Free Byrd Movement

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Free Byrd Movement
Tweet Topic Started: Feb 2 2012, 04:46 PM (342 Views)
Wallace	Feb 2 2012, 04:46 PM Post #1
Break out the L-word. The other L-word. Posts: 1,889 Group: S Rank Hero Member #11,873 Joined: February 24, 2011	You may have heard about it by now, or perhaps not. I'll tell you. On Wednesday, January 31st, Austin Byrd of Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas jumped into the school pond. Jumping into the pond had become an annual prank for the seniors, and those who have done it in the past have received little to no punishment. Austin Byrd, however, received three days suspension, ten days in-school suspension, and a $350 fine. This caused outrage among Texas High's student body, who the next day wore t-shirts, jackets and backpacks with the slogan "Free Byrd" written on them, as well as writing it on their arms and hands, and saying it constantly. The school's administration immediately retaliated, sending over eighty students home for either saying or wearing "Free Byrd." This, of course, has only fueled the movement. There are people selling the shirts, people speaking out about it, and there were even people who were protesting with signs. Now, before you get the wrong idea, the point of this movement, while it may have been originally, is NOT to attempt to get Byrd off the hook. It is now a movement to reclaim our rights and to exercise them; rights such as freedom of speech, of expression, of choice. The movement spread throughout the school in a heartbeat; it reached the rest of the area in a day, and in two, it is rapidly spreading across the nation. Even CNN and Fox News have caught wind of it, along with the local news, newspapers, and radio stations. I've always dreamed of something like this happening, and man, if I wasn't excited to see that it happened at my very own school. I'd like to ask of everyone that reads this and approves of the movement to tell your family, your friends, your enemies. Tell everyone you know. Spread the word. Free Byrd. Join the Free Byrd fanpage on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/163872433724233/ And subscribe to the Free Byrd Youtube channel that I just made: http://www.youtube.com/user/FreeByrdMovement?feature=mhee
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Clementine	Feb 3 2012, 04:14 AM Post #2
Yep. Posts: 1,397 Group: A Rank Hero Member #12,099 Joined: May 26, 2011 Steam ID: Maximus123458 Game Currently Playing: Megaman X6	Now that's just stupid, all that for a little prank? And i don't mean the fact that they suspended him and made him pay 350 bucks. Can't they just like..wait 10 or 15 days for him? Why they made all this ruckus over it? :I



Fwiss	Feb 3 2012, 04:52 AM Post #3
Sandopolis Act 1 Posts: 1,567 Group: S Rank Hero Member #9,080 Joined: June 18, 2008 Gender: Male Steam ID: fwiss1174	It's great that it's happening at your school, but really, jumping into the school pond IS illegal. I do think it's unfair that the others didn't get fined, but did the others get caught? It's completely legal to send students home for saying 'free Byrd,' IF it caused a distraction. I also think it's unfair to send students home for clothing they find offensive. Not sure how you can see a distraction or disturbance in clothing.
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Wallace	Feb 3 2012, 04:58 AM Post #4
Break out the L-word. The other L-word. Posts: 1,889 Group: S Rank Hero Member #11,873 Joined: February 24, 2011	There have been many times throughout history where things that may have seemed insignificant caused something far greater than anyone could have known. Imagine Rosa Parks not getting out of that bus seat. I'm sure no one thought that would lead to a huge Civil Rights movement, but it did, and I'm sure despite its odd beginnings it was never thought of as invalid, somehow (at the very least, not by us who are looking back on it; those back then who opposed out of fear, ignorance, or simply not caring tend to say that "All this for a bus seat?" or a pond or what have you.). I see no reason why Free Byrd should be any exception. Fwiss Feb 3 2012, 04:52 AM It's great that it's happening at your school, but really, jumping into the school pond IS illegal. I do think it's unfair that the others didn't get fined, but did the others get caught? It's completely legal to send students home for saying 'free Byrd,' IF it caused a distraction. I also think it's unfair to send students home for clothing they find offensive. Not sure how you can see a distraction or disturbance in clothing. How is jumping into a pond illegal? And I'm sure have gotten caught before, but it doesn't really matter, I think. What's funny, is that despite that this is the first time someone has been punished that severely for it, the superintendent of the school district in an interview for a local news station said that "We dealt with it as we always have in the past." I could certainly understand sending a student home for the day for yelling it out in class. THAT would certainly be disruptive. But they've banned saying it COMPLETELY. And yes, there is absolutely no reason to send them home for simply wearing a shirt, or a jacket, or having it written on their hands or face. What's funny is, disruptive is kind of a joke. Teachers can be more disruptive than students. Administrators CONSTANTLY checking in on classes to make sure we're doing everything EXACTLY the way we're supposed to can EASILY be more disruptive that students. A student's very own thoughts could be more disruptive than the actions of another, and they can't very well keep you from thinking about what's got you excited or worried! Edited by Wallace, Feb 3 2012, 05:04 AM.
