filkertom: (okaytobetakei)
filkertom ([personal profile] filkertom) wrote2011-11-04 03:44 pm

That's All I Came Here For -- I've Already Got The Pajamas

I love my home state of Michigan. By and large, it's a lovely place. But our political system -- city, county, and state -- has gone down the effing tubes.

Brand-spankin'-new law. Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't word it that way. Basically, it's a law with the ostensible purpose of providing more tangible protections against bullies and bullying. Y'know, like kids being beaten up by other kids.

Thing is, it's got loopholes.
The law includes a section noting it doesn't abridge First Amendment free speech rights or prohibit expression of religious or moral viewpoints — a provision Democrats fear could be used to justify harassment of gay, lesbian or transgender students.
It's worth it to follow some of the other links, including Joe My God and the straightforward Detroit News story.

Here's the thing: THERE ARE NO EXCUSES, EVER, FOR BULLYING.

You're worried about infringing on the rights of someone who is trying to harass, intimidate, threaten, and possibly physically harm someone? Fuck you. The old "your right to throw a punch ends at the tip of my nose" bit.

You say that there should be an exemption for those expressing their religious beliefs? Fuck you. We can play that game. Someone's First Amendment right to bully Someone Else because their faith "demands" it is cancelled out by Someone Else's First Amendment right protecting them from the government supporting any specific religion. Not to mention, y'know, the laws against assault. Oh, and, let's look at the tax status of any religion that says Thou Shalt Beat People Up Because They Make Us Feel All Squicky.

This is not merely a bad law, it's an asinine law. It literally provides a blueprint for how to get out of an accusation of bullying -- I Was Expressing My First Amendment Rights.

It's yet another of many, many examples of just how screwed up the people in charge really are.

I'm nowhere near ready to leave Michigan yet. But this pushes me one step closer.

Fuckers.

[identity profile] gardnerhill.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
To this day (30+ years since high school) I don't dare go to a reunion. I couldn't be civil with most of those people. "Oh, hi! How are you doing? Bet you have no idea how often I fantasized about riding my bike over your faces because of the shit you put me through. And largely because of you and all your super-special bestest friends, I cheer every time I watch the prom scene in Carrie."

Also to this day? When I hear about a school shooting, my very very first thought is never "Oh how horrible, what a tragedy," but "How long did the other kids bully and abuse that kid while the adults looked the other way?"

[identity profile] realinterrobang.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
Oh hell yes. This. 1000x this. To this day (and I'm nearer 40 than 30 these days), I still think of Carrie as a "feel-good" book. :)