Video: What a history lesson can do for an Occupier
posted at 9:21 am on May 9, 2012 by Ed Morrissey
The irony here, of course, is that the history lesson of democracy gets delivered by a former refugee from the former Soviet Union, but the history lesson doesn’t just end with the USA. One young man tried to pass an “Occupy Wall Street Journal” to two men observing the protests, and ended up gaining an education in history, politics, economics, and statecraft. Give the young Occupier credit, as Joe Schoffstall says — he was at least willing to listen. I’m not sure he was actually convinced, but he at least knew better than to keep arguing:
You might be tempted to stop after a couple of minutes, but stick to it all the way through to the end. It shows what one man can do when he’s armed with the facts, as well as a little moral authority from having lived through a socialist nightmare. His companion tells him at the end, “I’m very proud of you,” and I’d bet more than a few people here would be as well.
And at least the young man still had the capacity to learn. Ringo and Zombie document some of the mental incapacity found at the Occupy LA rally last week, including these images:
I’m an old tech-pubs editor, and I don’t think I could diagram that sentence, even with my extensive experience. Then there are those who just can’t deal with reality:
Here’s a better question: why should I have to pay for you? Or, for that matter, this guy:
If you need to eat, then I suggest you find ways to feed yourself. If your art isn’t doing it for you, it’s time to consider another career. Understandably, someone this dense has limited prospects anyway, but obviously it’s time to give it a try.
That’s why engagement will probably only work with a select few, but it is important to keep trying.
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Even if you feel strongly that the presence of the gun makes the school within their rights to send him home, the charges are simple thuggery.
And I’m willing to bet that “the shirt has a gun on it” was not the primary rationale presented to the parents during the argument before the school called the police, making the point moot.
HitNRun on April 21, 2013 at 11:00 AM
So if another student “felt bothered” here you’d capitulate?
This is such a ridiculous argument. In case you’ve been asleep, guns and schools have been in the news lately and have no point in being on a t-shirt except to incite a reaction. And he got one.
Marcus on April 21, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Partsian is:
A gun banner
A statist
Pro ABORTION
Pro Gay Marriage
A rabid atheist
a Voter for Obama
For any Stem Cell research
cannot even come out against Gosnell
yeh, he’s not a liberal./
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Yes. Next question.
Bishop on April 21, 2013 at 11:02 AM
FIFY.
Sorry Axe, anti-cigs is just too early 90s, gotta roll with the latest Al Gore hotness.
Difficultas_Est_Imperium on April 21, 2013 at 11:02 AM
nonpartisan is so representative of the cluelessness & tyranny of those who would control us bcs they know best for us.
I teach in 2 different high schools. ONe in the morning & one in the afternoon. HS science.
I’ve also taught middle school age kids in the past.
Whatever the reason this kid wore the shirt, it is up to the Admin to make a decision about how to react to a situation.
Now this shirt is only proclaiming to stand up for a right. The picture of the gun illustrates that right is regarding the 2nd.
That is the only reason the gun appears.
The gun is not portrayed in any way that condones violence.
nonpartisan is a member of a large group of fearful ignorant & willfully stupid citizens who bcs of their fear of a weapon they clearly are afraid of & do not understand wish to control & ban the same from the hands of fellow citizens.
I have students in my rural schools that wear shirts with booze logos & yes, guns on them.
Especially hunting related shirts with guns & sometimes dead animals.
My admins in both schools, while very different in their competence levels, would never do anything like this.
If a kid refused to remove an offensive shirt, the child would simply be sent home. Or they would give him another shirt to wear over it.
The real problem here is that we have admins in charge of public screwls who cannot take a common sense approach in the leadership role.
chemman summed things up about these ages of children earlier in regards to control.
A lot of teachers cannot maintain order in the classroom bcs they are WEAK.
You treat a kid, & for that matter every other human you relate to where dominance must occur, like other animals in the animal kingdom do to each other.
I am the dominant animal in all of my classrooms.
I have never had a discipline problem in 11 years.
Not saying it will never happen, but I doubt it will other than maybe defending myself from a kid hitting me.
You just do not make issues out of things like this.
Even a kid with a truly inappropriate shirt (which this was not), needs to be addressed privately.