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KogaHarine	Feb 3 2012, 08:57 AM Post #5
The Black Swordsman Posts: 3,253 Group: E Rank Legend Member #7,594 Joined: April 19, 2008 Gender: Male Playstation Network ID: Goldth 3DS Friend Code: 047386746636 Nintendo ID: KogaHarine Game Currently Playing: Fantasy Life	I'm going to side with Kale on this one. They overstepped several boundaries and have basically made it to where the students don't have any right to say Free Byrd because it might be disruptive. Not to mention the fact that the punishment was far too harsh for such a simple prank. When someone believes they have lost their rights they should be allowed to fight the system and retain said rights without fear of being persecuted. Our rights are already becoming less and less everyday since our government seems to want to control everything we do on a daily basis. Next thing you know we will have microchips implanted in us that tell the government everything we do, which is an invasion of privacy and a complete breach of our rights as free citizens. The punishment is worthless yes. But the movement it started may open eyes on a higher level than just the school. Our government needs a wake up call or else this country is going to become a military state where you have no freedom and no rights. Your every action will be monitored and you won't be able to eat or even use the restroom without someone knowing it. And that's just one scenario. I can think of a ton of other scenarios and none of them good. Each however is likely. The US government has become too powerful and honestly needs to wake up and smell the revolution that they are causing within it's walls. America use to mean something until Corporate America came into the picture. America use to be one of the greatest places to live and within one century it's been turned completely upside down and our politicians have become greedy. People use to flock here in droves, and now people are trying to find ways to get out or have gone into hiding, Everyone is afraid because we let our government become like this. America has become lazy and we've let our government take over without even saying a word. And anyone who speaks out against the government is silenced with underhanded tactics (bribery, threats, etc.). It's sad that our once great country has basically become something that people fear and hate...



Lady BlizShadow	Feb 3 2012, 09:19 AM Post #6
I still can't use this. Posts: 6,546 Group: Former Monarchs Member #6,722 Joined: March 16, 2008	Us not joining in a protest being conducted primarily by a single public school is going to inevitably lead to a federal upheaval and the eroding of our rights Minority Report style? Uh, slippery slope much? Anyway, your freedom of expression has always been inherently limited in public school for the sake of the environment; hence public school uniforms. And having a cause behind a particular expression doesn't necessarily permit it to be expressed, (ironically, if nothing else, having a school-wide rally for something is indeed more likely to cause a distraction). It doesn't matter if you make the greatest dissertation in the world for coming to school in a chicken costume- You are probably going to be thrown out for it and told to return with something more appropriate. Also, I generally find that the reactions to more mundane instances of supposed abuses of authority also show the true concern of the populous. This cannot be the first time a student has been disciplined for wearing something deemed a "distraction." So where was the outrage for Becky being sent home for showing midriff even though it's supposedly her right to do so under freedom of expression? Or is this, ultimately, underneath all the crap, being fueled by the fact that people just didn't want to see this Byrd fellow in trouble? Call me cynical, but that's how I see it. I find the reactions on both ends melodramatic, and I don't care to help in the cause.
