Idaho student says teacher tossed his Mexican flag in trash

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

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? #######

I don't get why people feel threatened by a flag - and its not the first time either. There were people here who were actually defending that homeless nutcase who cut down that shopkeeper's Mexican flag with a Rambo knife.

I get that people feel threatened by the influx of illegal immigrants - but surely there are better ways to make a case for their argument than taking issue with something as trivial as a rag on a pole.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

imo, everything's sexier than corona

Dude, since I do not drink I wouldn't know

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

He said he's been contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union and is considering a lawsuit against Straatman.

What kind of lawsuit? What's he gonna sue him for? He got his flag back. But since you can sue anybody for anything these days, he'll probably sue for getting his feelings hurt and win about a $1,000,000. I'm sure the shyster lawyers are probably lining up around the block to take his case. IMO, the teacher is not responsible for anything beyond buying him a new flag.

[Heracles 417]

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? #######

Yes like the initial illegal immigration protests where they carried Mexican flags.

And it's not about diversity. I will never ever have respect for a group who couldn't care less about integrating into a country. Couldn't care less about learning the language. Couldn't care less about the laws of the nation they have broken into to. Then they have the nerve to parade their flag around.

[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? #######

Yes like the initial illegal immigration protests where they carried Mexican flags.

And it's not about diversity. I will never ever have respect for a group who couldn't care less about integrating into a country. Couldn't care less about learning the language. Couldn't care less about the laws of the nation they have broken into to. Then they have the nerve to parade their flag around.

are you sure all the latinos don't care about integrating into the country??

[shadtov 0]

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? #######

Yes like the initial illegal immigration protests where they carried Mexican flags.

And it's not about diversity. I will never ever have respect for a group who couldn't care less about integrating into a country. Couldn't care less about learning the language. Couldn't care less about the laws of the nation they have broken into to. Then they have the nerve to parade their flag around.

Wow! You really believe that?

[Heracles 417]

are you sure all the latinos don't care about integrating into the country??

I am not saying all but definitely more than other nationalities. When you hear of kids that are 10 years old, born in the US, and don't know a word of English. That is a problem.

I can go into any city in the USA and see multiple examples of this.

I have no problem with good honest hard working people migrating a a nation but I do have a problem when they feel they can enter and do as they please.

At least show some respect and learn the language.

[DeadPoolX 9]

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? #######

Yes like the initial illegal immigration protests where they carried Mexican flags.

And it's not about diversity. I will never ever have respect for a group who couldn't care less about integrating into a country. Couldn't care less about learning the language. Couldn't care less about the laws of the nation they have broken into to. Then they have the nerve to parade their flag around.

I can understand that. It's one thing to be proud of and understand your cultural heritage, but it's something else entirely to refuse to integrate into the country in which you're currently living.

It makes sense. If I were to move to another country -- any country where English isn't the predominant language -- I would have to eventually learn to speak, read and write that language if I wanted to become a useful member of society. I could not, in any shape or form, realistically expect everyone in that county to learn my language (or if they know it, speak it just to please me since I've refused to learn theirs, which is the language of their country).

Besides, since when has maintaining ties to your culture meant you had to sever any and call connection to the country you reside in? I'm Jewish. I celebrate the Jewish holidays, I've learned Hebrew (which I promptly forgot most of after my Bar Mitzvah), and the historical background surrounding Judaism and the Jewish people/religion as a whole. Does that mean I expect or force anyone else to be like me? No, of course not. Even if I wanted that to happen, why would they do it? More importantly, I was born here -- in the United States -- and therefore I identify myself as an American, first and foremost. I'm still Jewish and will always be Jewish, but what came from my ancestors does not take precedence over who I am today.

[shadtov 0]

are you sure all the latinos don't care about integrating into the country??

I am not saying all but definitely more than other nationalities. When you hear of kids that are 10 years old, born in the US, and don't know a word of English. That is a problem.

I can go into any city in the USA and see multiple examples of this.

I have no problem with good honest hard working people migrating a a nation but I do have a problem when they feel they can enter and do as they please.

At least show some respect and learn the language.

Seriously? All the 10 yr olds I've met are bilingual and many prefer English since it's what is spoken at school with friends. Granted I'll give you that a kid who immigrates at 8 or 9 may still prefer Spanish at 10. I lived in San Diego and worked in majority Latino neighborhoods. When I'd make home visits to families with recent immigrants, the school age kids always preferred speaking to me in English even when I talked to their parents in Spanish.

As I'm sure your concern is for these kids and their truncated futures if they're not given the opportunity to become bilingual, I'd agree that we were failing them if we didn't provide adequate education in our school systems.

