YOUR 15 MINUTES: Federal Court Says 'Yes' to Bong Hits For Jesus
Joseph Frederick, a student at Juneau-Douglas High School in Alaska, was suspended from his high school after he hung a banner that read "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" across the street from his school in January 2002 in an attemp to get on television as the Olympic torch relay was passing by. Frederick felt that his right to free speech was violated. The principal felt he was trying to undermine the school's educational mission and anti-drug stance. Those crazy hippie judges of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco also felt that Fredrick's rights were violated. It turns out that banner was protected speech because it did not disrupt school activity and was displayed off school grounds during a non-curricular activity. Fancy that. The court also cleared the way for Frederick to seek damages, saying the principal was aware of relevant case law and should have known her actions violated his rights.
I wonder how Frederick feels now that after four long a federal court finally decided he has the right to hang a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner. I wonder if he lit up a bong to celebrate. I wonder if at age 22 he now realizes the ridiculousness of a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner. I wonder if this will affect future employment opportunities. I wonder if he regrets not coming up with a better saying. I wonder if he wishes he’d gone with something like "Its 4:20, do you know where your bong is?" or “Life’s a bitch and then you die, so fuck it all and lets get high” or “Why go to high school when you can go to school high?” or “If we all had a bong we'd all get along" or "Why drink and drive while you can smoke and fly?" God, I don’t even smoke weed… [source]
2 comments:
You know way too many of those phrases.
Cypress Hill says - "Roll it up, light it up, smoke it up, inhale, exhale"
You may not agree with the message but someone may not agree with your's either someday -if you ever possessed the level of courage this kid has. He had the guts - and not incidentally the parental support to take this to the wire - AND WIN!
Newest twist - now the school board has decided to take this to Supreme Court - with Kenneth Starr as pro bono attorney. Yes, THAT Ken Starr. What does that tell you about a publicly elected body attracting a political/religeous activist zealot as a champion?
You'd think the school board would leave this hot potato alone, but no, they've chosen to keep the issue on the front burner and add to the student's notoriety - he's already a folk hero - and before you know it he could be another Ralph Nader or something. Wonder how much good THAT's going to do in the district's fight against student drug use?
Those folks need a thorough reality check.
I'd predict this young many will go far - and I'm all for his courage if not his message.
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