Teen suspended from school over ‘religious’ nose ring, the Church of Body Modification - Polidicks

[quote] RALEIGH, N.C. — A soft-spoken 14-year-old's nose piercing has landed her a suspension from school and forced her into the middle of a fight over her constitutional right to exercise her religion. Ariana Iacono says she just wants to be a normal teenager at Clayton High School, about 15 miles southeast of Raleigh. She has been suspended since last week because her nose ring violates the Johnston County school system's dress code. "I think it's kind of stupid for them to kick me out of school for a nose piercing," she said. "It's in the (constitution's) First Amendment for me to have freedom of religion." Iacono and her mother, Nikki, belong to the Church of Body Modification, a small group unfamiliar to rural North Carolina, but one with a clergy, a statement of beliefs and a formal process for accepting new members. It's enough to draw the interest of the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has contacted school officials with concerns that the rights of the Iaconos are being violated by the suspension. The Iaconos say the school system is ignoring its own dress code policy, which allows exemptions on religious grounds. The effect, Nikki Iacono, 32, says, is that Johnston County school officials are setting themselves up as judges of what constitutes a "real" religion. "We pretty much flat-out asked them, what guidelines are you following? What do you need to establish a sincere religious belief?," she said. "We were told that if we were Hindu, or she were Muslim, it would be different." [/quote] [url]http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39209925/ns/today-parenting/?GT1=43001[/url] [editline]04:45PM[/editline] [img]http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/ap/piercing%20church--209083991_v2.grid-5x2.jpg[/img]

As much as I believe she should be allowed to wear a nose ring in school, calling it your religion is retarded.

[QUOTE] "We were told that if we were Hindu, or she were Muslim, it would be different."[/QUOTE]Bullshit, stupid idiots. Let's run around as Burka girl instead and they will be okay with that since they can't disagree with a burka, it probably would cause an massive shitstorm to disagree with an burka, but aslong only [B]one[/B] is wearing such an piercing, they are not respectable for it. (Sorry for my english) Also that girl looks kind and cute.

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;24861773]As much as I believe she should be allowed to wear a nose ring in school, calling it your religion is retarded.[/QUOTE] I'm going to start a religion based on medical supplements. I'll call it the Christian Holy Hole.

Just because it's part of your religion, doesn't mean you are able to do it. (I think it would be ok for the piercing, just saying)

[quote]"It's in the (constitution's) First Amendment for me to have freedom of religion."[/quote] People really need to learn what this means, because it's getting more obvious by the day that they don't. Guess what, you moron? You choose to go to that school, you'll have to abide by their rules! [quote]"We were told that if we were Hindu, or she were Muslim, it would be different."[/quote] Americans are known for some sketchy remarks but they have to have made this up.

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;24861773]As much as I believe she should be allowed to wear a nose ring in school, calling it your religion is retarded.[/QUOTE] Well I think that wearing a cross around your neck and calling it your religion is retarded, but no one ever listens to [I]me.[/I]

[QUOTE=MendozaMan;24861797]I'm going to start a religion based on medical supplements. I'll call it the Christian Holy Hole.[/QUOTE] Im gonna start a religion based on anal sex. I'll call it the Christian Holy Hole.

On one hand, I do not think schools should even be allowed to have dresscodes. On the other, freedom of religion shouldn't override other laws (i.e. you shouldn't be allowed to do something you otherwise wouldn't be allowed to do because it just happens to be religious)

They have no say what religion is "real" or "fake". They're all fake, imaginary entities and silly rituals. But a religion normally has some higher-being(s) they worship. Not a group of hobby enthusiasts.

[quote]...her constitutional right to exercise her religion. Iacono and her mother, Nikki, belong to the Church of Body Modification...[/quote] So, we're at a point that we have to call something a religion so people won't give us shit for doing it? Okay, I'm going to join the Church of Lazy Fucks so people won't keep telling me to get a job.

[quote]Iacono and her mother, Nikki, belong to the Church of Body Modification[/quote] Brb, founding the Church of Asshole-ism so I can piss people off and get away with it.

Not to judge what is a religion and not, but come on, Church of Body Modification? If she could get exempted for this, I should be able to get exemptions for SubGenius beliefs or Discordianism.

Hm. I was going to say something, but then re-read the article just in case, and found that what I was going to say was invalid. It's the rules of school, girl.

[QUOTE=alienmartian23;24861832]Im gonna start a religion based on anal sex. I'll call it the Christian Holy Hole.[/QUOTE] I think the catholic church beat you to it

[QUOTE=BaconDioxide;24862039]I think the catholic church beat you to it[/QUOTE] No, the catholic church has the church holy glory hole. Ages 3-14

well i checked their website and i still don't understand what are they trying to say.

Doesn't make it okay to disobey the school's rules just because it's your religion. If it's in your religion to smoke pot, you still can't do it on campus.

Well, you can worship whatever you feel for whatever reason. It shouldn't matter. But still if it violates the dress code, I guess she should just deal with it.

why would they even forbid piercings in the dress code? I've never heard of that

Well, you guys are reacting the same way the school did: "Herp body modding aint a religion!" If she says its her religion then it is. it doesnt harm or afect anyone other than her, so she should be able to do it. we ain't talking about nudism or anything extreme anyway, its just a piercing. People should relaxx a little.

hey guys i have an idea. lets read the op. [quote=OP]The Iaconos say the school system is ignoring its own dress code policy, [b]which allows exemptions on religious grounds.[/b][/quote] this is called a loop hole. this means that she is completely justified, unless the school wants to get into the kettle of fish that is the question of answering what a religion is. but they cant because that would be unconstitutional.

Gets what she deserves. Religion or not, it breaks school's rules. What, if I strap a c4 to myself and call it a religious item, will I be able to carry it around?

God, I live in Raleigh. My state is stupid sometimes.

A school is private property, even if it's a public school. You go by their rules or they have every right to kick you out. and calling body piercings your religion will only cause chaos in the courts, not actually help you.

It's my religion to kill people who don't worship Allah. :colbert:

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;24864562]It's my religion to kill people who don't worship Allah. :colbert:[/QUOTE] Nowadays we call them terrorists, but we used to call them crusaders.

[QUOTE=johan_sm;24864224]Gets what she deserves. Religion or not, it breaks school's rules. What, if I strap a c4 to myself and call it a religious item, will I be able to carry it around?[/QUOTE] THE SCHOOL ALLOWS EXCEPTIONS TO THE DRESS CODE BASED ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. WHY SHOULDNT SHE BE ALLOWED TO WEAR IT IF MUSLIMS CAN WEAR BURAKS? /caps

[QUOTE=Kybalt;24864829]THE SCHOOL ALLOWS EXCEPTIONS TO THE DRESS CODE BASED ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. WHY SHOULDNT SHE BE ALLOWED TO WEAR IT IF MUSLIMS CAN WEAR BURAKS? /caps[/QUOTE] WELL BECAUSE MUSLIMS ARE A SPECIAL MINORITY DIDNT YOU KNOW THAT /caps

[QUOTE=Kybalt;24864221]hey guys i have an idea. lets read the op. this is called a loop hole. this means that she is completely justified, unless the school wants to get into the kettle of fish that is the question of answering what a religion is. but they cant because that would be unconstitutional.[/QUOTE] Well shit. Bad reading for me (at least) then. Yeah, they've got no right to suspend her. One can believe what one believes, I mean, most (some at least) believe there to be a single omnipotent being that created everything.