As may be apparent without my even writing it, I find it absurd that this kid was punished in any fashion for his creative writing assignment. The only rational argument one might be able to bring up is that this assignment's content is not appropriate for a school setting. However, that argument is invalidated by the fact that the teacher told the students not to censor their work.

I further do not believe his paper suggested any abnormality or tedency toward violence at all. Topics of conversation much more absurd than the words of this essay are a regular occurrence among some of my friends (who I currently live with), an they aren't at all inclined toward violence in any fashion. They just find it fun to joke about.

The authorities are wrong for arresting a student who committed no crime, and for kicking that student out of the marines and school for having committed no crime. They should be held accountable for this.