Alright, here's the story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/wa.../26speech.html

Now that you've read it, I have a few questions.

1) What are the limits of school administrator's functions? Let's say this kid was wearing a t-shirt at the mall on Saturday that read, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus." Would he still be fair-game for suspension? Or do administrator's functions end at the school-house property line?

2) As Justice Breyer noted, why was the Supreme Court bothering with this case at all? According to his opinion, it would appear that the "qualified immunity" defense is the most fitting in this case (at least from a common-sensical point-of-view, which we all know matters not one iota in the Halls of Justice).

3) WFT is Justice Long Dong Silver on about? According to him, kids don't have any freedoms whatsoever. WFT is he doing on the bench, anyway?

4) Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, and Alito seem to think that (according to this ruling) that ANY SPEECH that MIGHT promote any drug (or in this case, herb) use is not protected speech. Look out, editors of High Times!

5) John Paul Stevens----someone else with a grain of common-sense. It cannot be emphasized enough that the majority in this case have legislated from the bench (I thought conservatives were against such actions?!?!) and created, from whole cloth, a new law that says speech in favor of drug use is now no longer protected by the 1st Amendment. Justice Stevens said that “carving out pro-drug speech for uniquely harsh treatment finds no support in our case law and is inimical to the values protected by the First Amendment.” Noting that alcohol also posed a danger to teenagers, Justice Stevens wondered whether “the court would support punishing Frederick for flying a ‘Wine Sips 4 Jesus’ banner,” which he said might be seen as pro-religion as well as pro-alcohol.

6) So does this mean I shouldn't unfurl my "Coke Snorts For Bush" banner at my community's 4th of July parade?

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson

Interestingly the court today decided on two free speech cases.

One against - for students.

One for - for corporation's campaign ads.

For the people, by the people....how did that go again? It seems to have been deleted. Can we recover that data, ever?

Already being discussed here: "Bong hits 4 Jesus"

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum