this day and age are Christians.

[Old School]

Holding a sign in someone face, telling them they are a sinner, etc, does not work. It angers them and pushes them away further. If you want to help someone, reach out to them. Lead by example, not by wearing a shirt that claims your beliefs.

I am a Christian. I lead by example, as best I can.

OS

[SkyRat]

Originally Posted by Old School

Holding a sign in someone face, telling them they are a sinner, etc, does not work. It angers them and pushes them away further. If you want to help someone, reach out to them. Lead by example, not by wearing a shirt that claims your beliefs.

I am a Christian. I lead by example, as best I can.

OS

I am a committed believer and a follower of Christ. I would not have worn a shirt like that.

The question, at least as I see it, is not what should a Christian do, but what does he have the right to do.

[mgeoffriau]

Krackels and SkyRat:

I absolutely agree that they should have the right to wear those shirts.

I just as strongly believe that slogans on shirts are not terribly effective. God may work in mysterious ways (He certainly has used more unlikely things than this), but I think we're better off when we stick to the basics (if they can be called that): preaching His word in love, humility, and mercy, caring for those in need, and living out our faith.

[SkyRat]

Originally Posted by mgeoffriau

Krackels and SkyRat:

I absolutely agree that they should have the right to wear those shirts.

I just as strongly believe that slogans on shirts are not terribly effective. God may work in mysterious ways (He certainly has used more unlikely things than this), but I think we're better off when we stick to the basics (if they can be called that): preaching His word in love, humility, and mercy, caring for those in need, and living out our faith.

Amen!

[deezed]

There is separation of Church and State, as far as an organized church having a role in government. However, the founding fathers did not say that there should be a separation of religion and government.

I don't understand why religion, almost exclusively Christianity, is the target of so much bigotry and hatred to the point of not letting those who follow Christianity to practice their religion.