Posted on 09/15/2005 10:46:04 AM PDT by conserv13
"What's up with your shirt?"
Those are the words a former senior at Fleming Island High School remembers hearing as he walked from his fifth-period algebra class toward the gym. The 18-year-old, who is not being identified due to his family's concerns of safety, had just taken off his Dixie Outfitter T-shirt, exposing a highly offensive shirt.
"What about it?" replied the 18-year-old, skinny and white.
"Well, you know it's racial," said a black student, now in a group confronting the 18-year-old.
"Yeah. So?"
The undershirt the white student wore had a confederate flag on the front with the words "Keep it flying." On the back, a cartoon depicted a group of hooded Klansmen standing outside a church, waving to two others who had just pulled away in a car reading "Just married."
Two black men in nooses were being dragged behind.
Upset by the shirt, a 17-year-old black student hit the white student in the head. A crowd of about 100 students gathered to watch the Aug. 29 fight before authorities intervened.
(Excerpt) Read more at jacksonville.com ...
I bet they would have noticed if a student wore a T shirt with John 3:16 on it.
We are on he same page!!(see post#207)
You can't really blame the school for this, the kid had the shirt on underneath another shirt. He took the top shirt off while walking to gym class and that is when the trouble started.
I love the kid's quote, "I'm not racist, I just hate black people".
And the black kid not a good American?
All the fusses over T-shirts that have occurred at many school, including costly lawsuits, could easily be prevented by a dress code - no T-shirts or any other clothing with slogans to school.
I agree - and am now.
He is a jack@$$. Those who hoist the Confederate banner in honor of their ancestor have a duty to extend honor and dignity to those of other races too. Elsewise they disgrace both.
I find it very hard to believe that Dixie Outfitters would sell such a shirt. I've gotten their catalog before.
Funny the double standard. Many years ago I was at a birthday party at a notoriously liberal black comedian's house -I hope that's vague enough. She had a very large collection of racist memorabilia. If I had the same collection displayed in my home, I doubt I'd have a friend in the world.
Of course he should be "allowed" to wear that shirt. And it should be considered an unlawful act to punch him.
But I'd punch him anyway, really f***ing hard, more than once. (not within an inch of his life, maybe a few inches). And I'd accept the consequences, as to me they are worth it. Legally of course it is wrong to harm or threaten someone in such circumstances. But I believe in something called HONOR.
It is no different from a man taking a dump on my steak at a restaurant (ignoring the mechanics involed in such a feat). He'd be leaving with fewer teeth, lost in the process of being forcefully given his loaf back. Sure that would make me a caveman. But anyone who would go limp-wristed in either case (or the scenarios you present with the daughter or mother on a t-shirt with lewd statements) has no honor and is no man.
How about a t-shirt that says "I support our troops when they shoot their officers?" Is that protected speech?
We really do have to ask where the parents were in this. My kids can get into pretty big trouble and I always have what I think is an appropriate, fairly calm, response. But I just can't imagine how I'd go off if I ever saw one of my kids in a shirt like that, with an attitude backing it up.
This Sergeant Major would not have done anything to the kid. Do you think that a seasoned Marine would be riled by a t-shirt? You must have low expectations of them.
The Marines train to kill real enemies, not react to idiots.
I think it was just the t-shirt he was wearing UNDERNEATH his Dixie Outfitters shirt. "Odd" the way the story kind of jumbles it up......
Hi cyborg, the controversial item was an undershirt, not a Dixie Outfitters product.
You have to admit that a lyric like "killing more crackers than Bosnia-Herzegovina", whie sick and twisted, is a clever line.
That's what I figured. I smell a rat in this article trying to give the reader an impression about Dixie Outfitters that's not true.
" The truth about the Confederate Flag is that it has nothing to do with racism or hate."
Can you send me their addresses? I would like to get in on the "free punch" circuit. /sarc
As a soldier for 21 years I find this crap VERY offensive.
"I'm real surprised you take the position you do, because you always seem to have the most reasoned arguement of any FReeper."
I'm a reasonable guy. I always prefer to avoid physical confrontations. However, there are situations where such is appropriate. This was one of those.
A t-shirt that promotes or treats with humor the lynching of other human beings because of their color is a direct threat, in my opinion. I cannot fault the kid for punching this idiot, and might have done so myself.
Being reasonable does not mean backing away from everything. Some stuff is simply intolerable. Had this gone to court, the black youth would have gone free without punishment. The entire concept of "fighting words" is one of long standing, and would be a defense in this case.
There is a time for words and reasoned discussion. There is a time to take a more direct approach. Knowing the difference is the mark of a wise man. In this case, the punch was justified.
This stupid boy with the t-shirt is actually joining the Marine Corps. I imagine he will either learn something there or be mustered out again. The Marines are pretty intolerant of racist jerks.
As long as the speech is on your back it's protected. When you say you'd shoot my family member if she/he were an officer, then you and I would have more serious discussions.
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