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Wallace	Feb 3 2012, 03:05 PM Post #7
Break out the L-word. The other L-word. Posts: 1,889 Group: S Rank Hero Member #11,873 Joined: February 24, 2011	Koga Harine Feb 3 2012, 08:57 AM Spoiler: click to toggle I'm going to side with Kale on this one. They overstepped several boundaries and have basically made it to where the students don't have any right to say Free Byrd because it might be disruptive. Not to mention the fact that the punishment was far too harsh for such a simple prank. When someone believes they have lost their rights they should be allowed to fight the system and retain said rights without fear of being persecuted. Our rights are already becoming less and less everyday since our government seems to want to control everything we do on a daily basis. Next thing you know we will have microchips implanted in us that tell the government everything we do, which is an invasion of privacy and a complete breach of our rights as free citizens. The punishment is worthless yes. But the movement it started may open eyes on a higher level than just the school. Our government needs a wake up call or else this country is going to become a military state where you have no freedom and no rights. Your every action will be monitored and you won't be able to eat or even use the restroom without someone knowing it. And that's just one scenario. I can think of a ton of other scenarios and none of them good. Each however is likely. The US government has become too powerful and honestly needs to wake up and smell the revolution that they are causing within it's walls. America use to mean something until Corporate America came into the picture. America use to be one of the greatest places to live and within one century it's been turned completely upside down and our politicians have become greedy. People use to flock here in droves, and now people are trying to find ways to get out or have gone into hiding, Everyone is afraid because we let our government become like this. America has become lazy and we've let our government take over without even saying a word. And anyone who speaks out against the government is silenced with underhanded tactics (bribery, threats, etc.). It's sad that our once great country has basically become something that people fear and hate... This. Just, all of this. Our government needs a wake up call, and it's my hope that this will continue to grow, beyond our school, beyond the city, the state, and beyond even the education system itself. But, and I cannot stress this enough, and I say this to no one in particular, but it MUST be a peaceful protest. It cannot be violent in any way. This is a war, and we're going to fight it like wars of the 21st century should be fought: through peaceful protest. Not with the primitive old ways of violent wars with swords and knives and guns and bombs. Through peace, we will continue this movement. @Bliz: As Americans, we are all born or legalized with the right of freedom of expression, freedom of speech, etc etc. Just because we're not quite of age doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to exercise those rights. We don't get our rights by turning eighteen or twenty-one. We get our rights by being born or legalized an American. Your counterexample doesn't really prove anything. If a student is wearing inappropriate clothing, whether it be too vulgar or too flashy, they SHOULD be punished in at least SOME way, like as you said, sending them home to change and then return. Here, the clothing and writings on hands is in no way vulgar or inappropriate, as it is just "Free Byrd." And for just that, they just suspended them for the rest of the day here, no warnings, nothing, you're gone for the day.
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Lady BlizShadow	Feb 3 2012, 08:15 PM Post #8
I still can't use this. Posts: 6,546 Group: Former Monarchs Member #6,722 Joined: March 16, 2008	You missed my point: The line of vulgarity has always been stricter in public school than it has in other public places because school isn't society, per se, but a focused institution of learning. The only reason this school gives a damn now is because the administrative body had an extreme moment of derp about the whole situation. You can show midriff whilst walking outside on the sidewalk, or wear a chicken costume or any other numerable costumes (except what would be considered near-nakedness) that would still nonetheless get you disciplined in school because it's causing a distraction, which you are not obligated to do during school hours. Then there's the most blatant example: public school uniforms. If you honestly- and I mean honestly- care about freedom of expression in schools, I expect you and your school body to continue railing against the dress code to get it more in line with state and federal laws after this particular fiasco is over. Otherwise, I don't believe in the sincerity of your cause. Not that I think the school's actions were all that intelligent either. Again, like I said, both sides are being melodramatic.
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