Lawsuit: Michigan teacher tried to force Palestinian American student to stand for Pledge

[cnm]

None of that is an excuse to be a jackass. Stand up and say the pledge. You have been given a unique set of freedoms that exist sparsely throughout the world. Show some appreciation for it.

What an exceptional load. Just about every American who goes to Europe reports more freedom in their life there.

 

[TemplarKormac]

What an exceptional load. Just about every American who goes to Europe reports more freedom in their life there.

Such cluelessness.

Prove your claim.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Such cluelessness.

Prove your claim.

Aaand an hour later, he didn't. It's amusing how asking a leftist to prove their claims sends them running for the hills.

 

[irosie91]

Aaand an hour later, he didn't. It's amusing how asking a leftist to prove their claims sends them running for the hills.

I suggest a compromise----the kid that does not wish to stand along with his classmates for the Pledge--
should be allowed to leave the room for the duration------go wait it out in the hall or "washroom". He
should not be permitted to remain sitting in the presence of other kids standing and doing the pledge

 

[Hollie]

‘A Palestinian American student in Michigan is suing a middle school teacher and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, claiming in federal court that the educator violated the student's First Amendment right by attempting to force the student to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The East Middle School teacher, Carissa Soranno, according to the lawsuit, allegedly told the student, “Since you live in this country and enjoy its freedom, if you don’t like it, you should go back to your country.”

The student, 14, is referred to as D.K. in the suit and is represented in the claim in U.S. District Court in Detroit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan and Arab American Civil Rights League. The student did not want to stand for the pledge because she believes the U.S. government has supported Israel in the Israel-Hamas war that has devastated Gaza and left thousands dead, according to the claim.

The suit, filed June 25, asks for a judgment that finds the educator's actions unconstitutional and awards damages, claiming Soranno's actions inflicted emotional distress on the student. A spokesperson for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Soranno did not answer a voicemail left by a reporter at a phone number associated with her name.

"The right to freely speak — or not speak — is a form of protest that is fundamental to a well-functioning democracy — even when its exercise creates controversy or makes others uncomfortable," wrote Bonitsu Kitaba, interim legal director for the ACLU of Michigan, in a news release.’

Lawsuit: Michigan teacher tried to force Palestinian American student to stand for Pledge

A Palestinian American student in Michigan is suing a middle school teacher and school district, claiming the educator violated the First Amendment.

www.usatoday.com

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943): students can’t be compelled to say the Pledge of Allegiance in public school.

Go pound your Koran somewhere else, loser.

 

[elektra]

... if you have been permitted to be here, you swear allegiance until you leave ...
You are under the good graces of the American government, act like it ...

Under the good graces of the American people

 

[Darkwind]

That is ridiculously ignorant and false.
No one knows where the Hebrew were until they went to Egypt around 1600 BC.
But they probably were sheep herders in the Sinai, since that was the only place with a drought.
The Hebrew voluntarily stayed in Egypt for over 400 years.
So around 1000 BC they left Egypt and illegally invaded the Land of Canaan.
And became notoriously disliked for massacring the Canaanite women and children, at places they invaded, like Jericho.
They angered everyone with their slaughter so much that within 200 years the Assyrians defeated them and made them leave.
They never ruled again.
So the Hebrew only have 200 years of rule, and likely it was just the city states of Samaria, Judea, and Israel.
The Hebrew were constantly trying to attack and were constantly defeated.
They were defeated by the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Seleucids, and Romans.

In contrast, the Palestinians are the Canaanites, the Chaldeans, Amorites, Urites, Nabateans, Akkadians, Phoenicians, Philistines, etc. that go back to 8000 BC.

You are wrong regarding the Palestinians. While both have solid claims to a deep history in the region, it is ONLY the Palestinians who want to exterminate the Jews.

Regarding the student and forced speech.

The issue stems from a government forcing someone to say something they don't believe.

The student has a valid claim that he should not be forced to recite a pledge he has obviously been conditioned against.

However, where was your stand on government -- The schools -- forcing people to use gender pronounes they do not believe? Many student was punished and had their academic careers -- both elementary and collegiate -- destroyed or outright suspended from the school for displaying speech the government disagreed with.

