Comments on: Jamey’s Bullies Celebrate His Death

By: Fact-Check

Fact-Check — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:02:32 +0000

I never said the parents/kids should be arrested.

I am only clarifying that we do not have an absolute freedom of speech. There are the cases you mentioned (which may apply here). There are also things like nuisances which freedom of speech does not protect. For example, you can’t make a shit load of noise outside someone’s house if it disrupts their enjoyment of their house. Etc.

By: Jay Jonson

Jay Jonson — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:11:45 +0000

I apologize for the snarky posting above. It is a non-sequitur, and unfair to the point you were making about not glamorizing suicide. Please forgive me.

By: Priya Lynn

Priya Lynn — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:03:41 +0000

Erin, I didn’t read your comment carefully enough, sorry.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:48:48 +0000

Fact Check, speech itself does not infringe on another’s rights. Only in cases of threats, slander, or libel. As upsetting as it is, we cannot arrest these parents for what they’ve taught their children. I don’t know all of the details, but I understand there were some online exchanges. If that was enough to constitute criminal harassment, the parents may have a case. But could everyone please cool it with the “parents who pass on anti-gay values to their children should be arrested” crap?

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:34:28 +0000

Priya, my first sentence said I agreed disciplinary action at school is totally acceptable and I believe the rest of my post spelled out that I support such disciplinary action. What I spoke against was criminal charges.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:27:46 +0000

dave,

your comment is unacceptable at Box Turtle Bulletin.

We don’t allow “homosexuals are perverts” and we don’t allow “religion is a form of mental illness.” This isn’t the place for “AIDS kills fags”, nor the place for “religion kills.”

If you want to discuss the church that the other children attend, then do some research and find out if they do, what that church teaches and then comment on it.

Or, less specific, you could discuss recent anti-gay statements made by preachers in that town. Or the general religiosity of the geographic area.

And you could even get away with a minimal amount of generic outburst about the foolish teachings of some religions.

But hate-filled rants aren’t welcome here. Not from right wingers. Not from you.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:17:35 +0000

I don’t think it would be extreme or a punishment unfitting to expel – permanently – the children who chanted those things.

Yes, they are children. But we don’t let children who are dangerously violent go to school with others. Let the parents of these monsters who have murder in their hearts spend the money for private education.

It’s a safety issue. Having seen the consequences of their actions they have determined to continue in these actions. They are a threat to other children.

Secondarily, I think the Rodemeyers should immediately start a civil suit against the parents of those children. They are legally responsible for what their children do, just as if those children vandalized or stole property.

And “I didn’t know” is not an excuse. They had a moral, legal and social responsibility to be aware.

I’m tired of heterosexuals thinking that their children happen by magic or are a “gift from God”. If you wanna boink and not use contraception, then for the next 18 years you have an obligation to be fully aware of where your kids are, what they are doing, and with whom.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:50:16 +0000

My disgust for those teenagers is off the scale. If I was at that school or near that community I would would most definitely make it known to those who behaved in such a manner. I hope that they begin to endure a great deal of harassment/bullying/shunning from their classmates.

By: Fact-Check

Fact-Check — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:02:22 +0000

The 1st amendment only gives free speech if your speech does not infringe on the rights of others.

It is not an absolute right.

By: MBJK

MBJK — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:07:04 +0000

Where were the adults at the dance to step up and do something then??? Who’s in charge of that school the bullies or the school board and teaches? Seems like the bullies run everything there.