All this will do is stir up the student body, the community & parents.
There better ways to handle issues like this.
This school really must suck to work at.
And BTW, I’ve had kids wear shirts much like this to my schools.
I give the kids a thumbs up PUBLICLY for supporting & being aware of their Constitution.
And even though I teach science, for about 5 minutes of each day I often start it with quizzing the kids about their Constitution.
They love it.
Badger40 on April 21, 2013 at 11:02 AM
So gun rights have not been under fire? No attempts to limit people’s ability to buy a gun or a magazine?
Yeh no reason to wear such a shirt./
You keep proving yourself the idiot.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:03 AM
…there are prevailing genes in that family…
(:->)
KOOLAID2 on April 21, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Of course, that is not what he said. Nice try.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Almost nothing makes me madder than these stories about out of control political indoctrination in public schools. Only approved politically correct opinions are allowed. The students are captives in the classroom and it’s not like they have any choice but to submit and agree with teacher. Most kids probably couldn’t care less and are probably thinking about other things during class, though. Probably only a relatively small number of students would actually make the effort or care enough to challenge a liberal teacher’s views.
bluegill on April 21, 2013 at 11:05 AM
It’s still a free country. Tell them what you think!
http://lc2.boe.loga.k12.wv.us/loganmid/faculty/administrators.htm
claudius on April 21, 2013 at 11:06 AM
…what happened to….a eunuch ?
KOOLAID2 on April 21, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Careful Badge, under O-care mental health directives that alone will qualify you for “special handling”…
Difficultas_Est_Imperium on April 21, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Why is that 12 year-old at that political protest? She’s not even old enough to vote!
Why is the 7 year-old playing with that Tonka truck? He’s not even old enough to drive!
BTW, West Virginia allows those under 18 to possess and carry a firearm given the parent’s permission in connection with hunting and sporting activities.
Dusty on April 21, 2013 at 11:07 AM
MORON, this is a SCHOOL with CHILDREN. Not an 18 year old being asked to take off a t-shirt or cover it up before entering a grocery store. God, you’re dumb. I suppose a kid with a “PRAISE SATAN!” shirt next to your little angel would be cool, just arguing their First Amendment rights.
Marcus on April 21, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Logic is so beyond nonp’s ability it is truly sad.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:08 AM
The way I read the article, the parents haven’t been given any rationale. Just “don’t bring him back tomorrow”. Don’t you think they are probably scrambling to cover their azzes? My guess is the teacher is the one who pushed this to uncomfortable lengths.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Much as your picture promotes pimply butt cheeks.
Aviator on April 21, 2013 at 11:09 AM
So the police who showed up to try to stop the Sandy Hook maniac were carrying what…? Candy canes? Bags of pixie dust?
profitsbeard on April 21, 2013 at 11:09 AM
You mean like this, to honor your parent serving in the military?
http://rlv.zcache.co.uk/us_army_military_police_t_shirts-rccf6d9e4ca924635b5cd1431ff8d2831_f03pa_512.jpg
Bishop on April 21, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Excellent!
Also the emails of state and federal politicicians who represent this district, pls.
petefrt on April 21, 2013 at 11:10 AM
Remember your post little one:
I pointed out that there are legitimate reasons for him to wear the shirt besides inciting a reaction.
Yeh, you’re not bright. Not at all.
You freaks just play dishonest games. It is ingrained.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:11 AM
That presumes a pre-existing condition of ever having testicles in the first place.
Liam on April 21, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Under 1st amendment the answer is yes. Question at hand is does the school violate 1st amendment over such a shirt? I doubt it.
Difficultas_Est_Imperium on April 21, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Marcus and here I thought NonP was dumb…..
you win!!
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Unfortunately, yes. I’m not going to say I’d like it but it sure helps to cut down on the guest list for any future social functions. The only reason they make kids turn shirts with pot leaves on them inside out is because it is still illegal federally. We keep tapping down free speech and than we are surprised when people aren’t what they appear to be.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:12 AM
I don’t really want to join this argument, but to this particular query, I would say yes. When I was in high school, there was a large church with an active youth group nearby. The kids wore religious T shirts constantly. There was a small group of kids who liked to “taunt” them by wearing “satanic” T shirts. I was perfectly OK with all of it.
stvnscott on April 21, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Marcus simply changed his argument. Losers do that when they’ve been busted.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:15 AM
What if his shirt had had the picture of Obama shooting that “skeeter gun”?
