I think this arrest goes beyond the pale of paranoidism. I remember back in the seventies when I went to school, I wrote some pretty dark poetry, mainly cathartic in nature to get me through the emotion of tough times, you know a break up, disillusion with society in general, etc. etc.
I am afraid we have the Patriot Act to thank for this. I think that we are moving dangerously close to loss of freedom of speech. As I understand it, the student made no specific references to harming anyone specifically? So what would happen to Edgar Allan Poe in our current time. There was a guy with a dark sense of life. Yet he is renowned for his great writing, and personally one of my favorites. So will Stephen King be watched now? There is a guy with a penchant for insanity, psychological t thrillers etc. Perhaps Tom Clancy could be arrested for a possible new manuscript that chronicles plots against a world leader? Come on. I don't doubt the student needed some attention, and perhaps a visit to the school social worker and counselor and maybe even a conference with the parents, but to arrest him, because someone found some poetry that was a little too negative or dark for their tastes? I don't think we helped the system or the student in this case. I have a son at Arlington High, who was very disturbed that a student could be arrested for something he wrote. He has been asked by the Arlington High newspaper, The Mural to write an opinion piece on this situation. I think he is a little nervous. He asked me, "Mom, could we be arrested for writing a creative piece that talks in the first person of violence, drugs, anger against society?" I told him. "Good question, I really don't know anymore." It seems we go so overboard in some instances and yet in situations where gang issues are involved we "REACT" when something happens, rather than proactively deal with situations that come up. I find that true in the enforcement of the law as well. I am increasingly concerned that petty thefts and vandalism are considered down on the list for our neighborhoods, but in my way of thinking, if you don't go after the supposed "little stuff", the "BIG stuff" starts happening more quickly. >From what I read, I question the Humboldt student should have been arrested. However, I would like to think there is more there than they are telling. I hope there is anyway, because if there isn't this student's record has been sullied over a little overzealous writing. Pamela Ellison Como Park Saint Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "List Manager" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "St. Paul Issues Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 9:50 AM Subject: [StPaul] Arrest for Violent Poetry and Humboldt > > Does anyone have a response to this. This case is different from the > Harding case that we discussed last week. It also appears somewhat > more problematic. > > Any comments? > > ------------------------------------------------- > > St. Paul teen's poetry brings arrest, guilty plea > http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5039467.html > > "A 17-year-old Humboldt High School student has pleaded guilty to a > charge of disorderly conduct after being caught using the St. Paul > school's computers to write poetry with graphic references to guns, > death and suicide, authorities reported Monday." > > ------------------------------------------------- > > > -- > Tim Erickson > List Manager > St. Paul Issues Forum > http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ > Hamline Midway Resident > 651-643-0722 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > St. Paul Links - http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/links.html > > "The St. Paul Issues Forum is a interactive e-mail discussion on > important issues about St. Paul public policy. Participation is free > and open to anyone. We currently have about 350 concerned citizens > and community leaders subscribed to our discussion." > _____________________________________________ > To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _____________________________________________ > NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > > Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ > _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