[shadtov 0]

Besides, since when has maintaining ties to your culture meant you had to sever any and call connection to the country you reside in? I'm Jewish. I celebrate the Jewish holidays, I've learned Hebrew (which I promptly forgot most of after my Bar Mitzvah), and the historical background surrounding Judaism and the Jewish people/religion as a whole. Does that mean I expect or force anyone else to be like me? No, of course not. Even if I wanted that to happen, why would they do it? More importantly, I was born here -- in the United States -- and therefore I identify myself as an American, first and foremost. I'm still Jewish and will always be Jewish, but what came from my ancestors does not take precedence over who I am today.

I think that's a good point. I think that's a perfect example of how we can celebrate our individual cultures while at the same time being "American." A kid with pride in his Mexican heritage doesn't make him any less American. We can be loyal to the US and still honor traditions and have respect for our ancestors.

[Heracles 417]

As I'm sure your concern is for these kids and their truncated futures if they're not given the opportunity to become bilingual, I'd agree that we were failing them if we didn't provide adequate education in our school systems.

The problem is that the United States tax payer is subsidizing these kids education. Therefore resources are being take away from other students to setup class after class for ESOL. I know quite a few people who are teachers and it is the same story in a lot of schools. Where now with budget shortfalls they are cutting services left, right and center. Yet at the same time hiring more and more ESOL teachers and staff. So I asked them are they actually teaching them English and the answer is usually NO. That they are simply converting the text into Spanish for them to understand.

Here are some facts on what illegal immigrants are taking from American taxpayers..

• $12,000,000,000 annual cost to America to educate the kids of illegal aliens.
• another $17,000,000,000 to pay for educating the anchor babies of illegal aliens

Edited May 8, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[shadtov 0]

As I'm sure your concern is for these kids and their truncated futures if they're not given the opportunity to become bilingual, I'd agree that we were failing them if we didn't provide adequate education in our school systems.

The problem is that the United States tax payer is subsidizing these kids education. Therefore resources are being take away from other students to setup class after class for ESOL. I know quite a few people who are teachers and it is the same story in a lot of schools. Where now with budget shortfalls they are cutting services left, right and center. Yet at the same time hiring more and more ESOL teachers and staff. So I asked them are they actually teaching them English and the answer is usually NO. That they are simply converting the text into Spanish for them to understand.

Here are some facts on what illegal immigrants are taking from American taxpayers..

• $12,000,000,000 annual cost to America to educate the kids of illegal aliens.
• another $17,000,000,000 to pay for educating the anchor babies of illegal aliens

I don't agree with your premise that educating children is ever inappropriate. However, looking at your numbers, what would be the alternative? If you don't educate these kids, you'll be creating an underclass of uneducated teenagers and adults who will be more likely to turn to crime which will only make things worse. How is that better than fronting the bill now? Prison is a lot more expensive per capita than school.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

are you sure all the latinos don't care about integrating into the country??

I am not saying all but definitely more than other nationalities. When you hear of kids that are 10 years old, born in the US, and don't know a word of English. That is a problem.

I can go into any city in the USA and see multiple examples of this.

I have no problem with good honest hard working people migrating a a nation but I do have a problem when they feel they can enter and do as they please.

At least show some respect and learn the language.

Dude, just please this time answer with the honest truth...How old are you? Please stop using your dad's account...

[Heracles 417]

I don't agree with your premise that educating children is ever inappropriate. However, looking at your numbers, what would be the alternative? If you don't educate these kids, you'll be creating an underclass of uneducated teenagers and adults who will be more likely to turn to crime which will only make things worse. How is that better than fronting the bill now? Prison is a lot more expensive per capita than school.

Why does this responsibility lie on the United States. Is it right that I fly to Sweden have a baby there and then expect them to pay for me. I am more than happy to pay my share of taxes but not when it comes to paying for 20,000,000 people who took it on themselves to jump the line, literally jump the fence, and basically force me to subsidize their lives. And then have the audacity to wave their flag in my face.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't agree with your premise that educating children is ever inappropriate. However, looking at your numbers, what would be the alternative? If you don't educate these kids, you'll be creating an underclass of uneducated teenagers and adults who will be more likely to turn to crime which will only make things worse. How is that better than fronting the bill now? Prison is a lot more expensive per capita than school.

Why does this responsibility lie on the United States. Is it right that I fly to Sweden have a baby there and then expect them to pay for me. I am more than happy to pay my share of taxes but not when it comes to paying for 20,000,000 people who took it on themselves to jump the line, literally jump the fence, and basically force me to subsidize their lives. And then have the audacity to wave their flag in my face.

Did this kid do that though?

I get the whole illegal immigrant thing, but I don't see what the big deal is about a goddamned flag. Why is it so threatening to some people?