"Bong hits 4 Jesus."

 

Eighteen-year-old Joseph Frederick sued his school and principal for violating his right to "freedom of speech" after Principal Deb Morse confiscated a banner the teen had displayed across the street from his high school that read just that.

 

Although the content may be offensive to many, was it offensive enough to justify Frederick being suspended from school for 10 days? Is this truly a violation of freedom of speech?

 

Freedom of speech. One of the most fundamental rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens by our Constitution.The right to say what you want without fear of government censorship. But how far exactly should freedom of speech extend?

 

For instance, if someone threatens the President, even in passing or in a joke, they can face criminal charges. The CIA may keep track of such people for years, even collecting files on them without their knowledge. Is that freedom of speech?

 

Fair or not fair?

 

Is it fair for students to be able to say whatever they want to at school? Our school handbook outlaws cursing and showing disrespect to teachers: fair? If a teacher is derogative or just plain bad-tempered towards you, should you be forced to put up with it? Does it violate freedom of speech to /not/ be allowed to defend yourself against such things?

 

Most parents limit the amount of 'free speech' their children have. Is that fair? Not fair? Somewhat fair?

 

In short, how much freedom of speech do teenagers actually posses?

 

Back to the Frederick case mentioned above: While authorities said that the sign was a reference advocating illegal drug use, the teen argued that it was a phrase found on a popular brand of snowboard. Frederick, and the friends that helped him make the sign, stated that the content was no where near as important to them as the act of advocating their right to free speech was.

 

What does Wanna have to say?

 

Teenagers are ignorant. The Constitution defends your rights, but nowhere in there does it give the right to do whatever the heck you want. If it did, our society would fall into anarchy and utter chaos.

 

It is important that as current citizens--and future voters--that teens educate themselves about the protections and limitations afforded to them by the Bill of Rights.

 

As if most teens even really know what that is.

 

Anyway, on to the rest of my rant. Freedom of speech is not a cover-all when you screw up and say the wrong thing. It is not an excuse to talk any which way to authority figures around you. It is not an ample reason to display any sort of banner you wish in any sort of place you wish. Frederick, you are an idiot.

 

Freedom of speech is not a CYA situation. Instead, think of it as a protection against the government, not against parents and teachers, or even society in general.

 

Consider for a moment Nazi Germany. With Hitler's Secret Police running around undetected, people had no right to express political ideas or opinions that went against the dictators own. They had no right to disagree, no right to say "hey, I don't like this, let's change it."

 

Consider now America today. We have the right to say "BUSH SUCKS!" if we wish. We can disagree with anything our government does; and even further than disagreeing, we are allowed to **change** it. That is, in essence, the definition of freedom of speech--respectfully stating your opinion without fear of reprecussions.

 

I read in an anonymous online essay regarding freedom of press--close kin to the freedom of speech topic I'm beating over the head--that, "Where man can not freely convey their thoughts to one another, no freedom is secure." I agree entirely. We, as human beings, have the **natural born right** to convey our emotions, opinions, and thoughts, regardless of whether they match those of others.

 

So how does this affect us, as students, as teenagers, as children (whether we like to admit it or not)?

 

In my sincerest opinion, it is perfectly fair for students to excercise their freedom of speech at any time, anywhere, to anyone, as long as it is done respectfully. Allow me to repeat myself: any time, anywhere, to anyone, as long as it is done respectfully.

 

Respect is the key to freedom of speech. "Expressing differences in opinion" is not synonomous to "incredibly heated debate and/or argument." It is not namecalling, not buckpassing. It is expressing your opinion in an objective manner.

 

So what's the final word? Say what you want to say. Just be careful how you say it.