Bong hits 4 Jesus

Chris: Welcome to the layer cake.

'Bong Hits for Jesus'...have you heard?

So the case went before the Supreme Court last week regarding the student who unfurled a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" sign at the 2002 Olympics while on a class outing. The punk was subsequently suspended for 10 days and is now crying foul, saying his civil rights were violated. For the sake of objectivity, let's remove Jesus from the equation

This shouldn't be about religion or Jesus...it's about a student's right to say, apparently, whatever he wants without repercussions

Rob: freedom of speech man...

Chris: Let's use you as an example, because I never got an F in my life...but say you're unhappy with a grade for a paper or a test...should you have the right to say "FUCK YOU" to your teacher because you believe it is your god-given right?

There are two bases on which the Supreme Court should uphold this suspension: he was suspended from "school," there is no constitutional RIGHT to an education…so if a teacher or whomever deems his actions as insubordinate, they should hold the power to suspend him

Rob: the dialectical thinking of the right is humorous. we push every issue to the extreme to refute it. i.e., 3rd trimester abortions. this case should be judged on it's subjective merit. was the student causing harm, as if he would shout "Fire" in a movie theater?

Chris: I'll get to the second reason in a moment...but you're wrong...speech is not protected on the basis of harmlessness… it must have merit… it must have value…not some inane sophomoric cry for attention

Rob: what merits a suspension? what in his action warrants a suspension?

Chris: that's irrelevant...he embarrassed himself, his teacher, his school, not just by pulling a dumb prank, but by promoting illegal behavior…it's not criminal, per se, but the school should reserve the right to hold him to a standard of behavior

Rob: what if he were a star athlete? same treatment? i don't know much of his background

Chris: saying FUCK YOU to my teacher wouldn't be illegal either, but would you not agree that warrants disciplinary action?

Rob: it's not the equivalent…and saying fuck you to a teacher would probably violate some school rules about respecting teachers

Chris: both are a matter of speech and neither is illegal

Rob: schools aren't sovereign places…they have to be held accountable to the law of the land

Chris: of course, but do you think there is a rule that explicitly states "thou shalt not say 'fuck you' to your teacher"?

no, it's all subjective

My point is that this is NOT a civil rights issue and that it should not have even reached this level
there's room for debate about his suspension, but as a violation of his civil rights?? NO. There is no right to an education AND speech is only protected when it is meaningful or within the confines of the generally accepted code of conduct for a particular establishment. Forget yelling "fire" in a crowded theater...incessantly talking and disturbing others would be grounds for ejection, no? Clearly society sets groundrules for acceptable speech...

A school is a place for learning, and the first amendment should protect speech that is relevant to that objective.

Are we clear? ARE WE CLEAR?

Rob: I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to. Bong hits for life!

Chris: I want the truth!

Rob: You can't handle the truth.‎