Idaho student says teacher tossed his Mexican flag in trash

[Marilyn. 340]

I didn't know Greece had any rich people...except Onasis and George Soros. Most of my Greek friends are fat, greasy guys with hairy backs. They're always looking at the blonde haired, blue-eyed American women like they're a Gyro. Most of 'em wouldn't know a bar of soap from the gunk in a grease trap.

Go there on a holiday and you tell me whether they are what you describe.

Nah - I think that its perfectly fair and reasonable to write off that nation of people (every one of them) on the basis of what we've seen on the telly, what others have told us 3rd hand and a few hairy, badly dressed people we saw on holiday.

I mean if we can do it for the city of Los Angeles as well as the States of California and New Jersey - its not much of a stretch to extend that rationale to a small European country.

[GabiandVi 34]

This thread seems to have been hijacked by people throwing insults back and forth, but I'll give my two cents worth anyway.

I know someone is innocent until proven guilty, but I think I believe the kid here. And, as a teacher, I think what he did was shameful. I can see taking the flag away from him. I can see how it might cause disruptions and it is the teacher's job to manage things so that as few disruptions occur as possible. But there would be no excuse to put the flag in the garbage, even if he didn't say what the kid accused him of saying. Even if he was only doing his job as he claims.

However, I don't think the Civil Liberties Union is going to help matters here if they get involved. If their intent is to polarize the student body and raise things to a level where there can be little chance of healing or understanding between students who may not really understand the issue to start with but will find themselves being forced to choose sides in their immature and ignorant (and I don't mean the word insultingly) state, the the CLU will succeed. If they want to see a change in attitudes or understanding at the school and therefore in the wider community, they would be better to work quietly or bow out all together and let a more moderate organization handle things, or let the students themselves hold a peace rally or something less confrontational than the Civil Liberties making a media event out of this. I think most people would be surprised by how much kids actually do want to get along and how when adults butt out they will find ways to come together.

As for the teacher, IMO, it would be best for him and his family as well as for the community if he would either apologize or move on or both.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

i have to wonder if we'd even hear about it if the shoe was on the other foot, say a french student with a french flag in mexico.

That's not 'the shoe on the other foot' that's a completely different pair of shoes.

It never ceaces to amaze me also, why anyone would believe it made sense to compare the potential responses of a police state to those of a democracy. I mean, it's not like one expects people in a police state to have freedome of speach etc.

mexico is a police state?

[Heracles 417]

I didn't know Greece had any rich people...except Onasis and George Soros. Most of my Greek friends are fat, greasy guys with hairy backs. They're always looking at the blonde haired, blue-eyed American women like they're a Gyro. Most of 'em wouldn't know a bar of soap from the gunk in a grease trap.

Go there on a holiday and you tell me whether they are what you describe.

Nah - I think that its perfectly fair and reasonable to write off that nation of people (every one of them) on the basis of what we've seen on the telly, what others have told us 3rd hand and a few hairy, badly dressed people we saw on holiday.

I mean if we can do it for the city of Los Angeles as well as the States of California and New Jersey - its not much of a stretch to extend that rationale to a small European country.

There is a huge difference there. I don't like LA or Jesery. That is my opinion which I am more than entitled to. Whereas Steven is being racist. Not that I care because he is actually proving what everyone says about white American liberals like himself. Now I could offend him back, quite harshly actually, but as we know the second I do that clowns like yourself will report me and I will be banned.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I didn't know Greece had any rich people...except Onasis and George Soros. Most of my Greek friends are fat, greasy guys with hairy backs. They're always looking at the blonde haired, blue-eyed American women like they're a Gyro. Most of 'em wouldn't know a bar of soap from the gunk in a grease trap.

Go there on a holiday and you tell me whether they are what you describe.

Nah - I think that its perfectly fair and reasonable to write off that nation of people (every one of them) on the basis of what we've seen on the telly, what others have told us 3rd hand and a few hairy, badly dressed people we saw on holiday.

I mean if we can do it for the city of Los Angeles as well as the States of California and New Jersey - its not much of a stretch to extend that rationale to a small European country.

There is a huge difference there. I don't like LA or Jesery. That is my opinion which I am more than entitled to. Whereas Steven is being racist. Not that I care because he is actually proving what everyone says about white American liberals like himself. Now I could offend him back, quite harshly actually, but as we know the second I do that clowns like yourself will report me and I will be banned.

Racist. I see...

Like the suggestion that black people in Africa can't organise a piss up in a brewery.

Who would do a scumbag thing like that?

[Heracles 417]

Racist. I see...

Like the suggestion that black people in Africa can't organise a piss up in a brewery.

Who would do a scumbag thing like that?

Pulling things out of your ### again I see. You are full of #### dude. Always have been. Always will be.

And you see that where in this thread.

Edited May 8, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Racist. I see...

Like the suggestion that black people in Africa can't organise a piss up in a brewery.

Who would do a scumbag thing like that?

