Secret Service Questions Student on Drawings

[GameMaster]

PROSSER, Washington (AP) -- Secret Service agents questioned a high school student about anti-war drawings he did for an art class, one of which depicted President Bush's head on a stick.

Another pencil-and-ink drawing portrayed Bush as a devil launching a missile, with a caption reading "End the war -- on terrorism."

The 15-year-old boy's art teacher at Prosser High School turned the drawings over to school administrators, who notified police, who called the Secret Service.

"We involve the police anytime we have a concern," Prosser Superintendent Ray Tolcacher told the Tri-City Herald newspaper.

Secret Service agents interviewed the boy last Friday. The student, who was not arrested, has not been identified.

The school district disciplined him, but district officials refused to say what the punishment was. Tolcacher said the boy was not suspended.

The artwork was apparently part of an assignment to keep a notebook of drawings, according to Kevin Cravens, a friend of the boy's family.

The drawing that drew the most notice showed a man in what appeared to be Middle Eastern-style clothing, holding a rifle. He was also holding a stick with an oversize head of the president on it.

The student said the head was enlarged because it was intended to be an effigy, Cravens said. The caption called for an end to the war in Iraq.

A message left by The Associated Press with an after-hours duty officer with the Secret Service in Washington, D.C., was not immediately returned on Monday.

"If this 15-year-old kid in Prosser is perceived as a threat to the president, then we are living in '1984'," Cravens said.

Tolcacher insisted it was not a freedom of speech issue, but a concern over the depiction of violence.

"From what I saw, [school officials] were right to be concerned," Prosser Police Chief Win Taylor said.


I personally don't think the police and Secret Service needed to be identified. I also don't think the boy should have been disciplined. He's just expressing himself through art, isn't that better than him expressing himself with a weapon? Now it's time for you to consider the following points:

- What do you think about the drawings?
- What would you do if you were the boy?
- Do you agree with the schools actions?
- Have you ever been caught drawing a violent picture, if so, were you punished accordingly?

[Rndm_Perfection]

Hitler was an excellent artist.

And if he had been accepted into the art school... history would've been a lot different.

Hitler's Art (http://www.hitler.org/art/)
http://www.hitler.org/art/dogs/dog1.jpg

[DimHalo]

interesting point. i have no other comments as of right now

[Neo]

What does 1984 have to do with anything?

[The Germanator]

The book 1984 I'm sure it's reffering to. Not the year.

[Vampyr]

The book 1984 I'm sure it's reffering to. Not the year.

Yeah. Lol. It's referring to a book called "1984" by George Orwell. In this book, Orwell portrays a future (1984 was a "future" at the time he wrote it) in which the government controls everything. Have you ever heard the expression "big brother is watching you", Neo? This expression is derived from the book "1984". "big brother" was kind of like the government, and they watched EVERY move you make. The TV's in your home are two way, and they see you as you see the stuff on your TV.

They monitor everything you do, and they try to subdue you as much as possible. Orwell's novel is a prophetic satire, trying to warn us that if we let technology advance too far and consume us, then we will loose all of our god given freedoms, such as speech.

I for one think it's stupid that the boy was punished. Since when was speaking against the government unpatriotic? That's the most idiotic thing I have ever hard. According to the constitution, the boy was actually being PATRIOTIC. yeah, that's right. He is using his freedoms to speak out. In my opinion, being forced to ALWAYS agree with the government is as good as treason in america.

[Jonbo298]

I dont remember which president but one of them said "Your not being unpatriotic if your against the president but you are if your against your country". (Something like that, its not exact words but I remember hearing something similar to it)

[Rndm_Perfection]

"Chief Win Taylor"

...Win? Doesn't sound authentic "American." Sounds like a newbie American that doesn't yet understand democracy yet... and rather believes the US of A as "100% nationalist."

[Dylflon]

I hate the fact that many people these days can't speak their mind about political issues without being caleld unpatriotic. What's unpatriotic is trying to take away people's freedom of speech.

When the government shut down an anti-Bush website and someone said to him on live television that it's freedom of speech, he replied "There ought to be limits on freedom." I shuddered when I heard that.

[Bond]

Hitler was an excellent artist.

And if he had been accepted into the art school... history would've been a lot different.