Obama was promoting violence by your own definition. In fact, the photo that Obama released was even MORE violent since the one the student was wearing only showed a picture of a gun whereas your super hero was actually SHOOTING a gun.
Do you ever get tired of being a moron?
Talon on April 21, 2013 at 11:15 AM
I get it: you believe that firearms are controversial enough that limiting even images of them is in the public interest.
However, we assert that they are so uncontroversial that they represent a fundamental civil right to be enjoyed by all Americans at their leisure. Therefore there is no reason to limit images of them.
Jeff Weimer on April 21, 2013 at 11:17 AM
nonpartisan has already educated us on the fact that skeet guns are in fact, non-lethal.
o_O
stvnscott on April 21, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Or a photo of Obama signing something at his desk.
It COULD be him scribbling a kill order for a drone strike!
All pictures of people wielding pens need to be stopped!
profitsbeard on April 21, 2013 at 11:19 AM
So guns, knives, karate and various sundry forms of violence must immediately be excised from television, movies, video games and music? Power to the people!!!!
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Nonpartisan is the Joe Biden of HotAir.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:19 AM
You miss the point again. I, bluegill, would not capitulate or submit in that case or in any hypothetical we’re discussing. Apparently you’d submit like a wimp and let the school run roughshod over your kid. Maybe you should grow a pair and stick up for what’s right and for common sense. I mention the “felt bothered” because at least that would give SOME credence to the argument that the shirt caused a disruption, though I still wouldn’t buy it.
As for a picture of a gun not belonging on a shirt, I guess we’ll have to disagree on that one. You said it all when you suggested that negative reactions to pressure cooker pics on shirts worn this week are akin to negative reactions to pro-second amendment shirts with pics of rifles. Actually, one negative reaction is all about politics and the other isn’t. There is absolutely nothing violent about showing a picture of a gun and proudly celebrating your constitutional rights. No reasonable person would interpret a picture of a gun as mocking or making light of or even referencing the killing is innocents. It’s simply not a violent shirt and doesn’t deserve a criminal inquiry.
And I noticed you didn’t answer about what you’d do if your kid was suspended and arrested for wearing a pro-gay marriage shirt. It sounds like you really would just shrug and submit to the school and authorities who deemed the shirt offensive.
bluegill on April 21, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Did I read on HotAir that you are a physician? If so, have you ever asked your patients if there are firearms in their homes?
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:21 AM
Love it.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Just remembered this story before the 2008 election.
Tolerance fails T-shirt test
In an extremely liberal suburb of Chicago, Oak Park, in the fall of 2008 a kid wore a T-short that said “McCain Girl” to school one day. On another day she wore a T-shirt that said “Obama Girl”.
farsighted on April 21, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Is it a picture of him shooting it in the air …or through the door?
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Maybe instead of “Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Barack Obama” a teacher could lead with “Hey Hey Hey NRA!”
That’d be totally cool.
Marcus on April 21, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Another fallacious argument. You dummies are a hoot. Almost predictable.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:25 AM
A homosexual man will most likely rape a little boy.
You want to play the “most likely” game? Is “most likely” now proof of guilt?
Talon on April 21, 2013 at 11:25 AM
LOL. No, why would I. I’m not anti-guns in homes.
Marcus on April 21, 2013 at 11:26 AM
LOL — who talks like that? :)
Axe on April 21, 2013 at 11:27 AM
I would have never guessed that pictures of rifles get Marcus all weewee’d up.
steebo77 on April 21, 2013 at 11:27 AM
My $.02 to admins and school board members:
petefrt on April 21, 2013 at 11:28 AM
The gun is not even being held or fired but it is oh so scary.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:28 AM
You’re on the right track but I would like to know a little more about the arrest.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Guess what, Marcus, students are allowed to express their political opinions. Is this news to you? Students expressing their opinions is different than a teacher-led propaganda exercise. Hope you can understand the difference. Have you ever even been in a public school?
bluegill on April 21, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Let me guess, you are down with “fairness, diversity, and tolerance” up until he point where you confront ideas that conflict with your own.
