Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Look at me, Damien! It's all for you.

At first I was a little torn by this story involving a Fifth Grader who was suspended for failing to remove his anti-Obama t-shirt at the school's instructions. I believe very strongly in the First Amendment, even if it's being abused.

But what becomes clear after reading more on this is that the boy's father Dann Dalton is a Grade-A prick.


Dalton was among a group of anti-abortion protesters who marched through an Arapahoe County neighborhood to protest a Planned Parenthood doctor in July 2000, according to a Colorado Springs Gazette story. The protest came in response to a law passed that week by the Arapahoe County Commission that banned “targeted picketing” outside the physician’s home. The picketers, led by Bob Enyart, had been gathering at least once a month in the doctor’s cul-de-sac.

Mr. Dalton argues that this is simply a First Amendment issue with his son Daxx's constitutional rights being violated by the district. The district argues that the rules are in place to keep the focus on *gasp* school by disallowing any sort of speech or behavior that would be disruptive.

Considering Mr. Dalton's own history of lunacy I don't see how the t-shirt can be anything else than an attempt by Dalton to use his son to disrupt the school. His efforts to try and hide behind his son as well as the constitution ring hollow in this instance. He's yelling fire in a crowded theater and then whining when the theater throws him out.

12 comments:

ladybug said...

His efforts to try and hid behind his son as well as the constitution ring hollow in this instance. He's yelling fire in a crowded theater and then whining when the theater throws him out.

Pretty much yea....

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

Just goes to show you that not all people should be allowed to raise their own kids.

DivaJood said...

You mean, you can't yell fire when there isn't one?

mwb said...

"...an attempt by Dalton to use his son to disrupt the school."

Which normally I'm in favor of, but at a certain point schools have a specific function and there are limits to what is acceptable when it interferes with them.

Randal Graves said...

You lefties are so intolerant! Rush was right!

I think what Mr. Dalton doesn't realize (thank you dean for NOT posting a picture of The Most Ass-Kickingest Movie Character Ever) is that wearing an anti-McCain shirt would have resulted in the same thing.

Hopefully the kid will find some good sense later in life once he's out of the shadow of this wingnut Jesus head, but I doubt it.

Don Snabulus said...

If the kid had worn a t-shirt that said, "McCain is the terrorist's best friend," he would likely have been suspended without the option to change shirts.

When it is applied fairly towards other viewpoints, I will defend his right to state his repugnant opinion. Until then, let him be stripped of his rights like the rest of us.

okjimm said...

Hold it.... I get confused... there was a fire at the school and the doctor was protesting hand made t-shirts.....

and then
'McCain is the terrorist's best friend'.......... but McCain doesn't have friends, does he? I thought he just hung-out with lipstick wearing, hockey playing pit-bulls?

I need a beer.

Ubermilf said...

While not ignoring the very important message of this post, a certain element raises another, additional question for me:

Does this family have to add additional consonants to the end of their names to feel important? "Dan" is not good enough, he has to be "Dann?" And, if ONE added consonant is good, TWO is even better; especially when placed on the end of an imaginary name like Dax(xx)!

I protest to the right's co-opting odd baby naming conventions from the hippies.

okjimm said...

Wait a minute....

// additional consonants to the end of their names to feel important? //

Waz wrong wid two consonants?

Ubermilf said...

See, I think of you as less ADDING a consonant, as REMOVING the -y. Because you are strong and confident.

Dean Wormer said...

ladybug-

yup.

dr. monkey-

Or breed in the first place.

diva-

You can yell "fire" if there isn't one if you're in charge of a firing squad.

mwb-

Which normally I'm in favor of, but at a certain point schools have a specific function...

Wait, don't tell me. Breaking down our self esteem?

randal-

Hopefully the kid will find some good sense later in life once he's out of the shadow of this wingnut Jesus head, but I doubt it.

Let's hope so. You do tend to rebel. I was actually a Republican for a while after I turned 18. But I got better.

don-

Patriot act the little shit off to guantanimo.

ubermilfff-

Ha! They are consonant happy in that family.

okjimm-

Man, that's uncomfortable. But ubermilfff had right response in my opinion. You're just confident is all.

mwb said...

Dean asked "Wait, don't tell me. Breaking down our self esteem?"

Nah, that's just the delightful bonus on the way to mindless conformity!