Hitler's Art (http://www.hitler.org/art/)
http://www.hitler.org/art/dogs/dog1.jpg
Yeah, Hitler sucks as an architect though. Albert Speer is so superior:

http://www.brynmawr.edu/emeritus/lane_images/018.jpg

http://history.acusd.edu/gen/filmnotes/images/triumph5.jpg

If only his talents would have been used for a better cause. His book is quite interesting though, "Inside of the Third Reich." And this is totally off subject...

[Vampyr]

yeah, that was off subject. lol. What does Hitler have to do with anything?

Anywho, Dylflon is right. I also shudder to think things could one day be like they are in 1984. Right now things are going ok...but first a 15 year old with his paintings, and next the entire populus.

[Crono]

"There ought to be limits on freedom." I shuddered when I heard that.

There should be limits on freedom. Maybe not in this case, but many things go wrong in society just because there is too much freedom.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not Dictator of Canada, not yet anyway...

:)

*secretly plans the Canadian Revolution of 2015*

[DarkMaster]

There should be limits on freedom. Maybe not in this case, but many things go wrong in society just because there is too much freedom.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not Dictator of Canada, not yet anyway...

:)

*secretly plans the Canadian Revolution of 2015*
And when you do become Dictator, I'll be right there to assassinate you and take control.

[Crono]

And when you do become Dictator, I'll be right there to assassinate you and take control.

No, because you see, I'll have security. I'll have dogs. I'll have bees. And I'll have dogs that shoot out bees when they bark. Will you assassinate me then?

[DarkMaster]

No, because you see, I'll have security. I'll have dogs. I'll have bees. And I'll have dogs that shoot out bees when they bark. Will you assassinate me then?
これを読むことができればトピックとは全く関係ないのにそれを翻訳するのに時間をかけたので、ろばである掲示された!

Altavista: If it can read this, although the topic completely there is no relationship, because time was spent on translating that, it is the donkey, it was posted!

Truer words have never been spoken.

[Rndm_Perfection]

Where does my future Dual Citizenship come into play? Or is Plan A still the way to go, Crono?

And how are we going to divide the Holy Roman Empire?

[Crono]

Where does my future Dual Citizenship come into play? Or is Plan A still the way to go, Crono?

And how are we going to divide the Holy Roman Empire?

Actual I was hoping for you to create a second American Revolution, so you can be dictator, and we could ally Canada and the US, then invade Mexico.

Good idea?

[Rndm_Perfection]

Actual I was hoping for you to create a second American Revolution, so you can be dictator, and we could ally Canada and the US, then invade Mexico.

Good idea?

Sounds about right. Yeah, I'll give the Mexicans a reason to remember the Alamo by turning it into a nuclear launch site. Hmmm, we're gonna need to take some places out before Mexico, I hope you know.

[Vampyr]

<_< >_>


*is reminded of a time when he was planning to destroy the world through a nuclear attack, and rndm stepped in to call a stop to the nonsense*

Shall I do the same?

Nope.


*get's on a plane to Europe*

You guys are going to get what's coming to you. ;)

[DarkMaster]

One day I shall be King of Canada (or perhaps the Holy Divine God of Awesomeness, I haven't quite decided on the title), and I shall rule with an iron fist. Seriously, anyone who disobeys shall succumb to a thrashing of a fist made of iron fastened to a steel chain, which will have been forged by a guy who knows how to make those things, and I will give him $500 to make it, but then he'll get greedy and ask for $700, so I'll order him dead, but he won't like this, and he'll reveal himself to be the King of Australia, which I will then make as my rival, and we shall declare war on one another, and fight for a few years, but eventually I'll win, and attain my rank as the Supreme Awesome Guy (yeah that title kicks ass), and it shall be good, as true now as it was when it was written.

[Rndm_Perfection]

<_< >_>


*is reminded of a time when he was planning to destroy the world through a nuclear attack, and rndm stepped in to call a stop to the nonsense*

Shall I do the same?

Nope.


*get's on a plane to Europe*

You guys are going to get what's coming to you. ;)

Oh, don't do me any favors. But do realize that my aspirations are true and Hitler is indeed related to the topic.

P.S. That thread you were in long ago had reached five pages of "What's the plan?" replied with "1. Get nuke 2. Nuke people". Simply put.

http://www.gametavern.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6975&page=1&pp=15&highlight=nuke

P.P.S. It was also during a time that I had an awkward respect for this place, greater than that of a gaming forum =¬Þ

[The Germanator]

Wow, I remember that thread. It sucked. A lot.

