Bryan Killian, who one day went to school wearing an eye patch and pirate accessory (um, an inflatable cutlass), was sent home. Now he's fighting back, saying that the school violated his Freedom of religion:
“I feel like my First Amendment was violated,” Killian, 16, said. “Freedom of religion and freedom of expression. That’s what I tried to do, and I got shot down.”
Freedom of religion?
Yes, Killian says, his “pirate regalia” is part of his faith — the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
The parody religion, whose “Pastafarian” members worship a sentient, airborne clump of noodles and meatballs, originated in a letter to the Kansas school board urging it to add the religion to its plans to teach evolution and intelligent design side by side.
(Image credit: Steve Dixon)
All praise the FSM.
But if the school has a dress code (or at least some sort of written rule about inappropriate attire), then they're in the right.
If crap fads could die a little faster, the world would be 1/10000000000000000000000000'th of a percent less lame.
I feel a lot of pity for that kid. He's not cool, hes not even "nerd cool" hes just...headed for the shortbus to stupidland.
As for this guy, it's more freedom of expression. If he sat there with his eye patch and maybe an unobtrusive pretend cutlass, he would probably have gotten away with it. But then, he wouldn't have proven his point, would he?
I'm all for the FSM, but that's just the 15 minutes of fame thing.
Oh, and by the way, in what way is this "neat"?
I think this is somewhat idiotic on the part of the kid, but the school too- it's just a freakin' eyepatch. Makes my school look like we could get away with murder.
you may be right that freedom of religion doesn't cover a religion that isn't officially recognised, but what the hell kind of freedom is it if the government has to recognise the validity of your religion before you're free to practice it?
The Church of FSM doesn't poke fun at Christianity per se; it pokes fun at subset of Christians who have been hoodwinked by so-called Intelligent Design.
How does one get a religion recognized? And recognized by whom? The Govt.? Is there a Ministry of Officially Recognized Religions?