May 4, 2012
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A Canadian high school student was suspended for a week because wore a t-shirt promoting his Christian beliefs and he was told if he wears it again – he could be suspended for the remainder of the school year.
William Swinimer, a student at Forest Heights Community School in Nova Scotia, was punished for wearing a shirt that read, “Life is wasted without Jesus.” The shirt is a reference to a passage of Scripture from the New Testament.
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Swinimer told Fox News that he was told the shirt was a form of “hate talk.”
“I’ve been told by my principal that it is hate talk and is disrespectful to other people’s religions,” Swinimer said. “She said it (the shirt) cannot be in school because people would get offended.”
Nancy Pynch-Worthylake, the school board superintendent, told The Canadian Press that the wording on the shirt is “problematic.”
“If I have an expression that says, ‘My life is enhanced with Jesus,’ then there’s no issue with that, everybody is able to quickly understand that that’s my opinion about my own belief,” she told the newspaper. “If the shirt were to say, ‘Without Jesus, your life is a complete waste,’ then that’s clear that it is an opinion aimed at somebody else’s belief.”
Swinimer confirmed that he had been disciplined a number of times for wearing shirts with religious references.
“I’ve found that they have dissed Christianity quite a bit,” he said. “I do not want to be disrespectful of anybody else’s religions. I don’t want to put down anybody’s opinions. All I want to do is stand up for rights and freedoms of Canadians.”
The school does not have a dress code and Swinimer said students wear a variety of t-shirts. But he said for whatever reason, his Christian shirts seem to get him sent to the office.
“They treat other religions differently than they do Christianity,” he said. “The staff and principal and school board have been very hostile toward Christianity.”
But, he said, they promote other religions in the school.
“If they can pick on Christians in this school, what can they pick next?” he wondered. “Christianity in that school is not being treated the same way. I’m being discriminated against because of my religion.”
Swinimer attends Jesus the Good Shepherd Church, a Pentecostal congregation in Nova Scotia. Pastor Varrick Day told Fox News he is proud of his young parishioner.
“I’m very proud he’s standing up,” Day said. “I think he’s being bullied by the staff at the school and by the school board.”
Day called the suspension outrageous and said he hoped it would awaken other Christians across the nation.
“It’s not about the t-shirt,” he said. “This is what our forefathers fought and died for – this freedom of speech and religion.”
School officials told Swinimer that if he returned to school wearing the shirt, he would be suspended for the remainder of the school year.
“I plan to wear that t-shirt Monday, he said. “Not because I want to be disrespectful, not because I want to defy anybody, but because I believe this is the right thing to do.”
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It is clear that the PC in Canada is light years ahead of anyplace else in this hemisphere of the globe. Let these idiot "educators" try this from south of the Mexican border all the way to the tip of Argentina and the authorities will be dragging lakes, rivers, and ponds, for their bodies. Let Allah stay in his mayhemic part of the world. Let's not be cowards and call Islam what it is….the religion of fanatical hatred.
I believe in worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of my own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege. Let them worship how, where, or what they may.
I have to agree with the school on the point that his T-shirt is quite disrespectful to others as he is syaing that their life is meaningless and worthless if they don't believe in his god. However I also agree with this young man that the school can't just single out one person or religion.
"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:20.
I pray you will wear something that let's them know about the love of God and gives them hope~perhaps John 3:16.
Why waist your life without Trojan condoms. Would that be objectionable to?
I'm an American, so I don't really get a vote here, and I'm a pagan so I don't really have a dog in the fight, christianity wise, but it's clear even to me that this action violates the Canadian Charter of Freedoms. BOO, PC administrators.
That, too, is obnoxious! I'm sure that a shirt promoting Islam would have been applauded as diverse.
This young person has the courage to face educatoirs whose thought process only goes one of two inches and then breaks down into stupidity.
Freedom of speech?
I would like to add one thing on this discussion. I find it amazing that on the absolute whole of ALL these comments…there is great civility in the discussion. You guys should see the crap, anger, vulgarity, hate, and stupidity that follows almost any commentary by people who come onto the FoxNews site just to stir up trouble. They have no other reason for being…….So whether or not we agree with the content of this article or not, we have apparently agreed to have a civil discourse over it.
Mike….Hope you are having a great day.
Welcome to the 'new' America. A nation that is moving forward.