Difficultas_Est_Imperium on April 21, 2013 at 11:31 AM
The Husband says if they aren’t careful, people are going to start making West Virginia jokes.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:31 AM
Here’s a question: At the Dallas airport there was a Southwest pilot who told a woman wearing a “F+CK: the only thing missing is U!” t-shirt to turn it inside out or take it off, saying their were children aboard his flight. He wasn’t taking off or leaving the gate until she did.
Right or Wrong?
Marcus on April 21, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Again you miss the point. Individuals are allowed to have and voice opinions, not be directed by persons of authority (regardless of their views) in any ideology. Teachers should be teaching, not relating their personal lives or their personal views. They keep telling us they are professionals. Next thing you know we’ll have teachers screwing around with the children as if they were peers….oh wait!
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:35 AM
Southwest is a private company…much like a Catholic school.
-Not bright. Not in the least.Seriously you sound like a 12 year old.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:36 AM
In my opinion he didn’t have that authority but I don’t know what the rules of that private enterprise. I know the airline can stop a drunk from flying.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:37 AM
It’s what makes Rusty love it.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Folks, leave Dr. Welby alone. He’s only doing what his parents tell him to do and say…
Gohawgs on April 21, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Oh, so private companies have the right to discriminate against free speech. Gotcha.
Marcus on April 21, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Actually they do. You don’t understand how the Constitution works.Do you? And you don’t seem to understand a public school is not a private company nor a private school.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:43 AM
On their property they do.
Aviator on April 21, 2013 at 11:43 AM
Yep…
Gohawgs on April 21, 2013 at 11:43 AM
Yeppers. EULAs and the like. Learn some legalese then come back.
nobar on April 21, 2013 at 11:44 AM
Let’s ask mr joe manchin what he thinks..he had campaign ads holding a rifle, but he might think differently now that he is elected!
rich8450 on April 21, 2013 at 11:44 AM
Nope.
Just shut up and teach, it’s what they are paid to do. If they want to actively profess a political agenda then it’s time to find a new job.
Bishop on April 21, 2013 at 11:45 AM
Make a comment that sounds even remotely sexist at your job and see what happens. Liberals are all for punishments for those kinds of ‘offenses’ or ‘abuse’ of free speech.
Bet you’d be cool if the kid wore a shirt with the red slashed circle over a rifle and F+CK the NRA on it, wouldn’t you? Free speech, right? The kind you seem to favor even though the shirt I just described has on it *GASP* the image of a rifle.
Liam on April 21, 2013 at 11:46 AM
“We only hire people that can count to one.” – ACLU rep
NotCoach on April 21, 2013 at 11:47 AM
They are selling a product and those sales depend on people being happy. I would think it was a matter of statistics. Public schools are paid for by everyone, and I don’t want one view or the other promoted.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:47 AM
I would have arrested him for that haircut but not the t-shirt.
Sharke on April 21, 2013 at 11:47 AM
Would Southwest have the right to boot a passenger off their airplane if they were wearing an offensive t-shirt of caricatures of Obama and Michelle?
Marcus on April 21, 2013 at 11:47 AM
By far one of the least egregious examples of the police state which operates in our secondary school. Yet because it involves the NRA conservatives suddenly care.
libfreeordie on April 21, 2013 at 11:48 AM
I, Harley Winchester Bishop III, do not.
Bishop on April 21, 2013 at 11:48 AM
My personal experience is that what institutions resent most is the challenging of their authority. Over what is secondary. I once taught my daughter how to do square roots differently than she was shown in school. The teacher was mortified and sent a note home admonishing me not to do this sort of thing again. Only their method was ‘approved’. This bureaucratic power syndrome appears to be the problem here. Their ‘no comment’ reaction is an admission that they have no legitimate basis for their actions. Ultimately, they will absolve this one student, but it won’t keep them from doing something similar in the future.
Our present school system needs to be replaced. It is beyond being fixed.
reidmj@austin.rr.com on April 21, 2013 at 11:49 AM
So a picture of a baseball bat equals violence? What about a picture of a pressure cooker? Nails? Ball bearings?