Pulling things out of your ### again I see. You are full of #### dude. Always have been. Always will be.

And you see that where in this thread.

Does it have to be in this thread?

Or does crying about being the subject of racism require me to forget that you've said (seriously) many more racist things than Steven has said in jest.

[Heracles 417]

Does it have to be in this thread?

Or does crying about being the subject of racism require me to forget that you've said (seriously) many more racist things than Steven has said in jest.

Sorry pops. I don't cry nor care. That does not mean I cannot call it out for what it is. What Steven said is the actual definition of racism and not what is thrown around in OT, in America, whenever someone mentions a group.

For example, consider the three statements.

X African Americans are committing x crimes = Not Racism

Illegal immigrants, the majority from Mexico, are bad for the country = Not racism

Red necks are stupid and inbred = racism

Unfortunately the complete opposite seems to apply. Where the first two are always labeled racist yet the last is just a funny joke.

Edited May 8, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

i have to wonder if we'd even hear about it if the shoe was on the other foot, say a french student with a french flag in mexico.

That's not 'the shoe on the other foot' that's a completely different pair of shoes.

It never ceaces to amaze me also, why anyone would believe it made sense to compare the potential responses of a police state to those of a democracy. I mean, it's not like one expects people in a police state to have freedome of speach etc.

mexico is a police state?

As a matter of fact, most schools in Mexico City celebrate the French Revolution, flags and all. No one gets their panties in a know over that.

As per Mexico being a police state, I think sister PH is overstating. Mind you, I am the first to recognize the slow progress of Mexico into a participatory Republic; but there has been much change over the past decade when it comes to freedom of speech and other civil liberties.

[pedroh 21]

it was wrong from the teacher... but. cmon.. cinco de mayo.. cinco de mayo is a mockery in teh US... a dumb reason to have sales in JC Penny, make some 'fiesta'dish for 5.99 in applebees.. and put Pancho VIlla posters promoting 2.99 coronas at every bar celebrating a 'noche mexicana'... most people don't even know what's the real meaning of may the 5th... and I think is more of a proud, solemn holiday, rather than a reason to put speedy gonzalez stickers with 'viva cinco de mayo' everywhere and get drunk...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

it was wrong from the teacher... but. cmon.. cinco de mayo.. cinco de mayo is a mockery in teh US... a dumb reason to have sales in JC Penny, make some 'fiesta'dish for 5.99 in applebees.. and put Pancho VIlla posters promoting 2.99 coronas at every bar celebrating a 'noche mexicana'... most people don't even know what's the real meaning of may the 5th... and I think is more of a proud, solemn holiday, rather than a reason to put speedy gonzalez stickers with 'viva cinco de mayo' everywhere and get drunk...

Excuses to get drunk... That's pretty much true of most holidays though isn't it?

Pretty much all of them are overcommercialised - Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentines Day - if it weren't for greeting card companies noone would bother (and perhaps they shouldn't...).

[pedroh 21]

my point is.. the 'party' concept of may the 5th is not the true meaning of it, it's some american distorted version of it.. if you go to Mexico on May the 5th you won't see a corona special for 2.99...

so now if there's people who actually feel proud of those national holidays.. americans should learn to deal with it.. they don't give you ####### if you wear green on st paddy's day.. even if you're remotely Irish.. but, can't take a mexican flag to school? #######

[Chica Yeyé 41]

my point is.. the 'party' concept of may the 5th is not the true meaning of it, it's some american distorted version of it.. if you go to Mexico on May the 5th you won't see a corona special for 2.99...

so now if there's people who actually feel proud of those national holidays.. americans should learn to deal with it.. they don't give you ####### if you wear green on st paddy's day.. even if you're remotely Irish.. but, can't take a mexican flag to school? #######

That's because green beer is sexier than Corona

[pedroh 21]

imo, everything's sexier than corona

[DeadPoolX 9]

While I am generally of the opinion that "this is the United States, we [insert whatever] here," I do think this coach went too far. The kid was displaying a Mexican flag. So what? He wasn't tearing down the U.S. flag or inciting some sort of "Mexicans vs Americans" type of revolt. When I was in high school, I used to see students sometimes wearing shirts with the UK flag on it. No one made a fuss about that, but then again, we're "buddies" with the United Kingdom.

International relations are a strange thing. The French were, at one time, our allies and assisted us in defeating the British to win our independence; however, our nation now takes any cheap shot we can at France and proclaims to be "best friends" with the UK, the very same place we fought a war against a couple of hundred years ago to become the United States in the first place!

Half the time, I think the UK has only befriended the U.S. to piss France off (of course, the reverse could be said about France's back-up during the Revolutionary War too). Sure, that'd all be quite juvenile, but do I really need to go into detail about the history between the British and the French?

I'm not sure how I got onto the topic of the British and French, when this was originally about the U.S. and Mexico, but I'm sure there's a connection somewhere. In the meantime, I shall ponder this while I procrastinate and possibly fire up Portal, which is a whole lot of fun.