Well they gonna hafta suspend me. Life IS WASTED WITHOUT JESUS
Well they gonna hafta suspend me. Life IS WASTED WITHOUT JESUS
Really?
its high time we as Christians STAND firm on OUR BELIEFS and atop ALLOWING other religions to take the front and push us back as if we shouldn't say a thing….We can do something and that is UNITE as the body of Christ and STOP the persecution before it gets even worse! This is absolute hatred of CHRISTIANITY and you csn bet that if this had stated "allah" nothing would have been done!
The student has a right to free speech. If you don't like what his shirt says, it's too bad. If the school has no policy with regard to what's on a T-shirt, they have no case. He, on the other hand, does. They violated his constitutional rights. It's as simple as that.
its high time we as Christians STAND firm on OUR BELIEFS and stop ALLOWING other religions to take the front and push us back as if we shouldn't say a thing….We can do something and that is UNITE as the body of Christ and STOP the persecution before it gets even worse! This is absolute hatred of CHRISTIANITY and you can bet that if this had stated "allah" nothing would have been done!
We Christians need to wake up and speak up before it is to late. The USA is losing it's religious freedom. Check out Join Us and Break the Spiral of Silence!: http://www.colsoncenter.org/twominutewarning/archive/entry/33/18752#.T6UFV7buUm8.twitter.
Here's an idea. A school dress code that doesn't allow T-shirts with any graphics.
Just a taste of things to come as the Left continues its hypocritical assault on Christianity whilst turning a blind eye (and actually green-lighting) Islam. Imagine the outrage if this shirt had said 'Muhammad'; CAIR would be all over it.
Most of us on the 'left' realize that ALL religions are vile ideologies of hatred, intolerance and ignorance. As for christianity, well the assault SHOULD continue until they take responsibility for their pedophilia epidemic….
Most of us on the 'left' realize that ALL religions are vile ideologies of hatred, intolerance and ignorance. As for christianity, well the assault SHOULD continue until they take responsibility for their pedophilia epidemic….
Suffering as a Christian.
1 Peter 4:12-19.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Brothers and sisters of God this story and others should not surprise you or alarm you. This has been told to us that we would suffer for the name of Jesus. Praise God because our treasure is in heaven.
So let me get this straight. I am being told that people are afraid of modern day Christians because of the crusades, right? That is like saying all Muslims are killers because of 911. It must suck to be a moron.
Please fire this principal on Monday.
This is what happens when you send your child to any GODLESS public school. Do the right thing and home school your children. After all, it's the parent's RESPONSIBILITY to educate their own children, not the states.
Shirts have every thing you can think of printed on them…No one is "offended" at a shopping mall by some of the most obnoxious, filthy and disgusting shirts you can imagine! Shirts with religious remarks are a step up…An example of a shirt that school officials found to be acceptable:"Atheist and proud of it" happens to offend me, but as a Christian I'm not allowed to be offended? The Allah example doesn't wash…Quite frankly what the shirt says is meaningless; Look the other way and accept it…Grow up and get some callouses on your emotions… Offended? Poor baby…
If it was an "Allah" shirt they would have no problem with it.
Want more of this? Vote Democrat!
I've seen a lot of bad t shirts in schools….this is not one of them. Our educators in some cases are doing the governments dirty work…plain and simple.
The problem has to do with the millions of victims of christian clergy pedophilia…. These poor victims see these shirts and have horrible flashbacks… it's like showing combat videos to soldiers with PTSD…..
I bet that large portions of the student body wear t-shirts promoting violent rappers, notorious rebel leaders like Che, have references to drugs, or any other manner of supposed immoral behavior….and yet they are probably not suspended for a week….This is a direct attack on free speech and clearly indicates an intolerance towards Christianity and those perpetrating the suspension and complaints are bigots and filled with hate and should be fired from their posts…..America! or Canada in this instance!
The difference between this and all the other mentioned possible shirts, is this one says your life is a waste unless you think like the wearer does. I have never seen a shirt that says "You are a piece of shit if you don't listen to Tupac."
Just write on the bottom of the shirt "in my opinion". That should shut up the so called adults running this school. What Hate Speech?
Well at least we now know American public school administrators aren't the only idiots in charge of schools Canada has these idiots too!