I know what a picture of you would equal. Do you think you can guess?
NotCoach on April 21, 2013 at 11:49 AM
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lostmotherland, but I’m afraid your oral interview was a complete failure and we will not be hiring you. Good luck in your job search.”
-ACLU
Bishop on April 21, 2013 at 11:50 AM
We tend to get wound up when teachers abuse children also. Why don’t you college professors educate these “adults” on being professional and boundaries?
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Morning Joe and MSNBC has a spokesdoctor here at HA…
Gohawgs on April 21, 2013 at 11:50 AM
He was arrested, you ignorant erudite.
Also, middle school is now secondary? Wish I had known that when I was growing up.
nobar on April 21, 2013 at 11:52 AM
He’s not?
NotCoach on April 21, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Yes. Are you listening?
Keep twisting in the wind.
Once again a whack job gets his ass kicked and spirals off changing the argument .
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:52 AM
So you’re noting your disgust with the authorities or not?
Say perv hit up on any 16 year olds lately? You know in some countries 12 is the age of consent. Bet you’re all excited.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Hi, I’d like to introduce you to something, its called neoliberalism.
libfreeordie on April 21, 2013 at 11:54 AM
And what does that have to do with the price of rice in China?
Last I checked, Southwest Air was NOT an agency of the State for which the First Amendment applies.
Public Schools, however, ARE and Agency of the State and ARE subject to limitations invoked by the Constitution of the United States.
jaydee_007 on April 21, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Now, now, Marcus isn’t a whack job. He’s just wrong in this instance. Don’t call me a whack job when it’s my turn and I can guarantee I will have my turn.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 11:56 AM
Marcus finds it easier to try to change the subject.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:57 AM
Go read his Gosnell comments. He’s a whack job.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:58 AM
There’s no consensus on whether middle school is primary or secondary, but I said secondary since this child was treated like an adult in the eyes of law enforcement, something we see primarily in secondary schools. Then again, we’ve also seen it in primary schools (stories which never appear on Hot Air)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-police-subdue-year-girl-pepper-spray/story?id=14865517#.UXQMlStARuo
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/boy-cuffed-held-kid-money-article-1.1250928
libfreeordie on April 21, 2013 at 11:59 AM
Marcus any comments on free speech in China?
/
CW on April 21, 2013 at 11:59 AM
The public school system in Maryland is among the worst in the country. Not by liberal standards, but by indoctrination of marxist ideology. We’ve lost this country, in large part because our children have been brainwashed under our own noses.
MDLibertyLover on April 21, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Hey Marcus , why when I pointed out that he could have other motivations for wearing the shirt did you ignore my points and go off in other direction?
hmmmm
don’t answer. You’re as dishonest as any of our trolls.
CW on April 21, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Exactly. This kind of thing from the fascists will never stop unless there is a penalty involved. Preferably taking away the things they worship: money and power. So – start suing, and demanding firings. Every. Single. Time. Until it sinks through their thick skulls.
Am still aghast that this boy was arrested. They know they’re guilty, hence the no comment.
Eviva on April 21, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Funny how they have no problem with reporting the kids name but not the teachers name?
Pomai on April 21, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Troll.
farsighted on April 21, 2013 at 12:02 PM
KOOLAID2 on April 21, 2013 at 12:03 PM
I’ma go slightly off topic here and highly recommend NRA t-shirts. They use the heaviest Fruit-of-the-Loom shirts, usually have good design, and frequently go on sale.
Also, making people do a double take in Whole Foods is priceless.
S. Weasel on April 21, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Makes me livid.
petefrt on April 21, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Thanks for the heads up, I’m sad.
Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 12:04 PM
…the Politburo Press…just doing its job!
KOOLAID2 on April 21, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Ah, the f*ckwit bleats again.
Midas on April 21, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Yeah, story one she violently attacked her bus driver. And impossible to tell from that story if the police overreacted or not.
And I don’t see the problem with story number two. It was probably a good lesson for him on where he might end up in life if he continues to be a criminal. I’m curious, do you even read the stories you link to before linking them?
NotCoach on April 21, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Yes, he most assuredly is a whack job.
Midas on April 21, 2013 at 12:06 PM
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