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Is U.S. President elect George W. Bush anti-longhair? Since he's from Texas and Texas schools have been known to enforce "above the collar" haircut rules, he may have a bias against longhair. In his election campaign he said something about wanting a national law that prevents 'frivolous' lawsuits against teachers who enforce 'discipline' in the classroom. Keeping order in the classroom sounds nice, but will Republicans define discipline as strict dress codes and grooming standards? George might have grudges from a long legal battle over haircut rules in Texas schools. Will Republicans define frivolous lawsuits to include cases that defend longhair rights?
that's an interesting question. i did notice during the legal proceedings that bush's attourney, Barry Richards, had a lot of hair. not long by our standards, but longer than the rest of the legal teams and reporters. also, david bois, gore's main man, was sporting a longish do which he apparently trimed before his second supreme court appearance. it is my opinion that long hair cuts across party lines with the exception of the right winger like the shellac headed tom delay and company.
t
I would suggest that as governor, Bush had the moral obligation to take a leadership role to speak out against the harassment of the third grader, and he had the power himself to issue an order to put an end to the harassment of longhair prisoners. He did neither of these things.
OK. It looks like I have some reading to do. However, let me first suggest that we should not get carried away based upon assumptions made from a few isolated incidents. As you know, I live in Austin, TX. I can tell you there are many boys with long hair. In fact, as I waited to pick up my daughters at school today, the first person out of the building was a boy with hair about midback in length.
The Bastrop case is an exceptional case. If you read the story in depth you will see that even in that district, Zachariah Toungate went to school with long hair unmolested for some time. The supreme court case decided not what dress codes should be but whether local school districts may enforce dress codes, and to what extent these dress codes may apply.
I don't know of any basis by which George W. Bush would have has any occasion to weigh in on this case. Perhaps there is, but I can't think of any. In my view, the case should never even have made it all the way up to the supreme court.
I think you are also mischaracterizing the Texas prison case. I haven't read all the material yet, but I did start reading Alex's website, and his very first paragraph reads:
When I first entered prison on April 8, 1987, I knew very little about what legal rights I had at the time that actually existed. And I certainly did not know that one of those rights prohibited me from being held down and my hair forcibly cut by prison officials, regardless of my religious beliefs. Nevertheless, that is exactly what took place.
In any case, neither of these events reflect on George W. Bush, in my view. I will do more reading on this and comment further.
Thank you for all the time you put into gathering all this information. People need to know these legal issues to prepare cases to defend longhair rights when legal dispute occurs. The information also mentions alternatives such as home schooling when litigation fails.
The prison haircut cases remind me of the Republicans who want haircut rules. They will probably want to apply the same grooming dictatorship in schools. The arguments for long hair as religious freedom may help defend rights to grow long hair.
Thanks.
If president bush started giving long haired men a hard time, he might as well strike the first amendment out of the constitution because some asian Indians believe in long hair for religiouse reson, as well as the jewish people and American Indians
I am sure the heck not moving to Texas!
Jerome
I'm surprised to be reading this. I voted for Bush, and would do it again in spite of his states ass-backwards attitude toward male freedom. Don't look for anything like this to happen on the federal level.
My only bit of advise is that if you live in TX and have long hair, or want your boys to have the same choice - move. I hate to suggest to anyone to move from Texas as they are a special state in this union, and Mr. Ron Paul is one of their Representatives.
Nonetheless, good information - thanks for posting it.
I would like to reiterate that Texas is NOT long hair unfriendly. There are longhairs all over the place. The elementary school where my children went had a male teacher with long hair and a beard. I know quite a few boys with long hair as well.
Just because the Supreme Court of Texas ruled that a school board was within their rights to specify hair length as a part of their dress code does not mean that school districts do that. The Bastrop school district obviously does. But they are an exception. Rather than moving out of Texas, I'd suggest moving out of Bastrop.
I think if you read the Supreme Court decision, you will also see that it was mentioned that such a provision in the dress code was antiquated. There was a strong hint that it was inappropriate.
The dress code can be amended according to the will of the people who care about it in the district in which it applies. If you think about it, that is as it should be.
I highly doubt it, but, that's because I am a Republican (yes, I admit it) and, until Sunday (was dragged kicking & screaming to having my ponytail cut off), a pretty longhaired one at that. Good thing I am regrowing it out again. I HATE this short hair. Too itchy and doesn't lay flay anymore.
-J
Maybe your sister forgot that some Republican men have long hair and want to keep it long.
I remember the days when my hair was punishing me for getting haircuts. I guess having a haircut has it's consequences. I stopped getting haircuts once I grew my hair long enough to tie it all back into a ponytail.
Recovering from haircuts can be difficult. Please don't give up regrowing your hair.
I don't think she forgot, but has an "image" of me that she wants me to go back to having. Which is having very little hair coming down off the nape of the neck. I'm definitely not going back. I came a very long way (pun not intended), and to have to start at square one again is not fair, IMO.
Yeah, it does. Firstly, I lost most of my insulation, so I wind up wearing sweatshirts and jeans, even when it's 50 deg F out... Before I lost my hair, I actually was able to go outside wearing a t-shirt and denim shorts. Was very comfortable. Now, not so comfortable. Secondly, I've stopped doing a lot of the things I used to do with family and friends, since I feel so ugly now... I know things will improve, which they already have to some extent, but the process is a long one.
Don't worry. It's too much of a part of my identity to go back to my younger years. In fact, I started using GNC's Biotin 600 the day after I wrote my first message (the one you responded to) in this thread. First week, I just took the normal 600mcg dose per day. Since then, I've gone to taking one in the morning and one in the evening. So far, It's grown about 3/4 of an inch. Looks better (now extends over the collar of my shirt, but just barely)... And, now when I pull it back, I can sorta make a small bun if I use a hair scrunchy to pull the hair back. Otherwise, it's a very short ponytail. About 4.5" or so. A lot shorter than the 10-incher I lost and a lot thinner... But, hopefully by June, most of this nightmare will be over and I'll be almost ready to wake up and realize that I'm myself again.
-J