Things that Piss me off

Here is something that absolutely infuriates me...Look at this link:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/03/031902/valedictorian-ordered-rewrite-speech/news-metro/

So basically this student who has a 4.5 GPA, and was chosen as class valedictorian, turned in the speech she had prepared. The speech was filled with inside jokes, was not offensive, light-heartedly poked fun at some cliques, and criticized school decisions. Her supervising teacher and principal vehemently rejected the speech calling it "appalling." She was ordered to re-write the speech, or else she would be replaced by another person as valedictorian.

(The links to these speeches are below)

This is the kind of thing that pisses me off. I hope that principal loses her job (when a reporter called to get her side of the story, she angrily hung up the phone). I hope the superintendent loses his job.

It's obvious what happened here. The adults don't understand the students. However the adults are acting more like children. They can't handle some light criticisms, so they bully the valedictorian into doing what they want her to do.

I hope Jem Lugo (the valedictorian) gives her original speech anyway. I hope she turns in a revised speech, but smuggles her original in under her gown. I hope she sticks it to the man. This story should be a much bigger deal. It's the freaking first ammendment!!! The freedom of speech. Since when do school districts and principals have more power than the federal government? Jem should sue the school district, or the government should step in before and allow her to give her speech. Send in the damn National Guard, like they did in segregation. I would like Jem to have a personal Guard escort while she delivers her speech, and another two Guardsmen standing on either side of the principal to watch her fume, while EVERYBODY enjoys the speech.

Why would a school crush creativity. Who cares if a portion of people who hear the message MIGHT get offended. Those people need to lighten up!!! Part of Jem's speech talks about never sacrificing personal values to conform to the status quo...well that's ironic because that is exactly what the school is forcing her to do.

What I wished would have happened is that Jem would have refused to change her speech and all the students banded together behind her and nobody else accepted the valedictorian position. I hope nobody goes to graduation...If they are there I hope people boo the totalitarian dictator with the title of principle. In fact, I hope the students boo during the entire ceremony.

Jem did not have any vulgar or profane words in her speech, she did not single out groups to pick on. She picked on everybody, teased certain people. If we create a society where teasing is unacceptable, then get me the hell out of here. I'll be the first one locked up.

Teasing keeps us humble and it also keeps our spirits up. When we stop poking fun at ourselves we stop having fun at all. I am the greatest source of entertainment I have solely because of the sheer amount of stupid things I do. If I couldn't laugh at myself, I would literally go crazy, I would have an unending amount of self-doubt because of all my failures. Why can't the principal and advising teachers think like a rational person?

I don't know if this kind of stuff riles you guys up as much as it does me, but I just get so furious. We live in AMERICA!!!! Land of the free, right? Well sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

Here are two more links you should look at:

Original speech:

http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/jun/03/rejected-jem-lugo-valedictorian-speech-springstead/

Revised speech:

http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/jun/03/revisedapproved-speech-jem-luko-valedictorian-spee/

Let me know what you guys think about this situation.