I don't recall you making an impassioned plea to allow those students who disagree with the trans issue to be allowed to do so.

 

[SweetSue92]

Sorry, if you have been permitted to be here, you swear allegiance until you leave. Simple as that.

You are under the good graces of the American government, act like it, damn it.

Oooooo no, nope and no. Hard no, in case that wasn't clear.

You must live by our laws but you are not beholden to "bow the knee" or show fidelity. Would I? Absolutely. Will I ALWAYS, or do I believe others should be forced?

Nope.

For real my ancestors fought for the colonies in the Revolutionary War and sometimes I think that rebel blood still runs in my veins. Heh.

 

[Darkwind]

Wrong.
The evidence is clear.
The British did a census in 1922 and there were only about 30k Jews in Palestine, and they owned no land and lived in the Old Quarter of Jerusalem.
So then all the Israelis, are recent illegal immigrants, who took over illegally by murder.
It started in 1946 when Menachem Begin blew up the British peacekeepers in the King David Hotel.

You are totally uninformed.
Any real Jew, like me, can tell you that the Zionists are in violation of the Rabbinical Diaspora Decree of 160 AD.

The most "neo-Nazi" country is Israel.
They are the most racist, violent, and criminal.

Again, you are wrong.

Historical Claims to the Land of Israel: Jews vs. Palestinians​

The question of which group has the longest claim to the land of Israel—Jews or Palestinians—requires examining both ancient and continuous presence, as well as historical sovereignty and demographic continuity.
Jewish Historical Claim

• The Jewish connection to the land dates back to at least 1000 BCE, when, according to both biblical and archaeological sources, the Israelites established kingdoms in the region under leaders such as Saul, David, and Solomon12. The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah persisted, with Jewish sovereignty in various forms, until the Babylonian conquest in 586 BCE12.
• Despite subsequent conquests by empires (Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Ottoman), Jewish communities maintained a continuous, though often minority, presence in the land for over 3,000 years32. Jewish religious, cultural, and historical traditions have always centered on the land, particularly Jerusalem43.
• The modern Jewish claim is also rooted in this ancient connection, as well as international legal instruments in the 20th century, such as the Balfour Declaration and the League of Nations Mandate, which recognized the historical connection of the Jewish people to the land35.

Palestinian Historical Claim

• Palestinians, as a modern national identity, trace their ancestry to the diverse peoples who lived in the region over millennia, including ancient Canaanites, Philistines, Israelites, and later Arab conquerors and settlers67.
• Recent genetic and historical research indicates that Palestinians, along with other Levantine peoples, are primarily descended from ancient populations inhabiting the area for at least 3,700 years6. The name "Palestine" itself derives from the Philistines, who settled the coastal region around the 12th century BCE3.
• For many centuries, especially from the early Islamic period (7th century CE) through the Ottoman era and into the British Mandate, the majority population in the land was Arab and predominantly Muslim, with Christian and Jewish minorities78. The modern Palestinian identity solidified in the 20th century, particularly in response to Zionist immigration and the creation of Israel59.

Comparing the Length and Nature of Claims​

Group	Earliest Documented Presence	Period of Sovereignty	Continuous Presence	Majority Population
Jews	c. 1200–1000 BCE	c. 1000–586 BCE (Kingdoms), intermittent autonomy later	Yes, though often a minority23	No, except in ancient times
Palestinians*	c. 2500–1200 BCE (Canaanites, Philistines), Arabization from 7th century CE	No independent state, but majority under various empires	Yes, as part of broader local population67	Yes, for many centuries (esp. post-7th century CE)78

*Note: The term "Palestinian" as a national identity is modern, but the population's ancestry is ancient and mixed6.
Key Points:

• The Jewish claim is based on ancient sovereignty and continuous religious/cultural connection, with intermittent physical presence123.
• The Palestinian claim is based on continuous residence and demographic majority in the land for centuries, with ancestry tracing back to ancient peoples of the region67.
• Both groups have legitimate historical connections, but the Jewish claim to ancient sovereignty is older as a distinct polity, while the Palestinian claim emphasizes continuous local presence and descent from the region’s ancient inhabitants167.

