Board Had Right to Fire Teacher Who Advocated Sex With Boys

NY LAW JOURNAL ^ | 7/17/03

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The Board of Education did not violate the rights of a school teacher when it fired him after a public outcry over his membership in the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), which advocates the abolition of laws banning sex between men and underage boys, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled yesterday. The unanimous ruling affirmed a 2002 decision by Eastern District Judge Frederic Block. Writing for the appeals court, Judge Richard J. Cardamone said the former Bronx Science teacher, Peter Melzer, was free to associate with NAMBLA, but that freedom was outweighed by the disruption his association caused at the school. When Mr. Melzer's affiliation became know, parents threatened to remove their children from school and staged protests. Mr. Melzer was fired and later sued to win back his job. Mr. Melzer, a NAMBLA member since 1980, has never been accused of misconduct with an underage boy.

[Cultural Jihad]

There were people coming on foot to buy drugs a certain apartment every few minutes at all hours. But the police did nothing.

There they are, peacefully doing their own thang behind hallowed closed doors, and if the police were to show up I hope they don't exhibit any (gasp!) adversarial distrust to these citizens who might be having a quilting bee instead of polluting the neighborhood with rights-robbing and violence-inducing poisons.

[Cultural Jihad]

Its not different. Privacy is privacy. If the government is not able to invade the privacy of gays then its not able to invade the privacy of nambla members. Either we have a right to privacy or we don't.

Counterfeiting is okay, so long as it happens in the basement instead of on the driveway, eh? Will rape become the next privacy issue for the moral-liberals ever eager to excuse and enable immoral conduct? Supposedly his right to pursue his happiness takes presedence over the rights of parents and children to pursue their happiness. Supposedly he has free will which should be respected while the Board of Education members have none.

[BayouCoyote]

I'll refrain from stating what should be done to every NAMBLA member.

There. That's much better.

[Imagine]

That's really cruel -- people just don't look right with their penises stuffed in their mouths. You Meanie you!

[VRWC_minion]

You apparently understand what the SC ruling did. Your ideas of what is moral don't count in someone else's private life.

[af_vet_1981]

I just don't understand how there can even be an organization like NAMBLA. Why is such a thing tolerated?

• Sin
• Tolerance of sin
• Celebration of sin

  For example, on this thread someone mentioned swinger's clubs as if they were inherently different. From a biblical perspective there is not much difference. Once people decide to experiment and good does not publicly and successfully resist evil, nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

[dogbrain]

"Based on the SC ruling, this is wrong."

SCOTUS is made up of humans.

Humans are subject to poor judgment.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Don't take this a defense of our boneheaded SCotUS, but the NAMBLA situation can be easily distingished from anti-Sodomy laws.

The pretext of striking down the anti-Sodomy laws was that it was two consenting ADULTS. Pedophilia involves children, who, by law, are too young to consent.

Of course, as the right to abortion (with or without parental notification) continues to expand, combined with all that "it takes a village" crap, it's only a matter of time before some court rules (a) children ARE consenting and (b) therefore child molestation is perfectly legal under the right to privacy.

[dogbrain]

I'm not familiar with the exact wording of the ruling, but I would HOPE that the consenting parties would be specified as "adults", NOT "parties" or "persons".

[VRWC_minion]

The guy isn't accused of pedophilia. He is accused of having a private membership in Nambla.

Your right about the age of consent which in some states is 14 and most 16. The laws banning sex between teachers and students are probably also unconstitutional so far as children over 16.

[ExSoldier]

"Privacy is privacy."

So according to you, what Jeffrey Dahlmer did in the privacy of his home to all those young boys is no business of the government? What NAMBLA advocates is already against the law and has nothing to do with "privacy" issues. Child molestation is already a crime....are you saying that the right to privacy trumps this?

[VRWC_minion]

are you saying that the right to privacy trumps this?

The SC did, yes.

[ExSoldier]

"The SC did, yes."

No they didn't. Illegal behavior is never a protection afforded by the Constitution. Better to let people think you're a fool than to open your mouth (or post something like you did) and remove all doubt.

[ElectricRook]

Watch out!

The same group that declared homosexuality not a disease, but a choice. Have declared that pedophlia does not damage children. Next, they will try to have it de-criminalized.

[vaudine]

I have seen/read several documentaries about their conventions, internet communications, and convictions of members actually caught and prosecuted. Why can't NAMBLA be prosecuted under the RICO law? Seriously, some of you people good at legal research?

On this post, the guy should have been fired years ago. The state is in charge of our public schools; it has a compeling
interest in providing safety and good examples in its leaders/instructors/principals.

vaudine

[FreedomPoster]

Sometimes they overlap, thus aren't seperate.

[VRWC_minion]

No they didn't. Illegal behavior is never a protection afforded by the Constitution

What is illegal about belonging to Nambla ? Talk about fools.

I wasn't going to mention it but even the right to free assembly is being violated by the state here.

[Salman]

I have seen/read several documentaries about their conventions, internet communications, and convictions of members actually caught and prosecuted. Why can't NAMBLA be prosecuted under the RICO law? Seriously, some of you people good at legal research?

I have serious problems with the RICO law having nothing to do with this particular issue. It's a violation of due process. I know a decent old guy who lost his house by the RICO law because he and some buddies were playing poker for money at his house. This is not the way to go with any problem, even if it "works".

On this post, the guy should have been fired years ago.

No argument there, the law needs to be different. Or is it a union contract issue?

The state is in charge of our public schools; it has a compeling interest in providing safety and good examples in its leaders/instructors/principals.

The problem is "public" schools, as such.

[ExSoldier]

"What is illegal about belonging to Nambla?"

Nothing, but the activities advocated and assisted by NAMBLA members and their infomational material are illegal. So you think child molesters and real little child rapers...ie pedophiles should be a sanctioned Constitutional activity? Just what activity of yours do you think is threatened because Nambla is threatened?

[VRWC_minion]

So you think child molesters and real little child rapers...ie pedophiles should be a sanctioned Constitutional activity

Under the right to privacy and under the right of free assembly.