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Arlington student's 'God is dead' T-shirt won't make yearbook

by Travis Pittman

KING5.com

Posted on February 12, 2010 at 12:59 PM

ARLINGTON, Wash. -  Arlington High School senior Justin Surber is debate club president and likes to provoke discussion.

That's why he wears a "God is dead" T-shirt to school once a week.

He wore it when the debate club had its picture taken for the yearbook. The yearbook adviser had the photo re-taken on a day Surber wasn't wearing the shirt.

Surber refused to be in the photo and told The Daily Herald he feels he is a victim of censorship.

The principal, Kurt Criscione, says the yearbook staff wants to present the best possible snapshot of life at Arlington High School.

The "God is dead" T-shirt photo won't be in the yearbook.

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 15 of 16

morganthomas said on February 13, 2010 at 8:36 AM

Old news. We had the same shirt back in the early 60's.

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clear2copy said on February 13, 2010 at 12:23 AM

Score one for the fundies

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detour said on February 12, 2010 at 9:55 PM

pixelater, you hit the nail right on the head. I'm gonna wear my, "Allah Sucks" shirt on Monday.

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aziza said on February 12, 2010 at 9:14 PM

Hence the Senior's point was proven by the principal! Get over it! Its just a T-shirt! And this kid is smarter than the principal!

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phaedrus said on February 12, 2010 at 8:43 PM

noskills, There is a difference between "speaking about god" and proselytizing. Anyone is free to talk about religion and god in schools, but they are not allowed to teach a particular religion, preach, or try to convert. Those are very different things. We are a secular country where all people of all faiths are free to believe and worship as they choose, but where there can be no law establishing a religion.

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phaedrus said on February 12, 2010 at 8:31 PM

emptynestr, maybe you should read it again. He wasn't protesting anything, he was just trying to "provoke discussion". Why is it so off limits to even suggest that god doesn't exist? There is absolutely no evidence of a god. By any reasoned argument the premise that god exists is false unless proved true. So why can't there be a discussion, a recognition that some choose to believe irrespective of the evidence, and some don't accept the premise without evidence to support it?

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vickdichselbst said on February 12, 2010 at 8:31 PM

Too bad it was laundry day, his "Let's go burn some witches" shirt was in the wash.

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noskills said on February 12, 2010 at 7:55 PM

If you cant speak about God and your religion in school because it makes people uncomfortable then you shouldn't be allowed to insult God for those who believe in him and make them uncomfortable. This stuff goes both ways. I personally think we try to be way to PC in our society. If I want to pray in school I should be able to and if you want to wear a "God is Dead" t-shirt then you should be able to as well. This stuff is getting way out of hand.

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emptynestr said on February 12, 2010 at 6:31 PM

Good for the Arlington High School for standing up to this young man. There are other ways that he can protest without being offensive. That others are offended by God talk so there are those who are JUST AS offended by the God is dead talk. It works both ways. Leave the controversy out of the year book and just be good friends and leave each other with good memories and good feelings about one another.

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dirtydon said on February 12, 2010 at 4:31 PM

The "off the wall" kids in HS really made for good memories especially at the 20th. What's the harm?

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fixin2go said on February 12, 2010 at 3:48 PM

Well said pixelater!

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pixelater said on February 12, 2010 at 3:30 PM

Nothing about God is going to get through the censorship, but Allah or something related to Native American religion or Wicca has a better chance because the school district would not want to be seen as insensitive to other cultures.

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vickdichselbst said on February 12, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Maybe "Bong hits for Jesus" would have been a better choice. Oh, that's right, you can't say that either. So much for free speech...

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sate10 said on February 12, 2010 at 2:30 PM

He should have worn my "God Made Me An Atheist" T-shirt!

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newlogin86 said on February 12, 2010 at 2:18 PM

Oh yeah but "God is Alive!" would have passed by with flying colors and been a non-issue.. When will RELIGION BE DEAD!!!??!!!

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phaedrus said on February 12, 2010 at 2:03 PM

How in the world does censorship represent the "best possible snapshot of life at Arlington High School"? Seems more like a snapshot of repression and ignorance.

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