Conclusion​

The Jewish claim to the land as a distinct nation-state is the oldest, dating back over 3,000 years to the biblical kingdoms of Israel and Judah12. However, the Palestinian Arab population, whose ancestry includes ancient Canaanites, Philistines, Israelites, and later Arab settlers, has maintained continuous residence and demographic majority in the land for many centuries, especially since the early Islamic period678.
Thus, the answer depends on whether the focus is on ancient sovereignty (favoring the Jewish claim) or continuous, local, ancestral presence (favoring the Palestinian claim). Both claims are deeply rooted in history and are central to the ongoing conflict84.

1. 5 Facts About the Jewish People's Ancestral Connection to the Land of Israel
2. History of the Jews and Judaism in the Land of Israel - Wikipedia
3. Jewish Claim To The Land Of Israel
4. Traditional Narratives of Israeli and Palestinian History
5. History of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict - Wikipedia
6. Origin of the Palestinians - Wikipedia
7. https://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=cmpd_working_papers
8. Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict explained
9. What are Israel and Palestine? Why are they fighting?
10. Israeli–Palestinian conflict - Wikipedia
11. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | Global Conflict Tracker
12. Palestinian and Israel History: the Land and Prophecy
13. Jewish Roots In The Land Of Israel/Palestine
14. https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/israel/history/historical-presence/
16. "Claims to the same land." Key points in Israeli-Palestinian history 1917-2023
19. The history of ‘Israel’ and ‘Palestine’: Alternative names, competing claims
21. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-206581/
22. Connection to the Land | Christians United for Israel
23. History of ancient Israel and Judah - Wikipedia
24. Land of Israel - Wikipedia
25. History of Palestine - Wikipedia
26. Most Read of 2021: “Israel” and “Palestine”: Where Should History Begin, and Should it Matter? - Australian Institute of International Affairs

 

[SweetSue92]

Anyone demanding a forced pledge of allegiance should deported.
Any republic has to defend the first amendment above all else.
Those who do not get that, should not be in a republic.

I'm frankly astounded that a teacher in Plymouth-Canton (a very good school district, btw) would think to compel a student to say it.

 

[pknopp]

It’s a minor in a public school. They don’t have certain ‘rights’ in that context. They can be dismissed and sent home where they can sit through any pledge they want. But the school has rules.
Democrat adults here acting like children again.

{{meta.fullTitle}}

 

[Darkwind]

Rigby5

Yes, the Jewish presence in the land of Israel, as a distinct group known as the Israelites, predates any specifically "Palestinian" claim by over a thousand years, if we define "Palestinian" in its modern national sense.

Jewish/Israelite Presence:

• Archaeological and historical evidence shows that the Israelites emerged as a distinct group in Canaan during the late second millennium BCE, with the earliest mention of "Israel" as a people appearing on the Merneptah Stele around 1209–1208 BCE12.
• The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, representing early Jewish polities, were established by the 10th century BCE and maintained Jewish sovereignty and presence in the region for centuries123.

Palestinian Identity and Claims:

• The name "Palestine" derives from the Philistines, who settled the coastal region around the 12th century BCE, but the term "Palestinian" as an identity for the Arab population is a much more recent development, primarily emerging in the 20th century45.
• Before the rise of Arab identity in the region (after the 7th century CE), the area was inhabited by a mix of peoples, including Canaanites, Israelites, Philistines, and others675.
• While the ancestors of modern Palestinians have deep roots in the region, including descent from ancient Canaanites and other local populations, their distinct national identity as "Palestinians" does not predate the Israelite/Jewish presence45.

Summary Table

Group	Distinct Presence in Land	Earliest Evidence	Modern National Identity
Jews/Israelites	Late 2nd millennium BCE	c. 1200 BCE (Merneptah Stele)	Ancient, continuous
Palestinians	Arabization after 7th c. CE; modern identity 20th c.	Not before 12th c. BCE (Philistines); modern sense much later	Modern (20th century)

Conclusion:
The Jewish/Israelite presence as a distinct group in the land of Israel is documented from at least the late 2nd millennium BCE, over a thousand years before the emergence of any modern Palestinian identity or claim. However, the land itself has been continuously inhabited by various peoples, including ancestors of both Jews and Palestinians, for millennia1245.

