What am I supposed to do?!?!

[NJPaint]

A few months ago, I wore a t-shirt to school that said, "Free Palestine" and in small subtext "BoycottIsraeligoods.com". I was told to take the shirt off by the school administration on the grounds that it "Would offend students whose parents worked with Israel in the trade bussiness". I was further told by the principal of the school that anything with a negative tone, anything that said "boycott" would not be allowed. Now, on Earth Day, there were fliers all over the school saying "boycott exxon-mobile". At the assembly for Earth Day (which all students are required to go to... It resembles a nazi rally to me...) one of the Russian Jews at my school who was leading the assembly yelled into the mic "BOYCOTT EXXON MOBILE... EVIL COMPANY...." (the kid has since graduated and is at Harvard right now).

Initially I was pissed because under freedom of speech I should be allowed to wear a shirt with a non-inciting political message (non-aggressive and non-violent). I mean what if someone wore a shirt that said "End the apparheid in South Africa" back when people boycotted South Africa? It seems arbitrary to give a reasoning like that. But now I'm just teed off because a rich jew is allowed to yell into a microphone that Exxon Mobile is an evil company and that everyone should boycott it, and I can't wear in silent protest a shirt that says "Free Palestine".

[/rant]

[f3rr3+]

schools rediculous and i find the best way to balance things out is to be a sphincter to the school at every chance you get (not vandalism) but beat them at there own game and use solid proofs... its fun too

[painTech]

i like how the schools are so conceted,

[Thordic]

I like how Palestine isn't free. Terrorism isn't a way to get your freedom. No one should give in to them.

[NJPaint]

Originally posted by Thordic
I like how Palestine isn't free. Terrorism isn't a way to get your freedom. No one should give in to them.

Yes, because Palestinians = Terrorists

and this arguement ends here. This isn't about Palestine, this is about censorship in schools and the first ammendment.

[Lohman446]

Re: What am I supposed to do?!?!

Originally posted by NJPaint
At the assembly for Earth Day (which all students are required to go to... It resembles a nazi rally to me...) one of the Russian Jews at my school who was leading the assembly yelled into the mic "BOYCOTT EXXON MOBILE... EVIL COMPANY...." (the kid has since graduated and is at Harvard right now).


[/rant]

Go to the principal, say that you refuse to support such an idea and refuse to go the assembly, they will offer you an alternative (comp lab time). If they do nto, find a good lawyer.

PS yes I refused two assemblies in class, stating that the idea of the assembly created tension rather than alleviating it.

[Restola]

Originally posted by Thordic
I like how Palestine isn't free. Terrorism isn't a way to get your freedom. No one should give in to them.

Attempted hijack/trolling...

[NJPaint]

heh, won't work, already tried and courts are messy and I'm outta here in 3 months anyways. We have lots of controversial speakers and we are expected to listen to them, I don't think its that unreasonable. Its giving everyone a chance to express their views... unless it goes against the set anti-arab sentiment.

[Archangel Kid]

Re: What am I supposed to do?!?!

quick question... why the ......hell.... does it matter if he's Jewish??

[NJPaint]

Re: Re: What am I supposed to do?!?!

Originally posted by Archangel Kid
quick question... why the ......hell.... does it matter if he's Jewish??

Because my school's administration has a bias towards Jews. For example, our tennis season is about to start. We are required to be at practice the 2nd week of our spring break. The coach/staff said "if you are going away, don't bother even showing up. Cancell it, or you don't play". Of course every Jew that is going to Israel for the break is excused entirely. (not one for a "religious reason" though that shouldn't play in at all anyways)

[MayAMonkeyBeYourPinata]

Check your school rules, but really that seems extremely biased, and it pisses me off when public schools endorse censorship.

[Archangel Kid]

Re: Re: Re: What am I supposed to do?!?!

Originally posted by NJPaint

(not one for a "religious reason" though that shouldn't play in at all anyways)

do you mean they're going for no religious reason what so ever? And do you live in Lakewood?

[NJPaint]

I mean that they are going on vacation to israel, mainly to see family. I think that it is rediculous to tell me that I can't see my family in Japan, but allow the Jews to go to Israel. I live in Northern NJ.

[1stdeadeye]

Okay, yelling Boycott XYZ into a mic is speech. However schools are allowed to ban disruptive or obscene clothing. You would probably have been givent the same grief if you wore a dump Bush shirt or Impeach Clinton shirt.

[NJPaint]

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
Okay, yelling Boycott XYZ into a mic is speech. However schools are allowed to ban disruptive or obscene clothing. You would probably have been givent the same grief if you wore a dump Bush shirt or Impeach Clinton shirt.

How exactly is wearing a shirt that says boycott Israel distrptive, or obscene? The Supreme Court said that a shirt with a picture of bush with the words "International Terrorist" is ok to wear in public schools... (case in michigan) I own said shirt. I don't agree with the message, and I would never wear it (bought it for history reasons ), but it is still freedom of speech and expression, both guarded under the 1st ammendment, symbolic speech recieves the same protection as verbal speech (see Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines School District)