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Posted on 03/11/2006 1:00:05 PM PST by wagglebee
An Alaska high school violated a student's free speech rights by suspending him after he unfurled a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" across the street from the school, a federal court ruled on Friday.
Joseph Frederick, a student at Juneau-Douglas High School in Alaska, displayed the banner -- which refers to smoking marijuana -- in January 2002 to try to get on television as the Olympic torch relay was passing the school.
Principal Deborah Morse seized the banner and suspended the 18-year-old for 10 days, saying he had undermined the school's educational mission and anti-drug stance.
Friday's ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco overturned a decision by a federal court in Alaska that backed Frederick's suspension and said his rights were not violated.
The appeals court said the banner was protected speech because it did not disrupt school activity and was displayed off school grounds during a non-curricular activity.
"Public schools are instrumentalities of government, and government is not entitled to suppress speech that undermines whatever missions it defines for itself," Judge Andrew Kleinfeld wrote in the court's opinion.
The court also cleared the way for Frederick to seek damages, saying Morse was aware of relevant case law and should have known her actions violated his rights.
"Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)
" I am more interested in the winning of souls for the Lord, than the laws of men that force their submission."
I simply seek peace and am always trying to make peace.
Ephesians 6:11-15
Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Suggesting kids should smoke illegal things seems to be a violation of the student's right to a crime free school zone.
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Freedom of speech is just that. I agree with the judge.
The rule doesn't say "freedom FROM speech". The high school principal was way out of line.
Actually, it is neither. The question that Christians should be asking themselves continuously, is, are they being devoted servants of the Lord? Are they doing His will in their every waking moment. The Bible does not command us to change the world, only the hearts of men, one heart at a time. By bringing them to the Lord.
Standard disclaimer: I am no longer Christian, though I was once upon a time quite devout and studied the scriptures intensely.
The apostasy of the modern church has driven many away from the faith. I would remind you though, that your personal relationship with Christ, is first and foremost. Until you are Born Again in the Spirit of the Lord, you will never have that intimacy with Christ that is required for one to be a true Christian.
If you want to know the Lord in the way that he has meant us to know him, please review the video below. It's called, Hell's best kept secret". You have only a few minutes to lose, and so much to gain. I beg you.
I once knew a guy who had a shirt that said "bong hits...they're not just for breakfast anymore". Very cute.
I hear that George Washington rolled a mean joint.
I'm aware of this.
I try not to be one of those people.
I'm not jazzed about 'Bong Hits With Jesus' myself, but that doesn't change the fact that they were not on school property, and thusly, it is absolutely none of their business.
Indeed, many use scripture to sow the seeds of discord, throwing it like stones. I merely quote scripture in hopes of attaining a just peace within
our own nation. This civil war has gone on too long at at too great a cost.
The following quote is the preceeding context of the passage you cited.
2 Peter 3:13-14
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
They appear to have been right for the right reasons.
The court said they were not on school property, and thus, it was none of their business.
And if this article interprets the courts position correctly, then the court was right, for the right reasons. Especially with public schools, they have absolutely no right to tell anybody what to do on their own time off school property.
I found Christ while stoned one afternoon. His image was on my pack of Zig Zags
As one who has always been faithless, did your faith slowly erode, or was there one big epiphanic collapse? Just curious.
How about a big ol' Mohammed cartoon?
I'm surprised they didn't too.
But if he was off of school grounds and not part of an extracurricular event, I think I have to agree with the court.
The pothead was within his rights.
Now if he gets caught taking bong hits, or possession of bong, then that's an entirely different matter.
Hell is where the good DEAmen go in the end.
Some sects believe Jesus was actually a sacred mushroom, not an actual physical being...
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