1. History of the Jews and Judaism in the Land of Israel - Wikipedia
2. History of ancient Israel and Judah - Wikipedia
3. https://jcpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/TimeLine.pdf
4. https://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=cmpd_working_papers
5. Palestine
6. History of Palestine - Wikipedia
7. Ancient History - Welcome To Palestine
8. https://www.cfi.org.uk/downloads/Historical Timeline.pdf
9. https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/israel/history/timeline/
10. First Aliyah - Wikipedia
11. Origin of the Palestinians - Wikipedia
12. Introduction to Palestine :1: Palestine throughout history | Decolonize Palestine
13. History of Israel - Wikipedia
14. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3915966/jewish/Timeline-of-Jewish-History.htm
15. Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy) - Wikipedia
16. 5 Facts About the Jewish People's Ancestral Connection to the Land of Israel
17. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-206581/
18. Palestinian History, A Chronology - Palestine Remembered
19. History of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict - Wikipedia
20. Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict explained

 

[Harry Dresden]

What an exceptional load. Just about every American who goes to Europe reports more freedom in their life there.

the Europeans i met here say just the opposite...

 

[Correll]

Anyone demanding a forced pledge of allegiance should deported.
Any republic has to defend the first amendment above all else.
Those who do not get that, should not be in a republic.

He didn't demand it. He pointed out, correctly, that if the kid feels that way, he "should" leave.


The kid expressed his views. THe teacher responded. That was the end of it. Or should have been.

It is the TEACHER that is having their right to speak curtailed, not the kid.

 

[Correll]

I'm frankly astounded that a teacher in Plymouth-Canton (a very good school district, btw) would think to compel a student to say it.

The teacher did not do that. He merely expressed his opinion.

 

[SweetSue92]

He didn't demand it. He pointed out, correctly, that if the kid feels that way, he "should" leave.


The kid expressed his views. THe teacher responded. That was the end of it. Or should have been.

It is the TEACHER that is having their right to speak curtailed, not the kid.

I'm a teacher employed by a public school. My "right to free speech" only means I can't be jailed or punished by the govt for political speech. But I sure can be fired if I step outside the bounds with children, and that is AS IT SHOULD BE. I mean I would bet you want that protection if a teacher would go off the rails and lecture kids about Palestine or whatever, and you would be right.

Free speech does not mean "you can say whatever you want with no repercussions"

 

[TemplarKormac]

Oooooo no, nope and no. Hard no, in case that wasn't clear.

You must live by our laws but you are not beholden to "bow the knee" or show fidelity. Would I? Absolutely. Will I ALWAYS, or do I believe others should be forced?

Nope.

For real my ancestors fought for the colonies in the Revolutionary War and sometimes I think that rebel blood still runs in my veins. Heh.

I'll put it this way. My ancestors didn't fight and die so that someone could disrespect all hair sacrifices gave them. If people could make a pledge that great with their life, the least that kid can do is stand and swear allegiance.

You don't know how much that angers me.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Free speech is beside the point. I was taught that you respect the people who freely give you the treasure. You don't show such blatant disrespect. You may as well be one of those Mexican flag waving thugs who were rioting in LA.

Such ingratitude makes my blood boil.

 

[SweetSue92]

I'll put it this way. My ancestors didn't fight and die so that someone could disrespect all hair sacrifices gave them. If people could make a pledge that great with their life, the least that kid can do is stand and swear allegiance.

You don't know how much that angers me.

It angers me too, personally. But forcing someone to say the pledge, including "under God", is really not very American. I may not LIKE or RESPECT that you sit out the pledge, but our rights are more important than my preferences.

 

[Darkwind]

I'll put it this way. My ancestors didn't fight and die so that someone could disrespect all hair sacrifices gave them. If people could make a pledge that great with their life, the least that kid can do is stand and swear allegiance.

You don't know how much that angers me.

I have to disagree with you.


'Compelled Speech' is tyranny. Just ask the Canadians or Jordan Peterson.