Posted on 12/12/2001 10:01:21 AM PST by truth4all
Katie Sierra was suspended for wearing anti-war T-shirts in high school and trying to organize an anarchist club to protest the war. We are "free" to express any and all opinions as long as they support the government's agenda. Parts of a local newspaper article are below followed by an interview with Katie by www.infoshop.org. Gavin
Student can't wear anti-war clothing to Sissonville High
By Eric Eyre
Click Here
"Students at Sissonville High School no longer feel safe," said school system attorney Jim Withrow. "Without question, it has disrupted the educational process."
(Gavin. Contrary opinions are a threat to other pupils.)
Sierra's attorney blamed Mann for the turmoil at Sissonville, saying he overreacted and "took those bellows and flamed the fires."
"He wanted her shirts out of there," Forman said. "He wants her opinions out of there. If truth be known, he probably wants her out of there."
End article quote.
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller
Please visit my nonprofit website.
Exposing the Cancer Indu$try.
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Thank you. Gavin.
KATIE SIERRA
www.infoshop.org Click Here
Katie Sierra is a 15-year-old anarchist who lives in Sissonville, West Virginia. She recently made international news after her high school suspended her for wearing a t-shirt critical of the war in Afghanistan, as well as for her efforts in organizing a student anarchy club at the school. Her legal protest of the school's decision was turned down by the courts. There is an international effort to support her and her fight against the school.
Infoshop.org: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Katie Sierra: Let's see..my name is Katie. I am a former student from Sissonville High School. I'm a 15-year-old 10th grader. In my spare time I go to shows, read, and write poetry.
Infoshop: Why did you get suspended from your high school?
KS: I was suspended for wearing a t-shirt that spoke of political views. Also, for having possession of the flyers in my purse.
Infoshop: What did your T-shirt say?
KS: Well, there's more than one. The one I got suspended for said "Racism, Sexism, Homophobia..I'm so proud of the people in the land of the so called "Free". Then the next week after my principal allowed me to wear them again...and then made me take it off again said "When I saw the dead and dying Afghani children on TV, I felt a newly recovered sense of national security. God Bless America."
Infoshop: What happened in court?
KS: Besides staring at Mr. Mann's strange comb-over and missing thumb lol. I didn't win. I don't really know why. At least everything I said was factual, but everything Mann said was opinion or hearsay.
Infoshop: Are you appealing the judge's decision?
KS: Yes, we'll be going to court uhhh...Jan. 25. State Supreme turned it down...but I'm not giving up!
How do you feel about the authorities telling you that you have no rights?
KS: It makes me feel like total crap. I mean I think it's crazy. Everyone else in that school can say how they feel towards certain things, unless you have something no one agrees with. I just don't think that is fair. If I could go back to school for a day. I think I'd probably. wear duck tape over my mouth with "I have no rights" printed on the front. lol I think that might be quite humorous.
Why did you decide to start an anarchy club? Are other students interested in joining it?
KS: I think we were pretty much a group already. I mean I know we were a group. At the time we didn't have a name. And there isn't anything for us to join at SHS. So I was thinking since we are all interesting in Anarchy and whatnot things it would be a good idea. I read about it on Infoshop...that's how the idea popped into my head. Yeah, there was about 15-20 people who wanted to join.
If your club existed, what kind of projects would the club be working on?
KS: It was mostly for us to learn and discuss things. We had somewhat started a zine--it isn't really finished. We were going to work in some soup kitchens on the weekend. Just a lot of different things. Have people come speak. Possibly a Food not Bombs group.
Tell us about the zine you were working on?
KS: It was going to be called the Anny. There was four of us working on it. We were only going to print no more than 30 copies of it. Honestly, we didn't want anyone besides people in our uhh "freak/punk" to know about it. It was going to be about things that happen in our school, city, state, country, world...blah blah blah and how we felt. The 1st copy was never finished so I'm sure there would have been more.
When and how did you first become interested in radical politics?
KS: I don't really know. I mean I think I've always been pretty interested. It might have been my friends. Most of them are older than me and I guess I just learned a lot from them.
What's your opinion on the current war?
KS: As like any war I think it's wrong. I don't believe in fighting and last time I checked war is included. I don't know or have an answer for the war, but I do know that killing people is not right. I think our country is just to lazy to think of another solution.
What kinds of things are your classmates saying about the war?
KS: See they don't even know what their talking about most of the time. Most of the things they say are just cruel about how they want to kill out the whole country. And how they are supporters of bombing. How they should stop sending food packets out there.
Now that your mother has pulled you out of school, what kind of things are you studying at home? KS: History, English, Career, and Science. It's quite funny to now know and realize how much bull crap they're feeding you in schools lol.
What lessons have you learned from this, that you'd like to share with teenagers in similar situations?
KS: I've learned that this country is crap...actually I already knew that. I've learned that school systems are crap. Wait! I knew that too. I guess I've learned that this country and school systems are more crappy than ever and they suck. I guess I've also learned not to give up. And to stand up for what you believe in no matter what it is. It's okay to think differently, its normal. Don't let anyone run over you because of your beliefs.
I agree!!
The question she should be forced to answer is "Assuming that you actually have power and that your actions have practical consequences what would you do?". If she believes that America is irredeemably evil, then would she leave and if so where would she go? If she is going to enemy territory, would she be willing to wear a burqa? If she is going to a more liberal western style democracy such as Canada, then does she support that country being an ally of and receiving protection from the U.S.A.
