Comments on: T-shirt case decided: “Be happy, not gay” allowed in school

By: ;)

;) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:56:37 +0000

It’s the usual generational clash thing. If the flood is coming, you can prepare for it, but you can’t really stop it. Life is unstoppable. And, as someone who is close to what’s going on in the budding culture right now, I say the status quo will be shaken in a way that will leave both Christians and gays standing. Hm, there was a quote from a movie: Resistence is futile. 🙂

But, yeah, hate is a waste of time because is not cool at all.

”Be smart, not Christian”

Neah, it doesn’t sound good. Being smart can make one rather stupid sometimes. I’m not a Christian, but – as the saying goes – ‘I think Jesus is a pretty cool guy. He loves everyone and doesn’t afraid of anything.’ 😀

By: Marty

Marty — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:25:08 +0000

I used to get sent home, forced to change, turn my shirt inside, rinse the color out of my hair out etc, all the time in high-school, under the so called “class order / causing a disturbance” policy.

But was anything ever done to the kid with the huge afro that blocked people’s vision of the blackboard? Did anyone ever say anything to the kid who smelled so bad that it was impossible to concentrate when sitting near him? Talk about creating a disturbance!

Uniforms are the only alternative to anarchy — and uniform enforcement (send the smelly kid home, make mr. afro cut his hair) is the only alternative to blatantly racist/classist/sexist hypocrisy.

By: Jay

Jay — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:12:46 +0000

I know we’re not there yet but it won’t be long until you’ll start seeing ‘hidden’ graphic sexual images.

Eddy, hate to break it to you, but we’re there. Ever been to an Abercrombie & Fitch store, lately? Shirts full of innuendo (let along political or ideological messages) are very popular. That’s why a lot of schools are taking a hard line on dress code. It’s not just about short skirts anymore (oh, how we wish for the days that it was!)

By: Eddy

Eddy — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:52:21 +0000

I was on our high school's dress code revision committee back umpteen years ago (turns out I was their token male liberal). Anyway, back then, we fought for the right to wear jeans and shirts other than your standard button front. But it seems the boundaries keep getting pushed. I agree that the best policy would be for schools not to allow shirts with words or graphics (perhaps a little leniency towards a typical concert t-shirt). And schools do have better things to do than play 'thought police' with every t-shirt slogan or graphic. (I know we're not there yet but it won't be long until you'll start seeing 'hidden' graphic sexual images.) IMHO, the US Court of Appeals made a major mistake here. I find that the negative message of this particular t-shirt far outweighs its attempt at clever word play. Maybe we need a SHOTS Every Day. (SHunOffensiveTShirts.) Remind kids that when they are seen in the company of someone wearing that shirt, many will assume they feel the same way. Explain to them some of the other messages that the wearing of that t-shirt conveys. (LOL! My friends never wore their marijuana t-shirts in front of my mom! It would get me into trouble!) By the way, anyone old enough to remember the Anita Bryant political mess? A gay group organizing an anti-Anita protest launched a radio ad with a recording of Anita singing "When Johnny Comes March Home". And when it got to the part where she sang "and we'll all be gay" they turned the echo on. "And we'll all be gay..gay..gay..gay..gay". Now that was a successful attempt at clever word play.

By: Boo

Boo — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:03:53 +0000

“Christian love” – talk about an oxymoron.

I guess we gay Christians are just doubly screwed.

By: Nick R

Nick R — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:38:05 +0000

“Christian love” – talk about an oxymoron.

By: jayhuck

jayhuck — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:05:53 +0000

Jay,

I used to think that uniforms were really restrictive, but I’m beginning to think there might be something to them 🙂

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:31:52 +0000

Jay,

After reading what you wrote I see that perhaps my idea about the t-shirts is not a very good one at all. I think what you just said could perhaps solve the current and future issues about this.

By: Warren

Warren — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:20:02 +0000

Michael – Well, that one can get in line with hundreds of others that will now be on the edge enough to withstand court scrutiny. Not having read the case yet, I an inclined to see this as a defeat for local school control.

By: Warren

Warren — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:17:54 +0000

Well, I was once a private school administrator and board member and I fought uniforms to the death. But…

I do believe in restricting message t-shirts for the reasons you suggest Jay. School admins have much more to do than try to decide the meanings of sayings.