Comments on: Hypocrisy of Free Speech in Schools

By: Kelsey Gardner

Kelsey Gardner — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:35:36 +0000

I support David Gardner in this matter, because he is my husband and he has every right to free speech as do you and I. David doesn’t support gays. He wasn’t trying to affend anyone or “bully” anyone he was just standing up for what he believes in. Which is……

“Love the Sinner and Hate the Sin”.

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:08:56 +0000

I think Christians are passing up a rare chance to express their beliefs in a loving but direct way— this is one day out of the year when they would not be shouted down by the opposition! They should seize this opportunity — not to bash anybody, but to tell their classmates that Jesus Christ was non-violent, that He preached loving one’s enemies, turning the other cheek, and that He even died for the sins of Mankind, although He Himself was sinless, so that “anyone who believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.” While His enemies crucified Him, He even prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This message of non-violence would actually fit right in, (if the purpose of the day is really what they say it is) and could be given without interruption! Some people are telling Christian parents to keep their kids home that day. I couldn’t disagree more.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:57:58 +0000

The biggest problem with this “news story” is that it is a one-sided account written by one student’s father (Rev. Gardner) and distributed by him to the conservative media with no one taking the time to fact-check the story to see if dad was reporting correctly the way the school handled the day or his son. There is much more to this story and anyone who passes along or posts Rev. Gardner’s account without concern for the rest of the story of what happened at Oakridge High School is as irresponsible as Rev. Gardner. (Who, by the way, put on his church’s sign that “Our Easter bunny is saved, sanctified and Spirit filled” What on earth??!!)

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 21:57:53 +0000

Also i was one of the people participating in the day of silance and I am straight

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 21:56:09 +0000

I am from Oakridge and I know for a fact that he was not alone. He got infuriated from the people demonstrating the day of silence and decided he would stir things up with a “Its great to be straight” sign being taped on his shirt. The people demonstrating were also asked to take off their signs. Also he was not suspended. He just was given the choice to go home instead of staying at school because of the major controversy.

By: John Spencer

John Spencer — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:03:08 +0000

Freedom of Speech folks, it applys to all equaly. Freedom of expression should also apply equaly but for some reason in the minds of the Politicaly Correct that’s not the case.
By the way Political Correctness is a state of mind, not reality as some may wish it was.
Let’s get real here, these are children we are talking about, not politicians,Jesse Jacksons,or Al Sharpton’s who wish to have it both ways.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:45:12 +0000

Considering the source of the article, and somewhat biased phrases such as “a day to protest alleged discrimination faced by students who identify as “gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT),” I think that there is information missing from this article. I’m from one of the most liberal towns in perhaps the most liberal state in the US (Massachusetts), and my school would never consider throwing a kid out of class for wearing an “I’m Straight” sign on the National Day of Silence. Furthermore, there is no source material from people supporting the school, so all we have to go on are the words of a pissed off dad. I think the kid may have been intentionally or inadvertently disrupting class and that is why the teacher asked him to remove the sign.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:46:44 +0000

A. The Day of Silence is about solidarity with GLBT students suffering hateful treatment in silence. In other words, it’s anti-violence / anti-hate. Not “pro-gay.” While proclaiming “I’m straight” shouldn’t garner ejection from class (perhaps some questions from teachers as to why it’s necessary to wear such a silly thing), the student’s actions were still based on a pretty fundamental misinterpretation of the actions of his peers.

“What is most offensive about situations like this, is the student should never have been put in a position where he felt it was necessary to proclaim his sexuality.” It seems you’re misinterpreting things the same way. I’m sure many of the anti-violence students were straight.

B. “I wonder how our public school system would feel if there was a ‘Day of Silence’ to represent the million plus baby’s a year whose cries are silenced before they are born by abortion doctors?” There is, and - at least at my school - it goes off without a hitch (though not without some thoughtful debate amongst the student body).

By: margaret salisbury

margaret salisbury — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:07:52 +0000

I don’t think it’s a matter of free speech as much as it is of bullying. The students with the anti-gay shirts are clearly bullies who don’t like gay students. This is just as offensive as any other form of bullying that happens in schools. I support the school for taking this action against the bullies.

By: Kathy Mabry

Kathy Mabry — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:12:06 +0000

I have to ask, where else can I find information on this incident. I like to ensure I have all available facts before forming an opinion about something, but I can find no mention of this incident anywhere other than here and onenewsnow, both site easily could be considered biased reporting, and I prefer truth….but no matter what I search I can only find mention of it here and there hrm

By: Thomas Farrell

Thomas Farrell — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:02:36 +0000

Courts, including the Supreme Court, have repeatedly ruled that the right to free speech does not extend into schools as an absolute, and that schools may ban speech which interferes with or disrupts education. While I think banning “I’m straight” as a message is ridiculous, “Be happy not gay” is very offensive, and could be banned on the basis that it could incite violence in the school.

It’s notable that participants in the so called “day of truth” have sued schools which have banned their hate messages… and the schools have won.