People wear shirts that offend everyone…Maybe I don't like Nike stuff or I HATE Black it offends me cause I think black is satinism….NOW I really don't but get the point..i think everyone should wear what they want..if you don't like what I'm wearing DOn't LOOK AT IT DUH..i think this is stupid..HATE TALK…WOW so loving Jesus is HATE NOW…WOW…
It is best to live a life filled with the love and forgiveness that Jesus taught by word and example. There are many who reject the Gospel because it makes them feel uncomfortable with guilt and shame. Being born again requires one to be sorry for their sins and to attempt to abide by the law. Makes you wonder what laws the school administrators are trying to follow and what laws the young man is trying to follow. Seems to me that they are on different paths.
we have the right to believe whatever we want and I will stand up for the name of JESUS, He saved me, He healed my body, and He set me free, and JESUS paid a price for me that I could not pay, only Jesus is worthy to be praised, I am not religious, but I do have a relatonship with Jesus, he has never left and and he never will…..Just remember when u go to the polls to vote that obama does not want Christianity in the United States vote wisely.
Newsflash…. the Founding Fathers didn't want christianity in the United States either…..
Howard Aubrey how ingorant r u, there were 29 theologians that signed the constitution, this nation was based on there faith in Jehovah God
Howard Aubrey needs to read a little more American history, if he has actually read any to begin with.
Respecting the beliefs of others is important in a society that has people of many religions. I believe this is the sentiment behind the first amendment. The problem with our "politically correct" culture is this. We have become so afraid of "offending" everyone else, that we have become offensive WITH it.
so once again the "tolerance" everyone speaks of is just directed at Christians…We have to be tolerant of all others displays of any other religion but the displays Christians have chosen for us WON'T be tolerated as it might offend someone? little by little society is chipping away at our religious freedoms and if we don't start standing up and saying to the world we not going to take it anymore…then before you know it we will be reading the bible in the candlelight with the curtains closed in our homes and fearing being "caught"…do you really think that "they" will stop at these things…the next thing you know someone will be offended by a church and want it closed…open your eyes people "they" are invading our society and by "they" I mean…well you know who you are….you creeps.
You must mean christian pedophiles, and yes, I agree, they ARE invading our society…..
If a person is a pedophile, then they are not a real Christian. They appear in all religions, races, and ethnic groups.
Howard Aubrey well I guess people just thought howard was an idiot until he open his mouth and removed all doubt
Idiots ARE invading our society… !!!
No, it wouldn't bother me if someone had a shirt that said life is wastsd without Allah. That would be their opinion, and they have a right to it. And I'm a Christian.
As a Christian we share Christ , through Him revealing what is right or wrong. God draws men and they repent. If we force people to do what we feel is right or wrong then there is no conviction and we are no better then religions that demand people obey or die.
As a Christian we share Christ , through Him revealing what is right or wrong. God draws men and they repent. If we force people to do what we feel is right or wrong then there is no conviction and we are no better then religions that demand people obey or die.
By the way, this post was shared by my husband. He idn't realize he was on my page
It all comes down to this… It's ok to offend Christians, just don't offend any other religions. As Christians this should be of no surprise because it says in the Bible that we will be persecuted for our beliefs.
If the shirt had said "Life is wasted without Allah" would they have expelled the student? Do we really think it's about the wording? I know some of you do, but many of us don't. Christians in that school need to be taking pictures of T-shirts that did NOT get a student expelled and see if they can make a case that THESE T-shirts could ALSO offend someone so the school officials will back off. The problem with Liberals is that they only want free speech IF it is in lock-step with their beliefs. Would he have been suspended if he said to someone "Life is wasted without Jesus"? I don't think so. They are not interested in free speech if it supports a view contrary to their beliefs and will call people zenophobic, homophobic, haters, racist and any other adjective to demean someone else's views. Even Mr. Savage, the Left's current anti-bullying icon, could not contain his contempt when speaking to a group of teenagers. He demonstrated his compassion and acceptance for all views by attacking religious beliefs of many young teens at a high school by attacking the Bible. Using his status to bully a bunch of kids by attacking the basis of their faith is absolutely appalling. Then he tried to rationalize his behavior by telling those who did NOT walk out on his speech that those students needed to get a thicker skin Is that the advice he is giving gay teens regarding bullying? I think NOT. Christianity is indeed being attacked.
