TO: Teachers, Parents and Students of Alabama Public Schools
Dear Citizens, What will happen when a moment of silence is announced and a student responds by speaking, "I don't wish to be silent. I wish to exercise my First Amendment right to speak. I wish to declare that a moment of silence violates my freedom of speech so I will not be silent." Will the outspoken student who stands up for his freedom of speech rights be disciplined? Will he/she be called into the principle's office? Will this student be reprimanded, ridiculed, suspended or subjected to corporal punishment? And what will happen if a teacher refuses to abide by the moment of silence law? Alabama's moment of silence law is clearly a violation of every student's and teacher's freedom of speech. Just because our legislature passed the law to satisfy devoutly religious people does not make the law constitutional. Sixty seconds of mandated silence for 60 students is one hour of silence. For a school of 1440 students this equals 24 hours or a whole day of silence. In a population of 525,600 students a 60 second moment of silence equals a whole year of silence! That is a significant abridgement of freedom of speech and much time lost that could be spent learning. This represents an extreme abridgement of the freedom of speech we all are guaranteed by the First Amendment. I urge all teachers and students to exercise their right to free speech and disobey this unconstitutional law! This call for civil disobedience will be posted upon the internet under the keywords "Alabama, god, bible, prayer, law, Jesus, Christ, USA and constitution," such that all Alabama students, teachers and parents may find it! In this manner sooner or later this law will be defied by someone with the courage and determination to speak out during that moment of silence and have it tested in our nation's courts. Sincerely, Terry Lynch Montgomery, AL
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Civil Disobedience
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To review other work by this author please visit these sites: The Pyrotechnic Pen New Letters Now Available! This site has new, explosive, enlightening, electrifying letters to download for reprint in newspapers nationwide. These letters are especially written to be educational, informative and to stimulate readers to think and ponder. Lynch's digitally enhanced photograph Pyrotechinc Tal may be downloaded for reprint to illustrate Lynch's letters. Special Legal Notice This statements provides newspaper editors with information about defamation and urgers editors not to reprint any defamatory material. Bama Links This site created by Lynch has links to Montgomery and other Alabama sites. Professional Webmaster, System Designer and Engineer This site has Lynch's electronic resume and links to other sites created by Lynch Founder of Project K9 This is Lynch's canine lover site. As a complete resource, Project K9 features information on the health, care and training of dogs and will be of speical interest to everyone who owns or breeds dogs. Editor of View Point: The Online Alternative Press Association This site has additional uncensored editorial letters by Lynch, many of which have been published in the Montgomery Advertiser and Birmingham News. Webnuts This site has original articles, letters and photographs by Lynch. The Friendship Force This is Lynch's on-line international club fostering world peace and friendship. Special Tribute to Princess Di Lynch's special tribute to Princess Di is one of hundreds of memorial sites which are part of popular Princess Di webrings. Rainbow On The Horizon This is Lynch's special John Denver tribute which features a colletion of songs written and inspired by John Denver immediately after the singer's death. Lt. Col. Leonard P. Lynch Lynch's father was an army officer of historical significance. He planned and orchestrated the deployment of troops during the Selma-to-Montgomery-March and was responsible for major U.S. security operations during the cold war which are monumental achievements. Leonard did his soldering with a rifle; Terry does it with a pen. No Guns In School Campaign A special memorial to those killed by guns in schools with gun safety information.
