A tough one...or not, you decide

USAToday is reporting a story about several kids sent home from school for wearing a t-shirt that said "Islam is of the devil". According to officials, they were sent home because their shirts might be considered offensive and therefore would be disruptive. Sense a lawyer is clearly involved on behalf of the students, this should be an interesting case to watch. I'll be the first to argue that children don't have any rights until they reach 18. However, my argument would be based on their home life, not what they do in public, with their parents obvious permission. Can the government limit the rights of children? I'm not so sure. However, I also support a clearly defined dress code for schools (as long as we aren't dressing all the kids the same). No dress code was published in the story, an obvious oversight on USAToday's part. Perhaps it was on purpose sense the tone of the story seemed to want to condemn the students and their church rather than explore the reasons behind it. However, without the dress code, I can't speak to whether I agree that the shirts violated said code. They may have, in which case, I'd support the school. However, I'm also a huge supporter of separation of church and state and freedom of speech. Would the school send a child home for wearing a t-shirt that makes a political statement or perhaps condemns other religious faiths? Perhaps they would, again, that isn't addressed in the story. However, it seems unlikely they would unless they deemed said material to be considered "offensive". Who decides then what is offensive in nature? Sorry, I don't agree that it is the teachers or the principle because their decision making is based on their personal beliefs and experiences, as they should be, which colors their opinion. So, we have to fall back on the constitution. Unless the shirt actually did cause a disruption, it is protected speech under the constitution of this country, I would argue.

Now, a quick word on the sentiment of the shirt. One can disagree with what it proclaims, however, I'll point out that Islam proclaims the exact same thing about all religions that aren't Islam. In fact, Christians are supposed to believe that "nobody comes to the father but through me" meaning the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. If you believe that, then by definition, all other religions aren't going to lead to heaven. Therefore, all other religions, in a sense, worship the prince of lies since they are designed to lead people away from the truth. Who is the prince of lies? Satan. So, in the eyes of this church and its followers, the shirt makes sense, assuming they are a conservative bunch, which it seems to me they are. Many people are uncomfortable with the idea that other religions are of Satan and I'm not saying they are. I'm saying that all religions can't be right. Especially considering that many of them proclaim themselves to be the only way. If one of them is the only way, then all the rest lead nowhere. Whether that is of Satan or not, it certainly achieves his goal of leading people away.