In regard to this whole "offensive" T-shirt debacle, I need to lend in my two cents. Yes, the shirts were offensive; they didn't offend me personally, but apparently, some people (albeit, it appears to be a small group) found the shirts offensive.

However, last I knew, citizens of the United States of America have freedom of speech. The students who printed the shirts did not violate any laws in the books. They took their right to free speech, and made a humorous T-shirt. Big deal.

They didn't threaten anybody, they weren't libelous nor slanderous. If anyone should be upset, then it should be the wolverines, either the animal or University of Michigan fans. Even then, though, the shirtmakers still have their freedom of speech protected.

There are many inflammatory statements made on every issue out there. I see shirts that use language about religious figures that certainly upsets me. People burn American flags in protest, people use vulgar and much more harmful speech against our president than these shirts did.

People need to realize that speech does not hurt in ways that many others might think. People need to stop and think before they attempt to punish other people for using their freedom of speech.

As Benjamin Franklin said, "If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed."

People in this country have forgotten what it is like to be funny, because they are too afraid of offending someone. Lighten up, laugh and have fun.

Brett Gillespie
Lansing Community College student