Victory for Free Speech

A couple arrested at a rally after refusing to cover T-shirts that bore anti-President Bush slogans settled their lawsuit against the federal government for $80,000, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.

Nicole and Jeffery Rank of Corpus Christi, Texas, were handcuffed and removed from the July 4, 2004, rally at the state Capitol, where Bush gave a speech. A judge dismissed trespassing charges against them, and an order closing the case was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Charleston.

Now if only we can win the right for our children to attend public schools in regular school clothes instead of dressed like clones in uniforms.

AFA Versus Two & A Half Men

Apparently the AFA has no sense of humor, they are offended over Sheen's alternate lyrics sung to the the tune of "Joy to the World". According to the AFA he is bashing Christ, Christmas and Christians. Hmmmmmmmmmm could it be the AFA is a tad oversensitive?

To me this is much ado about nothing. If you don't appreciate Sheen's sense of humor, then don't watch the show. It's a comedy after all, you are suppose to find it amusing. Parody's of popular songs are nothing new. For example "Away with a Stranger" by Gary Main is a parody of "Away in a Manger" click here to read the alternate lyrics. Or He Fooled The World (another parody of Joy to the World) also by Gary Main If you like parodies visit Am I Right for more parodies. Warning if you are with the AFA you will find tads of material to be offended by.

This is the definition of parody

parody
n 1: a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way [syn: lampoon, spoof, sendup, mockery, takeoff,burlesque, travesty, charade, pasquinade, put-on]

2: humorous or satirical mimicry [syn: mockery, takeoff]

v 1: make a spoof of; make fun of [syn: spoof]

2: make a parody of; "The students spoofed the teachers" [syn:spoof, burlesque]

Apparently the AFA finds a lot to be offended by this time of the year. They are still in a snit because stores are selling Holiday Trees, Having Holiday Sales, and wishing their customers Happy Holidays. Exactly how this hurts them or offends them is beyond me. If they want people to take them seriously maybe they shouldn't be offended so easily.

In the meantime lets try to have some Peace On Earth for the holiday season.

News & Views

This Is So Sad

After pledging to improve his falling grades, Shane Halligan ate breakfast with his family, went off to school, and took his own life. The 11th-grader was an Eagle scout and volunteer firefighter who planned a career in the military. But the poor grades he brought home on his report card Monday led his parents to warn him to focus on school."The picture that's emerging is he was despondent over (the fact) his grades are down, his parents are taking appropriate steps to limit extracurricular activities to get the grades up, and he saw the things that he felt were important in his life being taken from him," Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor said.

My heart goes out to his parents.

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VA Teacher Suspended Over His Art (?) Career

Murmer, a popular high school art teacher, was suspended after objections were raised about his private abstract artwork, much of which includes smearing his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas. Murmer contacted the American Civil Liberties Union on Friday, saying school administrators had suspended him with pay for five days because of his work as a painter and that he could face further punishment, ACLU legal director Rebecca Glenberg said. At Monacan High, where the mere mention of Murmer's name was enough to elicit grins from students Tuesday. Most supported their teacher, describing his suspension as "stupid" and "ignorant." Owning a piece of Murmer's art doesn't come cheap. On his Web site, his creations run upward of $900. His most popular piece, "Tulip Butts," goes for $600.

It amazes me what people consider "art" and what they are willing to pay for it.

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Parents Scared To Send Kids To Public School

"People are scared to educate their children in Moss Point schools. " Margaret Lett came to the meeting for answers to questions the PTO had previously asked the board in closed session. She invited Hill to come to the PTO meeting and see what the group is doing to improve the schools. "We want positive things to happen to Moss Point," she said. "The children are really basically good," she said. After the meeting, Lett pointed out that Moss Point schools have the lowest rates of violence and drugs of any school on the Coast.

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Parents Worried About New School Zones For Ocean Springs

Several parents who attended the public meeting voiced concerns about the redistricting proposal. Sonya Ramsey said the plan could cause her child, who attends Magnolia Park Elementary, to be transferred to another school further away. "My child would be bused an additional 20 to 30 minutes to Pecan Park," she said.