If she believes that Amereica is flawed but fixable, then does that not imply an obligation to defend it from those who would destroy it completely? Does being antiracist,a feminist, and a lesbian require belonging to a society that is willing to defend these rights even if it means the use of force? If someone tried to beat her up or rape her would she defend herself? Should someone else defend her? Where does that right of self defense come from?
Being an anarchist or against all authority is an attractive philosophy for a teenager who has no authority of her own. Growing up means you have to assume some power and responsibility. When she answers my questions she can go back to school. Until then she is just engaging in a public act of political masturbation.
I can see that being the case some of the time, but sometimes anti-war protesters just want a change in foreign policy. Since this is a representative government, all citizens are entitled to voice their opinion in the actions that government takes on their behalf. That being said, I don't agree with today's anti-war protesters. I merely recognize their right to speech. Their protests are futile because the free marketplace of ideas recognizes that pacifism in the face of aggression as absurd.
The question she should be forced to answer is…
She doesn't have to answer any questions. Free speech also means the right not to speak. Furthermore, defendants have a 5th Amendment right to remain silent.
In anticipation of a response of "But she's not a defendant": Well if she isn't a defendant, then she cannot be subject to any penalties, lest she also be deprived of her 5th Amendment right to due process.
Yes, that is so.
She has rights, they are held in proxy and exercised on her behalf by her parents. If her parent says she can exercise her right to free speech, then she has as much right to it as anyone else.
What about the school acting 'in loco parentis'. Doesn't that extend to this case?
Furthermore, every student has to read the 'code of student conduct' before agreeing to going to that (any) school. I'm sure that code of conduct included school dress infractions. Maybe she just isn't holding up her end of the deal she accepted voluntarily. That would merit throwing her out and is probably why the state Supreme Court won't hear it. I know a dopey kid who was bounced out of school for the year for wearing 'hip hop' t-shirts with obscene slogans. He was warned multiple times and thrown out.
Maybe she'll just wind up like that dopey Berenson terrorist b!tch rotting in a pesthole in Peru....
To take something out of context, about her mom paying taxes. Most people I know really became 'Conservative' in their 20s/around college (i.e. when they were paying the bills and taxes and not their parents). I have one friend who sounds almost like this girl and protested Reagan/etc. back in the early 80s, and now he's a father of two and an active member of his county's Republican party, etc. We still laugh about some of the things he did/protested.
I say let the girl protest whatever, it doesn't mean she's going to grow up to be some awful person. Put the Constitutional issues aside for the moment and look at the fact that she is still a kid. Calling her a bag of hormones like one poster did is a bit childish (I'm sure he wouldn't have referred to his wife or daughter at that age as being a bag of hormones).
Chances are, when she's her mom's age and paying taxes she'll not be the same person she was. It wasn't a bunch of 30 and 40 somethings up there in Seattle breaking windows.
I take it you've never had a daughter or helped raise a teen ;-)
Teens have a knack for doing that.
That's what bothered me about Ashcroft's comments about people questioning the government. It did send chills down my spine that he would tell you that you were assisting the terrorists if you didn't see eye-to-eye with him.
If Reno had said that people would have flipped. But it was Ashcroft and the Liberals were doing cartwheels, they had somebody saying it was wrong to disagree/question the government and it was a conservative.
There is a big leap from a t-shirt and chants and speaking out to causing mayhem and terror and destruction. When she crosses the line, then punish her. Until then, respect her rights under the Constitution. If speaking out against the system/against the government is a crime, we are all in a lot of trouble.
Growing up means you have to assume some power and responsibility. When she answers my questions she can go back to school.
You make a very good point, she is not grown up. I might point out she is not only not grown-up, but at an age when many people do crazy things that they aren't proud of later on, and it's not our job to interpret the Constitution the way we want to.
If, because someone has waited 15 years too long to start that process - then it may be almost too late to save her as a constructive citizen of the USOFA - without some pretty harsh shaming her for her misguided and misbegotten beliefs - probably instilled by bleeding heart liberal parents. John Walker (Lindh) was, in all likelyhood raised by parents with the same lack of attention to education in civics, democracy and values.
Education can be done with compassion - allowing someone to stray as far (dare I say left) wrong as she appears to be headed without an attempt at righting her direction is a diservice to her, our nation and the process of democratization of our world.
One further thing; yesterday was the 90th day from the day terrorists, the ones that we are attempting to wipe out, killed without provocation, or warning, 3500+/- of our citizens. If your not still pissed, then I worry more about you than her.
John Taliban Walker (Johnny was CIA and murdered by the Taliban) was 15 once - and where do you think he was in his development of political theory at that age. Our little 15 year old girlfriend in this thread probably is about where he was. And there are people out there stupid enough to buy her a ticket to Afgahnastan (or Yemen) if no one tries to get her attention with the truth.
I definitely draw the line at a middle-aged man with a beer belly wearing a t-shirt with a "Johnson" motif.
At that age its all so more intense, some of today’s right-wingers had a left wing past, and if they were attacked for that past many here would say so what they were kids then.
Remember that chap who was in the 60s a anti Vietnam war protester today he is an anti Political correctness protester in American universities, cant remember his name begins with a H I think. Wrote a paper condemning the policy of reverse discrimination
Cheers Tony
I'm still quite pissed, but I'm not scared of some 15 year old being a 15 year old or speaking out for what she believes in, no matter how misguided you or I think it is. The same Constitution that gives her the right to speak her mind gives me the same right to speak my mind, even though around half the country may disagree with me.
I completely see where your coming from, but I just don't think we should be dictating what people think or creating some kind of "Ashcroft Youth" so to speak to "educate" those whose beliefs differ from ours (that isn't in reference to you, but to another thread).
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