[Typhoid]

Whomever wants to be the King of Canada, im fine with, as long as i am the Lackey....That Revolution thing sounds kinda spiffy right about now...

And Dylflon, their should be rights to freedom...infact there are, they are called laws. If we were free do do whatever we want, there is this kid from my grade 7 class, who lets say....wouldnt be alive anymore...

[Vampyr]

Wow, I remember that thread. It sucked. A lot.

That my friend, was a lot of fun.

The only thing more fun that could be 23 hours in an arcade? ;)

[Dark Samurai]

One day I shall be King of Canada (or perhaps the Holy Divine God of Awesomeness, I haven't quite decided on the title), and I shall rule with an iron fist. Seriously, anyone who disobeys shall succumb to a thrashing of a fist made of iron fastened to a steel chain, which will have been forged by a guy who knows how to make those things, and I will give him $500 to make it, but then he'll get greedy and ask for $700, so I'll order him dead, but he won't like this, and he'll reveal himself to be the King of Australia, which I will then make as my rival, and we shall declare war on one another, and fight for a few years, but eventually I'll win, and attain my rank as the Supreme Awesome Guy (yeah that title kicks ass), and it shall be good, as true now as it was when it was written.

Run on sentences!!! :crazy: :retard: the...horror...

[The Germanator]

That my friend, was a lot of fun.

The only thing more fun that could be 23 hours in an arcade? ;)


Yes, my twenty-three hours in the arcade have been fun. :)

[Dark Samurai]

Hmm... Off-topic discussions rule...

[Dylflon]

Whomever wants to be the King of Canada, im fine with, as long as i am the Lackey....That Revolution thing sounds kinda spiffy right about now...

And Dylflon, their should be rights to freedom...infact there are, they are called laws. If we were free do do whatever we want, there is this kid from my grade 7 class, who lets say....wouldnt be alive anymore...

I think you meant to say limits not rights. I mean freedom concerning our rights as human beings. Not the freedom to shoot someone or something like that.

[DarkMaster]

Run on sentences!!! :crazy: :retard: the...horror...
Don't tell me what to do, I'll have you beheaded.

[Professor S]

BACK... ON... TOPIC...

Lets think about this for a second before we start shooting around claims of denial of freedoms and the like. A 15 year old kid draws a picture of a terrorist with George Bush's head on a stick asking for an end to the war on terrorism. Now, do you think the secret service was brought in to go after the kid?

I don't think so.

There are multiple terror cells operating in this country RIGHT NOW, many of which we have no clue what they're up to. Odds are the secret service was brought in to possibly identify one of the cells through the contact they ay have had, say through a family member, with the kid. I agree that if the kid has no connection he should not be puniched in anyway for just speaking his mind, but simply questioning someone isn't out of the question.

Plus, think about it a little more. What if the kid was connected in some way to a terror cell and everyone just ignored it? After the act of terrorism was completed and all the information starts coming in, we'd be the most critical if we later found out some kid was drawing terrorists killing our president in public school was connected to it.

Everyone wants to be safe, and everyone wants to not be inconvenienced in the least. It doesn't work that way.

[Vampyr]

BACK... ON... TOPIC...

Lets think about this for a second before we start shooting around claims of denial of freedoms and the like. A 15 year old kid draws a picture of a terrorist with George Bush's head on a stick asking for an end to the war on terrorism. Now, do you think the secret service was brought in to go after the kid?

I don't think so.

There are multiple terror cells operating in this country RIGHT NOW, many of which we have no clue what they're up to. Odds are the secret service was brought in to possibly identify one of the cells through the contact they ay have had, say through a family member, with the kid. I agree that if the kid has no connection he should not be puniched in anyway for just speaking his mind, but simply questioning someone isn't out of the question.

Plus, think about it a little more. What if the kid was connected in some way to a terror cell and everyone just ignored it? After the act of terrorism was completed and all the information starts coming in, we'd be the most critical if we later found out some kid was drawing terrorists killing our president in public school was connected to it.

Everyone wants to be safe, and everyone wants to not be inconvenienced in the least. It doesn't work that way.


That still doesn't justify why he was punished. I agree it's good to look into it, just to make sure it's ok, because in the world we live in, you never know. Better safe than sorry.

But what happened to the old phrase: "Innocent until proven guilty"?

[jeepnut]

But what happened to the old phrase: "Innocent until proven guilty"?

O.J. Simpson happened.