The principal of the kids' school probably should have handled it differently.
I don't see this message the kid tweeted as hate speech or even fighting words. If a Governor can't handle a little heat from a kid with a smartphone, than what the hell is he doing in higher office representing a state? What a baby. And if those are fighting words, then yes, I am a hater.
Part of the Democratic process is to vote for people who represent our interests. Thankfully we even had a kid involved in that program at this age. She will likely grow up to be a voter and involved in the process! When I was in that program, I landed a handy dandy internship with a US Senator that lasted into college. I liked him at first and then didn't, and even though I found that I disagreed with everything he did, I got much out of the internship. Then I changed parties. I learned alot from the process and what I like and respect out of my elected officials.
Mutual respect is important. If she had actually said you suck to his face, that would have been rude, and I can see how that might escalate. If that had happened, the principal of the school would have been within his rights to discipline her. She didn't call him a Nazi or homophobe or a wife beater, did she? No. She kept her mouth shut and basically shared a joke with friends. Most of us would never have heard this story if the Gov's office wasn't trolling for negative stories on the internet!
Clearly, we won't agree on how this was handled. Glad the Gov's office backpedaled.
Wow, if that's hate speech then I've hated a lot of people. Hell, I've even said that to my parents People are way too sensitive if they've got their underwear in a bunch over "You suck."
Is that really hate speech? If it is, we are all in a lot of trouble.
Actually, if she had made those comments to the face of another person whether governor or not, the words would be "fighting words". In many states, "fighting words" is a sufficient basis to justify a physical response. Yes, it's hate speech telling someone you suck to his or her face.
I gotta stand on the side of free speech (or free tweet) on this one. She was not anyone of particular importance, just a teenager tweeting her friends. The governors office monitoring kids tweets, and trying to get them disciplined if they don't like them? That is just way, way too creepy. As much as I tell my kids to be careful what you do in the public realm, this is not acceptable. What are we, Iran? Good for the governor, apologizing.
She didn't talk to the Governor. This was a message in a tweet.
Pretty much all of us would have some explaining to do about the stuff we say to each other - which is the same type of audience that this girl was in - her group of twitter friends.
The point is that she was on a field trip, which makes it not cool. Yet, I don't think what she said was horrible.
The message read:
"Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot."
Is that really hate speech? If it is, we are all in a lot of trouble. It's like Taylor Swift doing hate speech, which is pretty dang innocuous.
The school was right to tell her that her behavior was wrong. It is never right to tell a politician he sucks to his face just as it wouldn't be right to say that to a fellow classmate. The school would be right to tell her she should apologize since that is what you do when you make a mistake. It would be wrong for the school to take disciplinary action against her since even hate speech is protected speech.
I question how truthful is the girl. She said she didn't actually make the statement to the governor but later in the article she says "I would do it again." It's not clear what "it" is but it seemed like she was defending her right to speak out against the governor.
I agree with that (there's no such thing as an inside joke anymore), but I also don't think people should censor themselves (obviously, you shouldn't threaten anyone, but this wasn't a threat).
The governor apologized to her on behalf of his office. Good for him! I applaud any politician who can admit that he/she or his/her staff made a mistake.
-- Edited by romanigypsyeyes on Monday 28th of November 2011 10:29:14 AM
The Shawnee Mission East senior was taking part in a Youth in Government program last week in Topeka, Kan., when she sent out a tweet from the back of a crowd of students listening to Brownback's greeting. From her cellphone, she thumbed: "Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot."
She actually made no such comment and said she was "just joking with friends." But Brownback's office, which monitors social media for postings containing the governor's name, saw Sullivan's post and contacted the Youth in Government program.
Sullivan received a scolding at school and was ordered to send Brownback an apology letter. She said Prinicipal Karl R. Krawitz even suggested talking points for the letter she was supposed to turn in Monday.
The principal is making her apologize, in a hand-written letter, for saying something against the governor? What am I missing here?
And what kind of governor monitors everything with his name and contacts a school because a student said something about him? Does his administration have nothing better to do with their time? What a waste of money, time, and effort.
