Teacher On Leave For Criticizing President George W. Bush
Robert Paul Reyes
March 04, 2006
"Who is probably the single most violent nation on planet Earth?" "The United States of America."
"I'm not saying that Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not," But there are some eerie similarities to the tones that they use."
If Michael Moore or Cindy Sheehan uttered these provocative words we wouldn't bat an eye, obnoxious and inflammatory speech is protected by the First Amendment.
President George W. Bush is a weak and ineffectual leader and an embarrassment to America, but to compare him to Hitler strains credibility.
Comparing anyone to the Nazi madman compromises your argument and makes you look like Bozo the clown.
These words were spoken by Jay Bennish, a high school geography teacher, during class. The pertinent question is not whether Bennish is accurate in his assessment of Bush, but if he has the right to interject his opinions about Bush in a high school geography class.
It's obvious that Bennish has an axe to grind, what does Bush's foreign policy have to do with geography? A high school geography class is not the proper forum for inflammatory political rhetoric.
As an opinion columnist I cherish free speech, but in my opinion, Bennish spoke the wrong words, at the wrong time, to the wrong audience.
Bennish is on paid leave, hopefully he will use his free time to contemplate the meaning of "exercising good judgement."
"I'm not saying that Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not," But there are some eerie similarities to the tones that they use."
If Michael Moore or Cindy Sheehan uttered these provocative words we wouldn't bat an eye, obnoxious and inflammatory speech is protected by the First Amendment.
President George W. Bush is a weak and ineffectual leader and an embarrassment to America, but to compare him to Hitler strains credibility.
Comparing anyone to the Nazi madman compromises your argument and makes you look like Bozo the clown.
These words were spoken by Jay Bennish, a high school geography teacher, during class. The pertinent question is not whether Bennish is accurate in his assessment of Bush, but if he has the right to interject his opinions about Bush in a high school geography class.
It's obvious that Bennish has an axe to grind, what does Bush's foreign policy have to do with geography? A high school geography class is not the proper forum for inflammatory political rhetoric.
As an opinion columnist I cherish free speech, but in my opinion, Bennish spoke the wrong words, at the wrong time, to the wrong audience.
Bennish is on paid leave, hopefully he will use his free time to contemplate the meaning of "exercising good judgement."
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