High court takes 'Bong Hits for Jesus' case

[rockouthippie]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court entered into a free-speech dispute Friday involving a high school student suspended over a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner.

The justices accepted an appeal from a school board in Juneau, Alaska, after a federal appeals court allowed a lawsuit by the family of Joseph Frederick to proceed.

Frederick was suspended in 2002 after he unfurled the 14-foot-long banner -- a reference to marijuana use -- just outside school grounds as the Olympic torch relay moved through the Alaskan capital headed for the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"Bong," as noted in the appeal filed with the justices, "is a slang term for drug paraphernalia."

Even though Frederick was standing on a public sidewalk, school officials argue that he and other students were participating in a school-sponsored event. They had been let out of classes and were accompanied by their teachers.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/01/scotus.bonghits/index.html

I'm so gratified to see the countries highest court doing such important things :rolleyes:

[MegaRock]

If he whipped out a bong it would be one thing but isn't this free speech?

oh.. and BONG!

[skryingbreath]

I guess I'm fucked if I wear my Billabong-brand T-shirt anywhere.

[Mattress]

In south east wisconsin there is a park called "Bong Recreation Area" there is a giant sign on the side of the expressway (http://images.google.com/images?q=bong%20recreation%20area).

[mikm]

When I was in 6th grade, we had some grade-wide event there. Needless to say, there were endless jokes. On a related note, it's damn shame that it doesn't have another exit number.
Originally posted by MegaRock
oh.. and BONG!

[rockouthippie]

Originally posted by Mattress
In south east wisconsin there is a park called "Bong Recreation Area" there is a giant sign on the side of the expressway (http://images.google.com/images?q=bong%20recreation%20area).

What I think is even more remarkable is that no one stole the sign.

This one went missing a lot.

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=YBj&q=american+nazi+party+oregon&btnG=Search

[Mattress]

that sign is about as large as a truck. I imagine it'd be quite hard to steal.

[MegaRock]

Yeah, it was kinda like this one:
http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/031201kkksign.jpg

It's now called the Rosa Parks Highway.

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/r/R/ashcroft_bong.jpg

[rockouthippie]

Originally posted by Mattress
that sign is about as large as a truck. I imagine it'd be quite hard to steal.

You'd be surprised how fast a couple of guys and a pickup can make off with a road sign :rolleyes:

I've heard that .... well maybe if you needed some sheet metal for a floor pan for your dune buggy that road signs are a cheap alternative.....

Of course, I'm not sure about the karma of driving a dune buggy that says "State Police Next Exit" on the bottom.

/me checks statue of limitation

[Mattress]

You'd have to strap it to the roof of your pickup and it'd probably be a bit wider. I'm not saying it's impossible, just not practical and where would you display it? It'd be difficult to get it inside your frat house.

[rockouthippie]

Cops weren't quite the same 25 years ago. A stolen road sign probably wouldn't have confronted them enough to bust you for it unless you were caught in the act.

They were a lot busier with real criminals. I remember my neighbor Bob. Bob sold weed. The sheriff went to the door and asked Bob to stop.... nicely.....

Bob wasn't that smart, so he ended up down at the county jail.

I was outside working on a bike when he got busted. They sent one cop who said

"Hey Bob!. You're under arrest. Get in the car."

Bob sold some stuff to a narc the night before, but the cops were tired and left arresting him until the next day. Bob got 30 days and was invited to leave the county.

I'd hate to be 19 years old in 2006. I probably would have ended up in jail until I was 25, if only for a road sign. Today, someone would spend a billion to investigate a $200 road sign. They'd probably form a "Road Sign Task Force" and get the tank out.

I'm sure seeing a lot of kids these days getting really hammered by the courts for "kids stuff".

The idea of "No dent, no foul" has long past.