If the shirt had said "Life is wasted without Allah" would they have expelled the student? Do we really think it's about the wording? I know some of you do, but many of us don't. Christians in that school need to be taking pictures of T-shirts that did NOT get a student expelled and see if they can make a case that THESE T-shirts could ALSO offend someone so the school officials will back off. The problem with Liberals is that they only want free speech IF it is in lock-step with their beliefs. Would he have been suspended if he said to someone "Life is wasted without Jesus"? I don't think so. They are not interested in free speech if it supports a view contrary to their beliefs and will call people zenophobic, homophobic, haters, racist and any other adjective to demean someone else's views. Even Mr. Savage, the Left's current anti-bullying icon, could not contain his contempt when speaking to a group of teenagers. He demonstrated his compassion and acceptance for all views by attacking religious beliefs of many young teens at a high school by attacking the Bible. Using his status to bully a bunch of kids by attacking the basis of their faith is absolutely appalling. Then he tried to rationalize his behavior by telling those who did NOT walk out on his speech that those students needed to get a thicker skin Is that the advice he is giving gay teens regarding bullying? I think NOT. Christianity is indeed being attacked.
A couple of hundred years ago, Christians came to North American to escape persecution. History repeats itself.
Forcing every Native they came across to convert or die…..
Looks like most of them came to impose persecution….
Pasor Day has summed it up about right: The school is bullying the kids now and blaming the kids statement on a T-Shirt. A shirt saying "My life is enhanced with Jesus", doesn't change anything in the statement. If you don't have Jesus, your life isn't enhanced. Same statement. It is apparent that the Bible is right… those who speak up for Christ will be persecuted as Christ was.
In the United States of America (I am aware this story is in Canada) we have a constitutional right to freedom of religion. Therefore, we have a constitutional obligation to respect another individual's right to display their own beliefs whether we hold the same ones or not. In fact, this principal should defend the student's right to where his shirt. If anyone is offended it should be every American and Canadian when they see a public school official act illegally and defy a student of a basic right.
Keep your head up, William, and don't ever alter your enthusiasm for Christ. John 15:18-21 –
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you… If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you… because they do not know Him who sent Me."
The T-Shirt phrase sounds more like an opinion than anything else. My how the world has changed. When I was in public grade school, once a year the Gideons would hand out new testament pocket bibles right outside the classroom as we left. I still have it. I wasn't much of a religious person back then. I was just happy to get something for free. Now it would probably be confiscated for some twisted reason. Oh, and BTW, for those who haven't read it, the New Testament teaches forgiveness. Not such a terrible motto to live by.
He being punished for wearing it seems like a possible 1st amendment violation.
Thefforts of these few would be much more appreciated if they would take that energy and apply it to something that is meaningful, beneficial, and helpful to others. What a waste of energy and time!
I wonder if they would have had a problem with "Life is a blast with Islam".
LOL!!!! Perfect!!!!!!!
Christians suck and they are mad because they are losing their grip over the world with their fictional fairy tale beliefs. A good amount of christian stories in their bible are plagiarized/rewritten stolen stories from more ancient religions. They stole pagan stories and pagan holidays. Adam and Eve, Noah's ark and many other stories, even the character Jesus himself are based off other religious stories from more ancient religions. Jesus never existed and is just a created fictional story/character.
Canadians are heathens and this stupid decision proves it BIG TIME! Wearing a shirt promoting Christ, is hate speech? Come on you scum sucking godless pigs, give it a rest for once in your thoroughly miserable stinking lives!
People are not free where there is no freedom of religion or freedom of speech. Bye, bye to Canada, guess we hardly knew ya!
In the book of REVELATIONS it is said that there will be a time where "THEY WILL TURN AGAINST ME AND I WILL HEAR THEM. tHEY WILL CALL FOR ME AND I WILL NOT HEAR FOR THEY HAVE IGNORED ME!" This school is a dealer in discontent and they parents I am sure for the most part will do they're part.
I like this kid because he is right. It is ok to wear pro gay shirts, it is ok to wear pro muslim shirts, it is ok to wear pro black panther shirts, but if you wear a christian shirt then it pro hate. If you read this tell your liberal teachers and principle that the christian here in my area support you and what you are standing up for. Tell those cry baby cowards that you have rights just like everyone else.
Really!