Heather Lawrence, a 16-year-old from Spring Hill, FL, may want to rethink what it means to be a patriotic American.
A junior ROTC member who wants to enlist in the Army next Summer, Lawrence was recently suspended for chastising a fellow student in the halls who was wearing a hijab, saying, “Take that thing off your head and act like you're proud to be an American." She first took offense at the girl when she noticed that she didn’t stand for the pledge of allegiance. Lawrence's parents, outraged that she was suspended for five days, are thinking of taking legal action. (The girl Lawrence confronted didn't complain, but a teacher overheard the remarks and reported her.)
Lawrence’s parents say that it’s Heather’s First Amendment right to “speak her mind,” but Springstead High’s principal sees Heather’s behavior as a of violation the district’s policy against bullying and harassment. According to a school staffer who asked Lawrence why she confronted the student, her harassment seemed to have a prejudicial tinge. "She began to rant,” said the staffer, “that she was enlisting and was going to Iraq and that basically because the girl looks Middle Eastern, that makes her an enemy because all Iraqis are Middle Eastern."
We’ve talked before about how Muslim women wearing hijabs seems to set a lot of people off. As for having to say the pledge of allegiance, last year the US Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a provision in Florida law mandating that people must stand for the pledge.
What do you think of Lawrence’s treatment of the hijab-wearing Muslim-American and her subsequent suspension? When does patriotism go too far?
Bertie
Pringle
Lipsy
i'm glad the teacher overheard and reported her, if only because the poor girl who was wearing the hijab was an innocent bystander who randomly recieved an attack, and didn't attempt to defend herself (by the sounds of it)
1It's hardly patriotic to chide someone for wearing a hijab. This person should be suspended, and they should learn a lesson or two - which is the whole point.
Hating on Muslims is the height of a-hole American behavior.
2While I'm glad that the teacher reported her, I don't know if this is really the best way to deal with the situation. They should have her write a paper on the hijab and what it actually means and stands for. So she would learn to respect it and not feel like she was attacked for speaking her mind (even though it was clearly rude.)
3I would be so with the teacher if my child was caught saying things like that. Then again, i'm not sure my child would ever say something like that because at worst, i'd at least teach my daughter to be polite. It's disgusting that that girl said that, and I'm glad she got in trouble for it, because it's TOTALLY not cool to say that to anyone.
4If the girl had no problem, I don't see it as the teacher's responsibility to turn it in. It's only offensive if someone is offended by it. It's all how you take it.
5Chastising is not bullying - tone of voice is VERY different. The young lady in question is very proud to be an American and plans to join the armed forces. She is entitled to her opinion - part of being an AMERICAN. We don't have to agree with her but to punish her for giving her opinion and telling the teacher why she felt that way is not wrong. Of course the "staffer" called it a "rant" - everyone wants to make themself look good.
6I'm really just not in the mood for anonymous comments today that are thinly veiled racism.
7teacher shouldn't have reported it necessarily, and could have discussed the incident with both students separately and together. however, I don't think bullying is a First Amendment right. plus, American pride and bigotry/ignorance are not the same thing.
8Hahah the part where the parents said the daughter had the right to free speech reminded me of something I read in an article by Rob Thomas the other day:
"Isn't it funny that the people who are the quickest to take someone's basic rights to happiness are always the loudest to scream when someone attacks their right to do so?"
(article is here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-thomas/the-big-gay-chip-on-my-sh_b_208...)
Kudos to the school for suspending the girl.
9Roaring, I LOVED that article when I read that!
10So true Roaring! Don't attack someone else's freedom of expression and get mad when someone else attacks your freedom of expression
11@5 - some people dont speak out when they are bullied. that doesnt make it okay!
12Racism is not patriotism, using the terms interchangeably is horribly misleading. This is a case of blatant racism, which has no place in a school. Loving America and hating everyone else are very different things. I would have expelled the little b*tch.
13I think that what this girl did was wrong. The school did not violate her rights what so ever, its true that she has the freedom of speech but I think that when you are in school property your freedoms change(I'm not sure, the dean of my previous school told this to a guy who was saying racist thing to me.) One thing is freedom of speech and an other is racism and harassment
14I'm happy the girl was punished for her behavior. The school is acting appropriately. Behaving like a racist and a bully should not be tolerated in any circumstances, much less at school. I am positive that the Army would completely disagree with this girl's "patriotic" views. The beauty of this country is in its diversity and tolerance. It is unrivaled. Appreciating the diversity of this country and being tolerant of one another is the true meaning of being a patriotic American.
