*suicide/ abuse *Anti-gay bullying RE: Gay teen defends suspended teacher
 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theloo...pended-teacher

I watched the video attached to the article. I am amazed by the eloquence of the young person. While I did not participate in spirit day, I do identify with the themes that were being drawn between Dr. King's human rights rallies and the legacy of racism.

While racial predjudice and anti-gay sentiments seem opposed on some levels, no one has the right to create an environment where another person feels unsafe.

I am unclear how wearing a Confederate flag is free speech if everyone in that area knows what it meant. I am unsure if people are also allowed to wear swastikas, or any other symbols of hate then.

Free speech is often taken to obscene levels of liberty, but despite my personal views, I am pleased to see that the teacher made such an impact on a student's life- by making him feel it was worth saving.

This whole thing confuses me.

how so Buttons?

im confused as to why this teacher was suspended? because they asked someone to remove a belt buckle? i don't get that

Swastikas aren't illegal - but schools and work places can use a dress code that can keep some things like swastikas out. The confederate flag is a meme for southern culture, and used in the flags/symbols of some states so its not the same kind of symbol as a swastika even if some people are offended by it.

Do not understand.

I think that the teacher overreacted a bit, but that it is not a reason to suspend him.
Wouldn't it make a lot more sense if the principal had a talk with the teacher, tell him that it he overreacted and shouldn't do it again.
Then the teacher have a talk with the class and explain why he reacted that way.

It is illegal to wear/show swastikas in Germany (for obvious reasons).
Usually teachers don't just tell someone to remove it immidiately, but they ask the student not to wear/show it again and they explain that it is illegal and why it is that way.

It is not illegal to wear a Confederate flag in that area, but I think it has a similar populatity like the swastika in Germany.

I'm confused.

What is everyone so confused about?
A teacher has been suspended after asking a girl to remove a belt buckle with the confederate flag on it and stopping an anti-gay conversation.

Perhaps I'm odd, but living in Ann Arbor (where Graeme is from), even we know that Howell and its surrounding areas has a good-sized KKK presence. While a confederate flag might be okay in an area without a well-known KKK presence, it seems far less appropriate in this situation.

The school has a list of "inappropriate" or distracting clothing and the confederate flag isn't on it. It sounds like the teacher was acting on his own opinions. When he told the girl to take off her belt, he was wearing a purple shirt to show support for a homosexual cause. Another kid asked him why he could dress in a political way while making a girl take off her belt. The teacher sent that kid out of class. To make the situation even wackier the boy in the video says 6 million gays a year are committing suicide which is preposterous.

You're right that the flag could be a meme for the south, but I think even most southerners view the flag as a symbol of the Confederate South and all it supported. Displaying the confederate flag is never about "pride for living in the south". There's no such thing. Not to be a bigot, but I only see rednecks displaying the confederate flag.

Basically, homosexuality isn't associated with hate; the confederate flag is.

I know that the school probably took action to avoid being sued.

At the end of the day, education/ school policy will dictate how this is handled. It probably would be handled internally, except for the kid's sppech. I don't know a lot of 14 year olds that can put it down like that even if his facts weren't all accurate. He shared something that many of us on this very board are ashamed or afraid to admit in public in terms of committing suicide. Then he is also a teenager who is gay. In the South, where people are strongly religious and intolerant of homosexuality. In the land of the KKK- I don't know if he is actually safe now- as won't get death threats.

Maybe I am stereotyping but I think if you don't stick up for what you believe to be right in school or in the microcosm of your workplace- you are never going to stick up for anything.

We're from the north, actually, bordering Canada, but still..
Ann Arbor is a very accepting town. It isn't like the majority of Michigan, though.. as evidenced by the KKK presence and the NSM (ie the Neo-Nazis) headquarters being in Detroit.

Not sure about the whole thing to be honest...but I think that kid has a lot of courage and his speech was very eloquently put for a 14 year old.

im still confused tbh about why the school went to the length of suspending the member of staff, seems a huge reaction to not a lot tbh but then i wasnt there ect

Oh. Yeah. That confuses me too. I thought you meant something about the article itself was confusing, haha.

noo i understand what happened just nooo idea why!

this. Most of the people who wear the "rebel" flag have no clue what it means.