Three Florida high school students who are members of the  Dove World Outreach Center were sent home from schools this week after showing up in shirts with “Islam is of the Devil,” written on them. School officials stated that the shirts containing the slogan violated the district’s dress codes.  The School District Staff Attorney stated:

“Students have a right of free speech, and we have allowed students to come to school wearing clothes with messages,” …. but this message is a divisive message that is likely to offend students….

This is not a close call. There is no 1st amendment protection for the slogan.  Bong Hits For Jesus” (Morse v. Frederic) makes it clear speech is not protected if school officials reasonably conclude that it will “materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school”  Propagating hatred towards a religion and by  using incendiary(no pun intended) language to attack the core beliefs of those those who practice it would seem to fit that bill.  The slogan is not protected benign religious expression. It is an expression of hatred. One need look no further than the Dove Outreach Web Site for evidence of this:

“…..To expose Islam for what it is. It is a violent and oppressive religion that is trying to mascarade itself as a religion of peace, seeking to deceive our society.”

Dove World Outreach is a hate group, nothing more.  Of course they also have their own Facebook page.  Another indication that the worlds new “4th largest country” is not doing enough to curb the unchecked escalation of hatred towards Jews, Muslims and other protected classes within its borders.

The beat of hatred rolls on.  Not quite what Sonny and Cher envisioned.

©2009 Brian Cuban

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