Ready to have your blood pressure raised sky-high?

[No Exit]

Educators face blowback for protesting Iraq war in schools

Carlos Miller

Published: February 9, 2006

Just over three years ago, as the nation readied for war with Iraq, elementary school teacher Deb Mayer stood in front of her class and uttered the word that would get her blacklisted from her profession.

It was a word that got her deemed “unpatriotic” by an angry parent. A word that led to her termination from the Bloomington, Indiana school district. A word that got her labeled as a potential sex offender and ruined her chances of finding work elsewhere. That word was “peace.”

(snip)(Note: Read Mayer's whole story. The parent who complained went to truly ridiculous lengths. I would like to know this parent's name. HE is the one who should suffer job termination. He is the one who should be ostracized. He is no "parent" if he approves murder.)

Today, after spending more than $50,000 in legal fees in a lawsuit against the Monroe County Community School Corporation, Mayer awaits a decision from a Reagan-appointed federal judge as to whether or not she will be granted a jury trial. “If Judge Barker doesn’t grant us a jury trial, it would really be criminal,” Mayer said from her son’s home in Wisconsin, where she was forced to live after finding herself unable to support herself. “It means I would have spent all this money for nothing.”

Mayer is one of at least three teachers in the country who have filed lawsuits against their employers since the beginning of the war, claiming their First Amendment rights were violated after they were fired for what they said was an opposition to the war.

(snip)

(emphasis added)

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Educators_face_blowback_for_protesting_war_0209.html

Did you ever wonder why so often, in our country, the people who take unorthodox positions are Hollywood stars or other entertainers? I used to wonder... I would always be asking something along the lines of, "Why the HELL do they think I would CARE what (fill in the blank: Barbra Streisand, Britney Spears, etc.) thinks about (fill in the blank: Iraq war, poverty, etc.)?

I finally figured it out. (I'm kinda slow...) You HAVE to be someone who is established enough, who has reached the top of a very lucrative career--someone who doesn't have to answer to any particular BOSS--before you can dare to speak your mind in this goddam country. Look what is done to average people. They are retaliated against.

I will never again roll my eyes when some actor or actress speaks up on an issue. They are among the privileged few who CAN--and if we are lucky enough, their view will happen to be something that needs to be said (such as what Rev. Lowery or Pres. Carter said).

[DemInDistress]

1. I commented earlier on this story here it that comment...

very interesting...even though the ACLU rejected her case
she still should have sought out a First Amendment lawyer..their out there. The only problem with those types of lawyers is they want up to 40% of the judgment (if any). This case sounds like a winner irregardless of whether this current judge rejects her plea for a jury trial,there are appeals she can make. As for shelling out 50k already well should she go to trial and win a judgment she gets it all..
And for that dad the scumbag he is, wow..sounds like a bush ass kisser to me. enough about him,why give him any attention. The principal well, it will have to explain to a jury why it did what it did and sometimes the school will look like a fool, ergo, settlement out of court. All i could say is keep the faith and don't quit.
Back in 1997 I had a 1st amendment case against Rudy Giuliani, the NYCLU also rejected my case yet urged to to continue looking for an attorney. After 5 tries with various good lawyers I found one willing to take my case and 4 yrs later settled out of court. so.
See some of my case at: http://screwedbyRudy.blogspot.com

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Oh. My. God.

They registered as a sex offender because she said the word "peace" and all this horrible stuff?

[azurnoir]

3. Wow

I guess we're lucky to be in Minnesota. My sons 3rd grade class and the other 3rd and 4th graders at his school just had "world peace week" that yes, included Iraq. No protesting parents, no one got fired, just alot of support from everyone concerned this is a public school, just for the record.

[guruoo]

4. Bastards deserve

a serious ..."spanking".
(snip)(Note: Read Mayer's whole story. The parent who complained went to truly ridiculous lengths. I would like to know this parent's name. HE is the one who should suffer job termination. He is the one who should be ostracized. He is no "parent" if he approves murder.)

[OneBlueSky]

5. why is the ACLU refusing to take these cases? . . . n/t

.

[WyLoochka]

7. Perhaps because there are

so many cases. Litigating is very expensive, and the financial resources of the ACLU are finite. Not taking cases doesn't necessarily mean the ACLU thinks they have no merit, it's that they can't afford to take on every case.

[depakid]

6. Indiana....

Next to Ohio, I think it must take the cake for the most twisted and deranged stories per capita that I read here on DU.

[RagingInMiami]

8. To contribute to Deb Mayer's legal defense fund

Send a check to: Deb Mayer, Peace Teacher Legal Defense Fund, 302 Walnut Street, Madison, Wi. 53726.

She needs all the help she can get.