Student James Lord said "God bless," and got suspended.

Date published: 1/25/2004

GIVE PEOPLE FREEDOM of speech and there's no telling how they'll abuse it. Take James Lord, a senior at Dupo (Ill.) High School. Mr. Lord had a daily news program on the school's closed-circuit TV. On Dec. 17, he closed his broadcast with "Have a safe and happy holiday, and God bless."

God bless. Imagine that. Calling the phrase "inappropriate," the school principal suspended Mr. Lord from the broadcast for a month. (Perhaps next the school will force him to discontinue using his own last name.)

The censorious principal notwithstanding, students are not obliged to check their free-speech rights at the schoolhouse door--only their weapons, drugs, and obscene T-shirts. In fact, the American Center for Law and Justice called the action taken by the school "unbelievable" and is preparing to help Mr. Lord (Mr. X?) fight the suspension at this Tuesday's school board meeting.

Freedoms are easily lost if they are not defended, so good luck to Mr. Lord, and God bless.

Date published: 1/25/2004