First Amendment Protection-Amy Sorrell

No surpise that Amy Sorrell would be fired by EACS. Where is all these first amendment right folks? And what happened to her legal protection under the law, she is not a criminal? Silence, because she supported students' right over the status quo, the principal and board members. Was the law applied to Sorrell in a fair and just way? If not, Sorrell was not treated as an equal under the laws that govern our country.


Harvard Crimson reports on censorship by administrators:

Due to Supreme Court precedent set 19 years ago in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, public high school and middle school media are currently only entitled to full first amendment protection if they are established as “public forums” for student expression. A recent decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals extended the Hazelwood decision to public colleges as well. That ruling was extremely troubling in its failure to see a clear distinction between a high school and college environment—in the latter, there is a far greater need for strong, independent press, a greater emphasis on the freedom and diversity of ideas, and a greater capacity for responsibility among journalists.

Hat tip to Indiana law blog

Fight Fight-Why's everybody always picking on me?

Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colt Coach, first was too meek to win a Superbowl championship. Fire him was a call. He wins a Superbowl. We love Dungy they howled. But no rest for the weary. Now Superbowl Coach Dungy is being lumped in with the immaturity of two African-American males who displayed intolerance to same sex individuals. And with Ann Coulter who blatantly used a negative terms to emasculate John Edwards, a potential presidential candidates whom good looks appeal to women voters .

Michael Morot writes in the Indy Star

Former NBA star Tim Hardaway apologized twice after responding to a question about his reaction to a gay teammate by saying "I hate gay people." Actor Isaiah Washington, of the hit television show "Grey's Anatomy," sought counseling after using a gay slur when he referred to another cast member. Author-columnist Ann Coulter was chastised for repeating the slur when referring to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards during a speech to a conservative group.

Coach Dungy used no negative terms to denigrate the same sex community. The community is looking for a fight where there is none. Coach Dungy, it is reported, does not even use pejorative language. And in Coach Dungy not using pejorative language he has made a conscious choice for expressing himself, knowing that such language is objectionable and offensive.

Because Coach Dungy comments at the program honoring him as a family man was not hate speech, he is entitled to express himself under the first amendment:

Coach Dungy is speaking for himself and expressing his views, which he is fully entitled to do," league officials said in a statement. "No doubt there are people in our league that have a different view. We respect the right of employees to have and express their views and don't regulate the political or religious views of team or league employees."

, from Morot's article.

Bil Browning, who runs bilerico.com, a blog that focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues, wrote: "When the head coach publicly states that part of the Colts fan base should be second-class citizens, you can't expect those same fans to support the team."

The same sex battle is with the government, your legislators, go rough them up.