In light of this morning's post...

crfische

Here's what's happenin' in ND.

http://www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=489643

Where's the line?

Mrs.B6302007

I guess I have a thread to go back and read.

bbyckes

His lawyer was arguing the boy's appeal Monday in the North Dakota Supreme Court. Russell Myhre (MY'-ur) says the boy's remark was repugnant and offensive, but isn't a criminal act.

I happen to agree with this.  If his comment was accompanied by some overt action, intended to inflict fear or incite others to harm her - it would then become criminal.  Some things you have to let roll off your back.

pinkpinot

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

It's not criminal. It's just sad.

Mrs.B6302007

Srsly, if all judges did this, 90% of the kids at school would be in juvy for slurs.

laurenclaire1386

I really got to thinking about free speech this morning after the Christmas card issue. I think the first ammendment should be protected at all costs, but it's a slippery slope. While I don't think using racial slurs, or sending out Christmas cards from the KKK is ok, I also don't think it's ok to silence those people because they are bigots. Free speech protects bigots and decent people alike. You can't silence someone just because you don't like what they're saying, or because what they're saying is inherently wrong.  Free speech must be protected at all costs, IMO. This kid shouldn't be prosecuted. What he said was wrong and offensive, but his first ammendment rights are being sorely violated by being prosecuted for it.

bbyckes

Pink, explain your pic.  I ain't gettin' it.

AmoroAgain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_light-of-this-mornings-post?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec1a38e9-7dfe-40b6-905c-45f1e60c2d4aPost:d2a8d3ba-0198-47c9-a6ae-62190f0be571">Re: In light of this morning's post...</a>:
[QUOTE]His lawyer was arguing the boy's appeal Monday in the North Dakota Supreme Court. Russell Myhre (MY'-ur) says the boy's remark was repugnant and offensive, but isn't a criminal act. I happen to agree with this.  If his comment was accompanied by some overt action, intended to inflict fear or incite others to harm her - it would then become criminal.  Some things you have to let roll off your back.
Posted by bbyckes[/QUOTE]

I have to agree. 

pinkpinot

It's from South Park - they bury their heads in the sand as to take no part in an Islamic insult that is going to be a part of a tv show.  Fishy's comment about where to draw the line made me think of people who bury their heads in the sand. 

Stackeye210

I wonder what sort of rules the teen center has against inappropriate language and name calling.  If they have strict rules maybe it's being considered disorderly conduct because it broke the code of conduct.  Otherwise, unless the racial slur was followed by an action like bbyckes said then I don't think any charges are reasonable. 

danieliza1127

I don't think there's any way criminal charges against him will stick.  You know how often kids call each other names, even racial slurs?  If he attacked her or hit her, that would be another story, but if I walked down the street and someone called me some horrible name, I would just keep walking.

crfische

What I don't get, is that I have kids that do WAY WORSE shiit than this. Like...WAY worse. And it doesn't get to the supreme court, so I'm wondering why the hell this one is as it seems like a freedom of speech thing to me?

pinkpinot

What about kids calling overweight kids horrible names? Same thing?

Stackeye210

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_light-of-this-mornings-post?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec1a38e9-7dfe-40b6-905c-45f1e60c2d4aPost:e784bc47-a6b2-4c13-9ac7-2b10634e09db">Re: In light of this morning's post...</a>:
[QUOTE]What I don't get, is that I have kids that do WAY WORSE shiit than this. Like...WAY worse. And it doesn't get to the supreme court, so I'm wondering why the hell this one is as it seems like a freedom of speech thing to me?
Posted by crfische[/QUOTE]

Ummm, is Al Sharpten involved?  Cuz then I could see why.  UGH.

crfische

Or cyber bullying? I admittedly don't know the laws surrounding this (or if there are any), but I know it's been in the media a lot and there are a lot of action groups dealing with cyber bullying. How is it any different, really?

Mrs.B6302007

His punishment should be duct tape across his mouth from ear to ear.  And it gets ripped off every 1/2 hour and reapplied.  A few days of that should clean up his potty mouth.

danieliza1127

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_light-of-this-mornings-post?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec1a38e9-7dfe-40b6-905c-45f1e60c2d4aPost:e784bc47-a6b2-4c13-9ac7-2b10634e09db">Re: In light of this morning's post...</a>:
[QUOTE]What I don't get, is that I have kids that do WAY WORSE shiit than this. Like...WAY worse. And it doesn't get to the supreme court, so I'm wondering why the hell this one is as it seems like a freedom of speech thing to me?
Posted by crfische[/QUOTE]

I'm guessing it's because most other people let it go and her parents didn't.  Her parents probably just decided to take it as far as they could, contact the school or where ever it happened, get a lawyer, etc.  Most people would never do that just for name calling.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_light-of-this-mornings-post?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ec1a38e9-7dfe-40b6-905c-45f1e60c2d4aPost:c86a6b20-102f-48c0-a4cb-4c150dce1f60">Re: In light of this morning's post...</a>:
[QUOTE]I wonder what sort of rules the teen center has against inappropriate language and name calling.  If they have strict rules maybe it's being considered disorderly conduct because it broke the code of conduct.  Otherwise, unless the racial slur was followed by an action like bbyckes said then I don't think any charges are reasonable. 
Posted by Stackeye210[/QUOTE]

But in that case, he would just be suspended/kicked out of the teen center for violating their rules. Not persecuted in criminal court.

I mentioned in the card post that hate crime legislation will often allow for more severe punishment if something occurs based on hate motivation - because someone is of a different race, gender, sexual orientation. But that just means 10 years in jail instead of 5. You have to actually do something illegal for it to apply.

Sometimes freedom of speech doesn't apply to those under 18 or those in school settings, but those are isolated cases, and I can't imagine this would count.

And yeah, what Lauren said. At one time abolition groups weren't really the popular opinion, you know? If you want your rights you have to allow those who disagree with you to have theirs.

squirrly

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean somebody can't say it.  Offensive - sure.  Criminal - nope.