15Another blatant example of ignorance and racism. If only people took the time to understand those who look outwardly different from them, then they would find out that we're all more similar than we seem.
16Love that Huffpo blog, Roaring!
17Of course what she said was ignorant ridiculous. I also believe the school was well within its rights to suspend her (or dole out whatever punishment they saw fit.) Toty, you're right, your rights are different when you're in a school. She shouldn't be legally punished for saying something like this (as stupid as what she said may be). That would be interfering with freedom of speech. But, time and again, the courts have found that freedoms are different in schools.
18I am more concerned that this young lady is enlisted. If she is going into it with this mentality, I feel like her heart is in the wrong place and she'll join the likes of the troops who rape, kill, torture and assault innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan just because they must ALL be a threat to America.
19Is she F'ing kidding me? I presume Ms. Lawrence has an established record of also harassing non-hijab wearing students for not standing for the pledge.
When I was in school there were plenty of goof balls who didn't stand for the pledge or put their hand over their heart whatev. they never got chastised for it though. I'm wondering if the not standing in this instance was Ms. Lawence's open door to snipe at the other student for wearing a hijab.
20Roaring is completely right
Sun_Sun, I'm concerned the girl is enlisting too! I agree that her heart is def. in the wrong place. She's already assaulting fellow students, that's bad enough, but then to give her a gun and send her into Iraq/Afghanistan? sheeesh.
Did anyone bother to tell this rude girl that the Muslim girl WAS being an American...by doing what she wanted. If I'm not mistaken I thought that was what America was all about...freedom???
21To me this screams liberal bias. I am a teacher myself and I don't feel that the comments she claims the student was making were serious enough for her to report it. Serious enough for her to step in and say something to the student herself, yes but not to report it to the administrators.
22It was wrong for her to tell the girl to take off her hijab but to not stand during the Pledge of Allegiance is wrong! I don't care what liberal court says it isn't.
A verbal reprimand or some form of detention would have been acceptable but to be suspended for 5 days is way over the top and is just an example of liberal educators being politically correct to a fault.
I can't believe the people defending this girl, especially on an outlet like TresSugar. This is blatant racism and to not call it what it is is just completely ignorant. And I love the Rob Thomas quote! That dichotomy is one of my biggest problems with these type of "patriots."
23kh61582,
boy am i glad i wasn't in your class. You sound like one of those teachers who would refuse to teach evolution.
I would hope the people educating me and (future) children would be politically correct to a fault.
Roaring, i adored that article. it articulated everything i agree with on gay rights.
24kh, I can't believe you are a teacher. It's embarrassing to my profession that you think freedom of expression doesn't include not standing during the Pledge. Big deal. If it wasn't for the "liberal" court, you wouldn't have the right to flap your gums. Don't bite the liberal hand that frees you.
If you can honestly sit there and define racist bullying, you deserve to lose your credentials (that is, if you are even credentialed. God help the state for which you work.)
25the girl shouldn't have said what she said, sure she has the right to say whatever she wants but when you are in school the rules are different. if she really did go on a rant and say "the girl looks Middle Eastern, that makes her an enemy because all Iraqis are Middle Eastern," then i really hope she changes her mind about enlisting in the army.
after elementary school we never said the pledge during school except during assembles. and even then if you didn't want to say it you didn't have to, and you didn't have to stand either. we stopped saying it because of the "under god" part.
26Kh: How exactly is not standing for the pledge wrong? Please explain in detail exactly WHY you think it's wrong...? I just can't see a single reason why it would ever be wrong. Could you give us some examples...I just can't think of any, even to be the devil's advocate of my own argument. Anyway, if you have an opinion that strong, you obviously have reasons to back it up right? So share. And if you don't have any reasons, you're just another brain dead voter who doesn't know the facts and therefore shouldn't be voting.
I don't agree with a lot of the things this country does, and I am not going to stand up and act like I support all those things when I don't. That's the beauty of America, we can disagree and try and change things we don't like. Obvously, Kh, you think that applies to you, but not other people?
