In 2002, an Alaskan high school student, Joseph Frederick, was suspended for displaying a 14-foot sign displaying “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.” Today, it’s still an unresolved issue–whether he was wrongly suspended or not–according to state and federal laws, including the United States Constitution.
If you have not been hiding under a rock for the last two hundred years or so, you probably at least know of America’s freedom of speech. As described in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, federal laws are prohibited from infringing on the freedom of speech, with a couple of exceptions. This is just background information though, and I am not arguing the laws of the United States, whether they are fair, and so forth.
What bothers me in cases like the one I mentioned above is simply the waste of time and energy usurped to prosecute, defend, and publicize this trial. I almost feel as these proceedings are a combination of some need to fill our news with something–anything–as well as an attempt to get some exposure in the spotlight. In the end, they are doing nothing for the country, the legal system, or even the community.
I am very much in favor of free speech. Half the things I say every day don’t make sense so I am very glad that no one has taken them seriously with an intent to prosecute. I doubt that this student’s banner was detrimental to his community or legislation–until he was suspended. Kids will be kids and we are all human after all. Suspend Frederick for disrupting class or his actions, not for the innocuous message. Are students really creating a large problem on a regular basis? It just makes me want to yell at school administrators. Look around, for crying out loud. Do you know what is even going on in your schools? Jokes like these 14-foot banners are the smallest of your problems.
It’s acts like this suspension that really start to pick away at our rights, and I’d hate to walk around tomorrow thinking about whether every word I say is appropriate. Sometimes, I just want to shoot the shit and not worry about my words. Don’t take that away from me by picking away at these situations and trying to make them a big deal. They are not.
Hopefully this was just an attempt by the school administration to get their fifteen minutes of fame. Otherwise, it’s yet another means to liberate us from our freedoms, as ironic as that may be.
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