Students sent home for wearing American flags

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Here's an interesting piece from LA Times on Cinco de Mayo:

http://latimesblogs....co-de-mayo.html

So if the students had been wearing French flags I guess we could understand...lol

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So if the students had been wearing French flags I guess we could understand...lol

[Ban Hammer 13,651]

Where would Laurel be without Hardy?

i told 5 to brazil wax that mustache!

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

i told 5 to brazil wax that mustache!

Why this can never happen:

1. You're the one with the Brazilian, not me.

2. Nessa is still not talking to me.

3. We used all the Nair in four states just removing half of the hair on your back.

4. I have a thriving mustache ride business to consider.

So if the students had been wearing French flags I guess we could understand...lol

What if they're wearing French Ticklers. :devil:

[Danno 1,228]

I guess this is just one more example of schools being taxed with the burden of keeping peace in a culture which is ever more diverse.

No matter the conflict, the logical answer is always the same ... "AVOID CONFLICT" or AVOID LEGAL ACTION.

THis is why Holidays are renamed, proms are canceled, team prayers are taboo, School uniforms are necessary, speech codes are created, "not touching" policies are initiated and the School boards legal fees have exploded in the last 2 decades. (and we arew just getting started)

Even the most basic elements of school life turn into battles over political/ religious/ cultural clashes.

It doesn't matter that the majority of people seem to co-exist or tolerate each other... there is always 5 or 10% who can't and logic goes out the window to cater to them.

2010

[CaptainPenguin 5]

A school uniform would solve these sorts of difficulties.

I am not really that familiar with the origins of Cinqo de mayo, is it a sort of Mexican version of St Patrick's day?

From wiki:

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.^[2][3] It is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla and in the United States.^[4][5][6][7] While Cinco de Mayo sees limited significance and celebration nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed nationwide in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.^[8] Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day,^[9] the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.^[10]

[Jenn! 918]

No doubt I'll get flamed for saying it, but I think the principal interpreted the situation correctly. The students' wearing of the flag was incendiary.

There should be the same consequences for Mexican students decked out in Mexican flags on the Fourth of July (if kids were in school then, that is).

IMO this is not about appropriate school attire at all. The same issue would have arisen had the students on Cinco de Mayo been playing "patriotic music" or holding signs that said "this is the USA not Mexico". Do you ban all of these things individually or do you deal with each situation as appropriate when it happens?

[PhiLandShiR 18]

Regardless of the specifics, the reality still remains LPR means legal resident; aka renter-esque. Had someone said you must pledge your allegiance to qualify for LPR, I wouldn't be here now. Why would a foreigner pledge to the US flag? It's a different story once someone become a citizen, as pledging is part of being American.

Nonsense!! LPR means Legal PERMANENT Resident. That one word makes a BIG difference! Damn sight more that being just a renter! If it means so little to you Get Out!!

Had someone said you must pledge your allegiance to qualify for LPR, I wouldn't be here now.

Maybe it should be required and maybe you should just leave...

Why would a foreigner pledge to the US flag? Because for most folks on this list, the entire goal was to marry their beloved and become a USC. And, as I have heard from so many on this list, why immigrate to a country where you do not intend to integrate??

[GabiandVi 34]

Symbols are often misused for people's own personal agenda. For example, when Madonna wore a cross. If these boys wore the t-shirts to taunt those who were celebrating a traditional holiday, then the symbolism changes. Context is everything. Again, I don't think the boys should have been sent home just for wearing the t-shirts, but I think it is well within the right of the school to prevent campus hostilities through taunting. Had they been sent home for wearing those t-shirts on any other day would be another issue.

But the true elephant in the room is that an American flag worn in an American school can ever be considered taunting. Whether or not the boys meant it as an anti-Mexican statement becomes irrelevant. The fact that an American symbol worn proudly in America can be used as anti-Anything statement is the elephant I'm seeing here.

Let's imagine this was the 4th of July and a bunch of American students living in Australia were wearing their flags. Now imagine that some Australian students decided they didn't like this and wore Australian flags to make a statement. Tough sh!t if the American students are offended. They are living in Australia, for goodness' sake! If they are offended by the Australian flag, get the ** out of Australia. Would anyone here, or Mr. Rodriguez, actually support pulling aside the Australian students? It's preposterous. If there was a concern that the Australian flag would incite violence in the American students, then that's the problem that needs to be addressed.

Cinqo de Mayo is a great holiday. I have no problem with students celebrating it in their schools. I don't even have a problem with them being offended by someone wearing an American flag. That's their right, though I think they are pretty darn stupid. But when their problem becomes my problem such that I can't wear my flag in my own country because it offends them, then I think I'm within my rights to do something about it, while they are not within theirs to make me stop or even expect me to stop!

I actually see this incident as minor. It's what it reveals that's the problem.

[ScratchIt 12]

I guess this is just one more example of schools being taxed with the burden of keeping peace in a culture which is ever more diverse.

No matter the conflict, the logical answer is always the same ... "AVOID CONFLICT" or AVOID LEGAL ACTION.

