Calif court considers whether violent poetry is criminal

[Kadie]

Calif court considers whether violent poetry is criminal

By DAVID KRAVETS, AP Legal Affairs Writer


Last Updated: May 27, 2004, 02:25:16 PM PDT


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The California Supreme Court on Thursday considered whether to let stand the criminal conviction of a 15-year-old boy who was expelled from school and served 100 days in juvenile hall for writing a poem that included a threat to kill students.

The case weighs free speech rights against the government's responsibility to provide safety in schools after campus shootings nationwide.

Attorneys for the San Jose boy, identified as George T. in court records, described the poem as youthful artistic expression. One passage says: "For I can be the next kid to bring guns to kill students at school." Another reads: "For I am Dark, Destructive & Dangerous."

"This is a classic case of a person expressing himself and trying to communicate his feelings through a poem," attorney Michael Kresser told the court, which gave no clear indication whether it would overturn the conviction.

more... http://www.modbee.com/state_wire/story/8629091p-9500471c.html

[tkulesa]

1. This kid needed counceling, not jail.

The whole idea of going getting arrested for a poem, absent any other issue, is horrible.

[VelmaD]

4. Why would he necessarily need counseling?

Seems to me like me's already found a perfectly good outlet for dealing with the raging emotions of teenager-hood.

[Voltaire99]

7. He needs a publisher, not a counselor.

Anyone who can make Americans take note of poetry must be doing something right. ;-)

[Democat]

2. Where is the direct threat to kill someone?

"For I can be the next kid to bring guns to kill students at school." Another reads: "For I am Dark, Destructive & Dangerous."

These are not threats. "For I can be..." is not a threat.

[Edmond Dantes]

8. I agree.

The kid is merely recognizing the potential for evil that lurks in himself, indeed, in all of us. Aware of his dark side, he is better able to exercise self-control.

If only our Squatter President possessed such insight... .

[havocmom]

3. If we could hook generators to the graves of our Founding Fathers

we wouldn't need any stinking oil! All that spinning would be enough to power everything.

@)@#$@)*@&$)(!@&$*)(!@&_)@#%()@#&$(*@#%&()#@*%^@#%&##)@##@!@)*&%@#& fascists, 'look what they've done to my song, ma'

[Amerpie]

5. Founding Fathers

Unless the kid is black, native american, or a woman.

Ancestor worship is misguided. So is hero worship.

[happyending]

6. .

Hard lessons from poetry class: Speech is free unless it's critical
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/03OpOPN62051504.htm

[Kadie]

9. Here is the poem...

Poem that got juvenile convicted of criminal threats

The Associated Press

Last Updated: May 27, 2004, 02:30:21 PM PDT

Here is the poem, titled "Faces," that got a 15-year-old student convicted of violating a criminal threats statute, which was the subject of a California Supreme Court hearing Thursday:

"Who are these faces around me? Where did they come from? They would probably become the next doctors or loirs or something. All really intelligent and ahead in their game. I wish I had a choice on what I want to be like they do. All so happy and vagrant. Each origonal in their own way. They Make me want to puke. For I am Dark, Destructive & Dangerous. I slap on my face if happiness but Inside I am evil!! For I can be the next kid to bring guns to kill students at school. So Parents watch your children cuz I'm BACK!!"

http://www.modbee.com/state_wire/story/8629096p-9500476c.html

[Nlighten1]

10. Have they turned on a TV lately?

[AlCzervik]

11. This kid didn't actually name

any one person in his poem so i don't understand how he can be charged. who is the victim specifically or is this "Minority Report" time, areest before he can commit a crime in the future.