Feel free to stand for the flag, but why would you expect other people to do the same as you just b/c it's what YOU believe. Funny how non-liberals always like the idea of freedom when it applies to them. They get the freedom they want, and then they go out and try to control other people with it. The lesson just gets lost.
27"to not stand during the Pledge of Allegiance is wrong! I don't care what liberal court says it isn't."
I have to agree with HoneyBrown and Muirnea on this one.
However if that had read something to the effect of (I'm a patriotic person and I just don't think it's right not to stand for the pledge but I respect other peoples freedom not to) that would have been a okay with me.
It just doesn't make sense though to make such a thunder clap about being patriotic and then turn around in the same breath and blast the very freedoms which give rise to your patriotism.
28This isn't a liberal bias to me. This is a humanitarian bias in favor of a victim of bullying.
29is exercising religious freedom not a constitutional right?
30The JrROTC girl certainly displays characteristics of a bully. She freely announces what she "expects" another student to do, as if her expectations are solely what matters. She confidently confronts the other student for the purpose of correcting and condeming, that "stand for the pledge or leave the USA" crap is just too ignorant and reveals so much about her upbringing and why she has an abundance of overconfidence. The girl needs to learn humility and manners. She won't get far in the military w/her arrogant attitude.
31-M.Goldman,MD
I think it would have been good for the teacher to have stepped in when she saw the incident, but 5 days of suspension seems a bit extreme. That long of a suspension when I was in school usually meant alcohol/tobacco/physical assults.
32...And we wonder why we don't see great results in the Middle East. A good chunk of people who enlist are racist bullies like this girl who just want to abuse some brown people. She and her kind simply serve to build Anti-American sentiment and energize a new generation of terrorists. Very patriotic indeed!
33Whappity Pow, HoneyBrown. I love you. You're my new favorite person on TresSugar.
34Isn't it funny how the practitioners of a religion which basically treats women as chattel are strongly defended in this forum for women?
35Anyone here see the irony in that?
And how about the irony of those who will accord no one else any freedom to disagree with them, coming to this country, availing themselves of its freedoms, but demanding that nobody else be permitted the freedom to criticize them?
Hardly anyone here sees the irony in that either, I'll bet?
Hypocrisy is what it's called, folks.
Texasred45- Are you seriously going to sit there and judge all Muslims like that? Women of every race, size and religion face abuse regardless of their religion.
36Chastising is not bullying - tone of voice is VERY different. The young lady in question is very proud to be an American and plans to join the armed forces. She is entitled to her opinion - part of being an AMERICAN. We don't have to agree with her but to punish her for giving her opinion and telling the teacher why she felt that way is not wrong. Of course the "staffer" called it a "rant" - everyone wants to make themself look good.
-WHAT OPINION? It's not like she wrote a well thought and planned editorial in the school paper...she just decided declare a mandate to a relatively 'random' girl because that girl dressed diffferently. That's NOT free speech. It wasn't a newspaper or rational classroom debate. She was being bigoted and bossy. Wrong and not her place.
Also, I can't speak for the school but it sounds like she was initially written up and then she was spoken to but she started to rant and sounded inarticulate and irrational and so they decided to go with suspension. She needs time to think about what she did and it deserves to be on her record/transcript.
37TexasRed...that's a broad generalization and hypocritical.
38"And how about the irony of those who will accord no one else any freedom to disagree with them, coming to this country, availing themselves of its freedoms, but demanding that nobody else be permitted the freedom to criticize them?"
Are you serious? This poor girl was target to a racist. She did not demand anything from anyone. She is practicing her religion in peace and did not deserve to be put down for wearing a hijab.
I think you should take a look at the story once more because you seemed to of missed the part where it says this was reported by a teacher.
39Texasred- Just because there is an extreme minority of Muslims who are misogynistic doesn't characterize the entire religion. Grouping them all together is blatantly wrong and ignorant.
There are extremists in almost every religion that treat women like chattel, but if it were a Christian victim bullied for his/her beliefs, would you say the same thing? (Extremely orthodox Jews can be, too, but I think the JROTC girl might have had a similar reaction as to the Muslim student...) Everyone belongs to some social category that has members one would hate to be associated with.
The point here is that a teenage girl was exercising her right to religious freedom in the way she deemed fit. She chose to wear the hijab and was bullied for it. No one forced her to put it on.
