Well, I certainly live in a fascist community

[Ishoutandscream]

I was asked to make announcements on Friday. I always joke, and the faculty and kids seem to really enjoy them. During the announcements, I made two jokes concerning the news of the week. One was finding the 380 tons of explosives in Mr. Crawford's office (a good guy, a Republican, we joke all of the time). Another joke was John Kerry walking into a bar, and being asked "why the long face?" These were among several jokes I told interspersed with announcements - nothing threatening, or nothing denoting my political beliefs.

Well, the whole school knows where I stand politically, and I had a run in with a parent a couple of months back while I was talking politics with a like minded friend of mine. She complained to central office about my anti-Bush cartoons in my office, and I was asked to take down a Kerry sign in my office. Now, apparently, someone has complained about my annoucement to central and I got an e-mail from my boss stating I shouldn't state my political "agenda" and that I had put him in a tough spot. I responded that I was joking, and that I had made a joke making fun of Kerry. I felt bad for him, but I don't believe I did anything wrong.

I believe that people are scared. They know their man is going down. They try to suppress dissent to their glorious leader by suppressing free speech - even when it is announcements that everyone compliments, even the kids who say they listen more closely when I speak. And these were jokes, folks

I have found campaign signs and cartoons left in my office for Republican candidates. I laugh, and the ones who pull the pranks laugh. It is harmless fun. But when apparently a Bushbot parent has a problem, he or she can't confront ME! That's the sign of the times.

I know that some of you will say I should never had made those statements in the first place. Well, they were relevant, and funny, and fit the times. I just don't make jokes like these - I also said the Friday night football game would have Janet Jackson performing, but please no flash photography. No one complained about that.

Oh well, my rant is over. I can't be myself, and I certainly can't have a belief system. If my office had had pro Bush materials, I would never had gotten my principal or myself in this mess. (oh, by the way, I'm a counselor at a Freshman center). Thanks for listening, and one day to go.

James

[funkybutt]

1. i hear ya

i made up these flyers about fascism after I was confronted at a sign waving publicity outing for Kerry. The person aparently had a problem with my right to free speech. I told the lady that she must be a fascist then. She responded, "I'm not going to talk to you anymore if you're going to call me names!"

The impression I get is that people (freeper types) don't truly know the definition of fascism.