Bryan Killian, a high school student in North Buncombe, North Carolina was suspended for coming to school dressed as a pirate.
But the disciplinary action has provoked controversy – because the student says that the ban violates his rights, as the pirate costume is part of his religion.
Read about it in the Metro or the Citizen-Times.
This story is blowing up and I’ve been having a lot of problems keeping the server running. It’s currently #1 on Digg and Reddit.
I’ll have some updates and more information about all this soon.
You should get somebody over there to do something, like agianst the original Kansas school board.
Careful not to become like Jessie Jackson where you blow things out of proportion, however.
@ 14 year old Pastafarian
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“Careful not to become like Jessie Jackson where you blow things out of proportion,”
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What! - no TNT Bugger!
Wanted to let you know about the Blog Against Theocracy swarm this weekend.
I feel certain that you have some thoughts. Perhaps the Flying Spaghetti Monster might wave his noodly appendages for our general direction.
Hey, if any of you are bored, this guy needs to be taught a lesson. He says that atheists are fundamentalists…..sure to be lots of fun here.
http://puritanbob.blogspot.com/2007/01/fundamentalist-atheism.html
Third Eye Patch
That be a piss take me thinks :))
Oh glorious FSM - Please deliver unto us, your humble serpents, a fundie or two! Even an interesting troll would do at a pinch. I’m running out of spoof e-mail accounts - well, no, not really!
I thank you for mail.com and googlemail.com - for they are surely your work!
I bask in the…….
Shit! I’m bored! It’s 2150 in the land of Blair - I’ve been to the Pub - screw all happening there (ah, poetry again).
FFS - I can hear tumble weed blowing across the screen - I’ve got eight tins of Stella and a mind for mischief - please provide! Otherwise I’ll go and do something daft again!
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Out of interest - any Cthulhu worshippers around? I was only being friendly :) Every time I wrote *shit* the mods changed it to *spam* - I had to see what swear words were allowed - c’mon folks - have a sense of humour eh! Tossers!
Cheer up Alchemist ;))
Remember we’re largely counting on you to bring us some sport :))
Well you put your hand up ;)
What’s going on in the church?
Haven’t been here in a while. Did I miss any fundies?
RAmen
@Pixel
It’s quiet on the fundie front. Although there was ‘A firm believer in god’ preaching eternal damnation for those who praise the FSM. On the Kansas school reaction to the open letter thread I believe.
I told him to open his heart to the FSM, but not to take it literally and just put that knife down again.
@VirusHead Apr 7th, 2007 at 10:51 am
“Wanted to let you know about the Blog Against Theocracy swarm this weekend.
I feel certain that you have some thoughts. Perhaps the Flying Spaghetti Monster might wave his noodly appendages for our general direction.”
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RAmen
I happily and traditionally dress like a pirate every friday whether or not I am at school, and my high school has given me only minor harassment for it. My school passed a rule banning all hats from being worn inside (a common courtesy, no?) around the same time that I converted to Pastafarianism. The school did try and get me to remove my hat, but al long as I refused to remove it and shook my pocket Constitution at them they knew there was nothing they could legally do.
So I violate the dress code every Friday and the school can’t do anything. It sounds to me like this kid is doing the same thing, and should get the same treatment. I’m sorry now that the school did not suspend me, for then I couldhave brought a lawsuit and set a precedent for this case.
Continuing my missionary work here in the boondocks of Tucson….
RAmen, all.
I shake my head at the ignorance of this school.
It is times like this that we must stand together in the name of pastafarians everywhere.
RAmen
I’m still curious to see if the school would apply the same rules to someone using an eye patch for medical as opposed to theological grounds? surely this is the very definition of discrimination….
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load the grapeshot lads…
Though I’m a devout Pastafarian, I can’t help but remember the book “Nothing But the Truth” by Avi.
Schools in the US are for training people to be obediant workers who complete tasks on schedule. Self expression is not beleived in the business world to contribute to productivity,and the bottomline. Those who rockthe boat are made examples of,and if they don’t conform,excluded.
samba Apr 9th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Schools in the US are for training people to be obediant workers who complete tasks on schedule. Self expression is not beleived in the business world to contribute to productivity,and the bottomline. Those who rockthe boat are made examples of,and if they don’t conform,excluded.”
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Umm, I hate to disagree with you, but I will anyway.
To a very minute point, our schools teach people to conform.
As every school system in the world does. It’s part of becoming acceptable in a society. Somewhat necessary where ever you live. Like it or not.
To say that American school systems are stifling free thought. (With the exception of a very few bible belt schools). Is totally ridiculous. I am not sure where you get your information, but I do know you’re wrong.
Along with your line of thought, us Americans would still be fascinated by Russia landing on the moon. If you get that one.
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We do enjoy free speech here, but for FSMs sake. Be intelligent!
Ramen
I’m a recent convert and don’t know all the inner workings of pastafarian priesthood, but Bryan Killian should be a Saint. I hope someday Bryan Killian will be my advocate to the FSM!
@newavedon
Welcome to CoFSM, may you be touched by His Noodly appendages. By all means hang around the site.
Why doesn’t Brian update venganza.org anymore?
@Peter Popoff
“To say that American school systems are stifling free thought. (With the exception of a very few bible belt schools). Is totally ridiculous. I am not sure where you get your information, but I do know you’re wrong.”
I agree with Peter. In Australia the school system on occasion places to greater emphasis on free thought rather then “the basics” in some cases. Spelling and basic maths skills have suffered as a result. We do have to conform to rules designed to allow ourselves and others the best opportunity to learn i.e. I can wear my patch at lunch but I can really see the blackboard when I wear it in class, plus it does tend to be disruptive, I guess.