THis is why Holidays are renamed, proms are canceled, team prayers are taboo, School uniforms are necessary, speech codes are created, "not touching" policies are initiated and the School boards legal fees have exploded in the last 2 decades. (and we arew just getting started)

Even the most basic elements of school life turn into battles over political/ religious/ cultural clashes.

It doesn't matter that the majority of people seem to co-exist or tolerate each other... there is always 5 or 10% who can't and logic goes out the window to cater to them.

2010

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! My life sucks!!! I'm starting to agree with Danno

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I'm seriously thinking of driving there tomorrow during the Tea Party rally.....

No doubt I'll get flamed for saying it, but I think the principal interpreted the situation correctly. The students' wearing of the flag was incendiary.

There should be the same consequences for Mexican students decked out in Mexican flags on the Fourth of July (if kids were in school then, that is).

IMO this is not about appropriate school attire at all. The same issue would have arisen had the students on Cinco de Mayo been playing "patriotic music" or holding signs that said "this is the USA not Mexico". Do you ban all of these things individually or do you deal with each situation as appropriate when it happens?

What I find funny about comments like these are the fact that half of the students wearing the American flag were Mexican American.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

But the true elephant in the room is that an American flag worn in an American school can ever be considered taunting.

I disagree. Even the most sacred of symbols can be misconstrued to mean something else. Like this cross:

[GabiandVi 34]

I disagree. Even the most sacred of symbols can be misconstrued to mean something else. Like this cross:

And here is your point. The offended consider the act of proudly wearing an American flag in America an act of aggression and offense. That is the issue. That's what needs to be addressed. Not the wearing of the flag. It is being, by this analogy, equated with burning crosses, etc.

One major difference here is the cross burners and the victims were almost exclusively Christians. (In fact, a favorite target of the KKK were Catholics.) The most sacred symbol of the victims was appropriated and defiled. The threat was undeniable.

The "victims" of the American Flag Wearers apparantly don't consider the American flag sacred, respectable, valuable, whatever. And the American flag was not appropriated and defiled in the face of those who honor it.

Again, if the tables were turned and this was a school in Mexico on the 4th of July, would anyone seriously consider it beyond acceptable for Mexican students to proudly wear the Mexican flag? Even if the Mexicans were doing it to make a statement, while it might not be a "good" thing to do, if I saw an American student at the school complaining about it, I'd be embarrassed and hope someone would shut him up.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

And here is your point. The offended consider the act of proudly wearing an American flag in America an act of aggression and offense. That is the issue. That's what needs to be addressed. Not the wearing of the flag. It is being, by this analogy, equated with burning crosses, etc.

One major difference here is the cross burners and the victims were almost exclusively Christians. (In fact, a favorite target of the KKK were Catholics.) The most sacred symbol of the victims was appropriated and defiled. The threat was undeniable.

The "victims" of the American Flag Wearers apparantly don't consider the American flag sacred, respectable, valuable, whatever. And the American flag was not appropriated and defiled in the face of those who honor it.

Again, if the tables were turned and this was a school in Mexico on the 4th of July, would anyone seriously consider it beyond acceptable for Mexican students to proudly wear the Mexican flag? Even if the Mexicans were doing it to make a statement, while it might not be a "good" thing to do, if I saw an American student at the school complaining about it, I'd be embarrassed and hope someone would shut him up.

That's not the point I'm making. Wearing the shirts in solidarity on that particular day was perceived by the school as a taunt and out of concern for the safety of their students, in light of the racial tensions going on this country over immigration, decided they would extinguish the fire even if it was only smoke. Had I been the VP, would I have made those students change their shirts or go home? Probably not. Instead, I would have brought both sides together in room and let them talk it out in a civil manner to ease any tensions. We don't need another school tragedy. I don't agree with VP's decision but I don't blame him either for putting the safety of his school campus first.

[GabiandVi 34]

That's not the point I'm making. Wearing the shirts in solidarity on that particular day was perceived by the school as a taunt and out of concern for the safety of their students, in light of the racial tensions going on this country over immigration, decided they would extinguish the fire even if it was only smoke. Had I been the VP, would I have made those students change their shirts or go home? Probably not. Instead, I would have brought both sides together in room and let them talk it out in a civil manner to ease any tensions. We don't need another school tragedy. I don't agree with VP's decision but I don't blame him either for putting the safety of his school campus first.

While I understand that argument on one level, the greater problem is that it gives credence within the school to the position of those who consider the wearing of the American Flag offensive, and this sort of credence, once gained, does not lessen. Rather it grows and that could cause greater problems down the road.

What I'm hearing now is people saying, well, those boys were being offensive, or at the very least, they were putting themselves in danger for wearing their own nation's flag in their own nation. It's scary that people accept that it would be dangerous to wear your own flag in your own country and you should know better or be taught to know better.

Like I've said, this incident is just a tiny window into the ways that people think, and that's what I find most upsetting. Not the actions of this particular VP. He's human. He is allowed to make mistakes. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. But the reactions of the people I've seen interviewed, and on blogs, etc., demonstrate the attitudes that concern me.