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So what do you guys think of the new legislation passed in Michigan ?

My opinion was very firm on the subject until I saw this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRAtDvUm ... h_response

Yet, no matter how much I get my head around what this guy says, how is this not a get-out-of-jail-free card for kids who commit abuse by saying "this kid is a fag, I had to assault him because Jesus told me so" ?

Even then, it's a little more screwed up when there is after all, a clause in the legislation that basically says motives are irrelevant and that abuse won't be tolerated by the law, yet there is an exemption that extends to religion and morality which, in my opinion, could very well rule out verbal abuse as bullying.

Got any opinions on this ?

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pretty sure that kid should get something, jesus doesn't want you to hate "fags", he just wants you to spread the wrath- er, faith, of christianity through peaceful means.


also, this is my personal opinion here, people shouldn't take bullies too personally, no matter how far they go. bullies are just afraid of being bullied themselves, so if you've got nothing to worry about, you're already one step above them

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Because it isn't. There is a difference between some asshole kid expressing his asshole beliefs, and some asshole kid physically assaulting someone. You can't assault anyone. And I think what it comes down to is what the child in question said, and how they said it. Should a child be disciplined for saying "I think homosexuality is a sin"? Is that the same thing as some kid saying "I'm going to kick your ass because you're a fag"? I think this is something that would have to be dealt with on a case by case basis.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

agreed. Whether you disagree or agree... the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, for good and bad

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@RealSlimCAvery

I was going to reply to this yesterday, but my computer betrayed me

I looked more thoroughly at the wording of the legislation, I can't quote the text right now because I am at one of the computers at my university and they have blocked the Youtube video where I found the link for the wording of the website. Also I'm lazy, give me a break !

Anyways, once you look at the wording more clearly, it doesn't seem like it's really allowing abuse by religious or morally-inspired motives, it's just saying, as it is written, that statements of religious or moral quality, are protected by the first ammendment. I can't really say I find anything wrong with the wording of the law.

But that begs the question, how does the legislation protect against some kid saying to the other "You're going to hell because you're gay", I mean, after all, it's still his opinion.

That said, I'm still on the fence, why the emotional response from Senator Whitmer ? Why did the bill receive zero democrat votes ? Why is the father also denouncing this law ? Is this just a misunderstanding of the legislation ? Is this just mass hysteria ?

I would bet for misunderstanding, after all, that questionable paragraph was introduced (apparently) at "the last minute", and some people might be inclined to think there was an agenda involved.

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I think a school could still discipline the kid by arguing that he was harassing another student. I'm sure there would be some way around it. I don't think it's like some kid tells a principle that someone made fun of him for being gay, and the principle says "well, he says it's against his religious beliefs, so sorry, my hands are tied". Rather, I think it's more a case of some kid expressing his or her beliefs in a certain situation. For example, suppose a class is discussing gay rights, or gay marriage. One students expresses the belief that gays should not be allowed to marry. What this legislation means is that this student would not be reprimanded for saying that.



I think it's people jumping to the worst case scenario without really thinking it through. It's all about free speech. As Dr. Brooklyn says



You don't have to agree with someone's opinion, but they have the right to express their opinion, just as you have the right to express yours.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

Exactly, it's the same thing that allows us to have Gay Rights marches as well as the Wesborot Baptist "church"

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@RealSlimCAvery

But still, bullying is bullying regardless of the reason for your actions. This law needs to be rewritten, the First Amendment already protects people for what they say, not what they do.

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