General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Teen suspended for flying confederate flag on pick-up truck; ACLU now invovled [View all]MineralMan
(146,371 posts)This kid is giving everyone the finger. Clearly, he is a moron of the first order. And yet, there is the First Amendment. Always a dilemma. Schoolkids on school grounds don't have exactly the same set of rights adults do on their own property. And yet, there is the First Amendment. It even allows people to give the finger to other people, with some limits. That can also be considered "fighting words," and result in an acquittal of the person offended enough to give the finger-waver a bloody nose. The Confederate battle flag is much like giving the finger to everyone at that school of color or who may have had ancestors die fighting for the Union Army.
So, what to do? I'm not sure. If I were another student at that school, I might well consider something like flying a different flag of the same size on the back of my pickup and parking right next to the Stars and Bars flyer. Maybe a Rainbow flag, or a Union Army banner of some sort. You know, to honor one's heritage or something like that.
And yet, there is the First Amendment. I suppose we have to let morons say moronic things and give people the finger. Maybe the answer is to ignore this display of moronic splendor. Maybe we will all want to do something, say something, or fly something one day that a lot of people don't like. Maybe we'll want to use the First Amendment to do something unpopular, too.