Next time, think before you paint all members of a major religion with the same brush.
And there is a major difference between intelligent, informed discussion of a topic and jumping to conclusions and verbally attacking someone.
40Funny. I've always thought that the Republican party was the religion that basically treats women as chattel, TexasRed. You're the ones fighting against my right to earn an equal wage, against my right to reproductive health care, against programs to protect me from abuse, and against everything else that doesn't fit into your father-knows-best worldview.
It seems to me that a guy that comes to a website for women with a right wing handle is just someone looking to pick a fight.
41Sean Hannity has a dating website called Hanidate or something. Maybe you will find women there easier to impress with you views on Muslims.
42ha. I love pretty much the majority views here. Many "commenters" nailed the "secondary issues" well. (One of the biggest defects of common conservative "thought", is that it ignores or chokes on associated issues or the slightest of complexities.)
43IMO, the future rotc girl should have the right to express an "outrageous" opinion, but not to harass someone. I also expect the future rotc girl will mature a bit in the next couple years (and may not even signup).
I know a lot of people commented and I might sound repetitive, but I'm glad that she was suspended and I agree that she should be forced to research the hijab. The sad thing is she still may not respect it. Legal action is too much. The first Amendment allows you to speak your mind, not damn anyone with it. "Patriotism" is synonymous with "terrorism" to me . Simply because you are using it to hurt someone else and to strip away their rights whether it deals with religion, sexual orientation, race, etc. Stereotypes should be done away with. This is just a sad case of what "patriotic" brainwashing does.
44BOTH girls were exercising their freedom of speech!!!
It just so happens that one of the girls didn't like what the other one had to say....
45I think the punishment was just. Bigotry and rascism at it's finest. I think the school should make her write an article not only about the jihab, but also two rational arguments: one on why she feels she is entitled to her freedom of speech but that the girl she attacked is not entitled to it,and a second argument supporting the girl's right to wear the jihab and sit for the pledge of allegiance. You can't expect someone to learn that they are being a complete hippocrit if you don't make them think about both sides of the argument.
I'm wondering if the school did the suspension because of the girl's ambitions with the ROTC/Army. This girl wants to join the army to protect the nation's freedoms and yet she wants to deny those freedoms to American's who differ from her views (sounds like she should run for Republican VP candidate in a few years). I hope the ROTC got the message that they need to teach this girl what the military is really about - it's not to rid the world of terrorists a.k.a. all non-christian people.
This whole "I'm more patriotic/american" than you sh*t needs to stop. I'm sick of it - I hate rascism and bigotry - yes, you are entitled to your stupidity and lack of humanity, but don't expect/force others to behave the same way. Nobody is more American than the next person. It's a shame that people impart their rascism and hatred to their kids, which maybe I'm wrongly assuming the parents are teaching/encouraging to their daughter although I doubt I am wrong since they see nothing wrong with what she did.
The school environment has a right to curtail freedom of speech since it has a duty to protect all students from harrassment. Maybe the teacher didn't have to turn it in, but maybe the teacher has witnessed similar bad behavior from this girl before towards other students or this particular student. Regardless, the school/teacher had every right to react the way they did and I fully applaud that they are not turning their back on this kind of behavior.
46I don't think what she said was okay, but I think she would have further benefitted from detention and sensitivity training, rather than suspension. What do you expect her to learn from this, when her own parents are up in arms about her "freedom of speech"? This will only turn herself against the school, and further against the girl that she started the whole incident with.
The only way to battle ignorance is education, and I think people are quick to point the finger, and punish and make a spectacle, when what we should be doing is opening our student's eyes to the world and issues around us. I mean, the girl is 16, she's probably learning this behavior from her parents, how can you fault her for emulating them, if no one has taught her otherwise?
47Good point, HelloLauren. This might embitter her further with no lesson learned.
48I think the punishment is good, however, I agree that she should have to write a paper about Muslims and the Hijab and what it means to be an American in a country founded upon the ideals of freedom of opportunity and religion. Obviously JROTC girl has issues comprehending these things.
49As it turns out. Ms. Lawrence was lying about seeing the girl not standing during the pledge. She made that up. The bottom line is she was bothered by the Hijab and she felt it unamerican for the young lady to be wearing one. She has a lot to learn about the different cultures that make up the country she is so anxious to serve in combat.
50Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.