(August 28, 2011 at 4:12 pm)Gawdzilla Wrote: Were public funds (school employees' labor) used to paint the quotes?

I'll look into it but since they are just stickers (I could tell upon careful observation) it doubt they would be hard to remove or have any real money value. I would assume that they were paid for with public funds but I seriously doubt it dug into the budget.
Again, I'll do what I have to but I still worry of how I might be treated for the rest of my highschool carreer if I were to speak out.

Quote:Again, I'll do what I have to but I still worry of how I might be treated for the rest of my highschool carreer if I were to speak out.

I doubt that they'll burn you at the stake..... although I'm sure there is a sizeble percentage of the followers of the prince of peace who would do just that if they could.

The thing you need to understand before you open your mouth is that you are dealing with a bunch of bigoted fucks who couldn't stand jesus himself if he showed up in your town mouthing that liberal, hippie, socialist shit that the gospel writers put in his mouth.

"Jesus" couldn't get elected dog-catcher in most of Texas....and they'd sure as shit run his long-haired ass out of their churches.



This is what they want.

(August 28, 2011 at 3:03 pm)Skepsis Wrote: Make my own signs? I am a little worried that that course of action will land me in detention or in school suspension. Tomorrow when I get back to school I will take some pics of these quotes and send them and my interpretation, which is that they are promoting Christianity over other religions and nonreligion in a public high school.
I didn't really know that the ACLU was a source to go to for this kind of thing. I'll ask for their opinion before I take any action to avoid trouble.

You're missing the point. If you get detention or a suspension for trying to express equally what your religious schoolmates/teachers are allowed to express - that makes your case! Regardless of who posted the signs, if the school punishes your for posting your own ideas (as long as they don't promote unlawful behavior) while letting others post their own ideas without reprisal --- you win.

I say, if you're going to do it, than do it right. Post your sign, get your suspension and make a stand. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut and get through your four years of high school without bugging us about it.

I highly doubt it would cause me any physical harm but it would likely be social suicide and I would get to see who my true friends are and those that just say the're my friend.
Texas is quite the shit heap in the more conservative areas, which is where I happen to live. I hate to generalize but that seems to be the truth for the most part.
It is really not the worry of physical harm, as you pointed out that if they would if they could, but instead the worry of ostracism that I may suffer.
I don't perceive myself as a coward, I just don't see the need to make others who have no idea what their position is and what they think of it classify me as an enemy and therefore a waste of time. There are even teachers that would do this, making my grades an object of my personal nonbelief.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyath...the-story/

Just remember what's happened to her. If you don't think you're up for that, I say grin and bear it.

I'm linking it from the Friendly Atheist site because he has many posts about students (he's a teacher himself) and is an accessible and...well...incredibly friendly guy!

(August 28, 2011 at 6:55 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: Just remember what's happened to her. If you don't think you're up for that, I say grin and bear it.

I'll keep that in mind. If I find the resolve in me to speak out, I will, though it is likely I might have these things happen to me.
I am going to dread this. My dad, who doesn't really support activism, tell me "Don't sweat the small stuff."
I answer that this is a breach of the constitution, and that is not a small issue, which I then compare to inhibiting someone's right to bear arms.
He generally concedes the argument but reiterates that I should 'bear and grin it'. I can't see myself being passive, but I don't have the nature of a martyr.

Thanks all, I'll work this out on my own from here, just needed your advice.

(August 28, 2011 at 6:55 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: Just remember what's happened to her. If you don't think you're up for that, I say grin and bear it.

Agreed, if you're not willing to sacrifice it all - don't bother. It's a difficult road.

My point, is that if you ARE going to do it ... do it right and come at them with a solid, legitimate case.

(August 28, 2011 at 7:08 pm)Skepsis Wrote: I'll keep that in mind. If I find the resolve in me to speak out, I will, though it is likely I might have these things happen to me.
I am going to dread this. My dad, who doesn't really support activism, tell me "Don't sweat the small stuff."
I answer that this is a breach of the constitution, and that is not a small issue, which I then compare to inhibiting someone's right to bear arms.
He generally concedes the argument but reiterates that I should 'bear and grin it'. I can't see myself being passive, but I don't have the nature of a martyr.

When I was in high school, I would have agreed with you. My mother pulled a few things over what she perceived as "injustices" just because we were Jews. In hindsight, she was right...but she also wasn't. There are always many sides to consider.

Here's something I'd take into account: are they pointing to the posters and using them as aids to teach or encouraging you to follow them? If not, I'd treat them like the stupid posters they had around our school saying "You're one of us!" (We were Stonewall Jackson High - "The Wall" - Enter many jokes about not being "just another brick in the wall". Fuck I hated that place.)

(August 28, 2011 at 7:14 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: Here's something I'd take into account: are they pointing to the posters and using them as aids to teach or encouraging you to follow them? If not, I'd treat them like the stupid posters they had around our school saying "You're one of us!" (We were Stonewall Jackson High - "The Wall" - Enter many jokes about not being "just another brick in the wall". Fuck I hated that place.)

They are more or less just there, no referances or encouragement. Kids talk about them sometimes, more or less in the sense of "Look! even the school believes in Jesus!" ...but not that enthusiastically.
I'll make a request to have the specific quotes that are infringing into constitutioinal rights removed, but if they say no I probobly won't make it into a big deal.
If it gets more heated in the future, I suppose I might take it further, but now it is mainly a thorn in my side, similar to "one nation, under God" and the "moment of silence".
Pink Floyd FTW, by the way.

The very nature of a sign, any sign, is to convey a message. Whether or not the large majority adhere to that sign is irrelevant. Case in point, Cigarette advertisements being placed nears schools is illegal. Why? because signs have power, even if the majority of the kids don't grow up wanting to be Camel Joe, there's a small percentage of those who do.

Make no doubt about it - Those religious signs are placed there for a reason and whoever put them there wants to send a message however subtle to those who would consider it. And this is my whole point, if the sign wasn't important and everyone knew that it was just words on a wall, than you should have no fear of putting another sign on the wall that says, "Jews suck and niggers are lazy". Offensive right? So is that bull shit religion.

You see, signs matter.



That being said, there are often big sacrifices with starting big wars and I'd advise that you consider all your options.