[Jokelahoma]

I don't believe we're regulating anyone's behavior by stating certain slogans on shorts are not appropriate for school. We're not saying they can't believe what they believe, just that it isn't appropriate in some instances. "Anytime, anyplace" leads to total chaos. There have to be some limits to things. Otherwise, where do we draw the line? Can kids wear shirts with pictures of dead fetuses on them? With pictures of dead soldiers so as to protest the war? Would that be all right with you? With slogans insulting every known religion? How about with personal attacks on other students? If we allow one, we have to allow all, by the logic of some in here. The easiest and most equitable way to stop the insanity is to regulate the uniform for school.

[Tabi Katz]

In our society, the right to offend outweighs the right not to be offended. To limit or regulate speech in public venues, the government has the overwhelming burden of showing that great harm would be done in the absence of such regulation, e.g. the "Fire!" in the movie house example. However, I don't believe wearing controversial messages in school meets that criterion. As for dead fetuses, dead soldiers, or the coathanger horsesh*t propagated by the pro-aborts, they're all examples of political speech protected by the First Amendment. Personal attacks on other students are not, and could indeed cause serious damage both psychologically and physically.