Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees - Page 3

glatt · 05-07-2010, 01:40 PM

I wonder what the reaction would be to flag designed toilet paper. It's not the flag, so nobody would take offense, I'm sure.

I agree with you jinx that the school was foolish here. They shouldn't have done anything and it was almost certainly political correctness run amok. I think that schools have the right to enforce a dress code and even make spur of the moment calls as they see fit in order to keep disruption to a minimum, but I don't think it was warranted here.

Flint · 05-07-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Yes it did.

Depends on the situation. We have no idea who these kids are or how they act. I am probably biased, but I have a feeling these kids are like the kids at my school who drove around with a Confederate flag on their car during Martin Luther King Day.....in Wisconsin.

If these kids just happened to wear a shirt or bandanna with the American flag on it, then the school should have handled it better.

If the kids wore it as a big fuck you to the Mexican American population, which I am assuming it was, then I completely agree with the school's decision. It isn't ideal, but putting myself in their place, I would rather force someone to change their shirt then deal with some race related fights, which I know happen at other places.

Even when people are dicks, you can't take action against them unless they actually do something wrong. This is a cornerstone of a free, law-abiding society. Once you open things up to the vagaries of spur-of-the-moment "feelings" and opinions, you accept that next time they could be coming for YOU if they don't like your attitude about something. That's not America.

Undertoad · 05-07-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

i have american flag swim trunks.

HAD> jinx threw them away.

You tried to get her to touch the 51st star, didn't you?

piercehawkeye45 · 05-07-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Even when people are dicks, you can't take action against them unless they actually do something wrong. This is a cornerstone of a free, law-abiding society. Once you open things up to the vagaries of spur-of-the-moment "feelings" and opinions, you accept that next time they could be coming for YOU if they don't like your attitude about something. That's not America.

This is where we disagree. I am not defending the school just because I disagree with the actions of those students. I am not offended by their actions just as I was not offended when students from my school drove around with a Confederate flag on their car during Martin Luther King Day. It is about preventing something bigger from happening.

I do know places where an act such of this would have resorted in violence and could have brought other students into this as well. There are stupid racist who will do something to "make a statement" and there are stupid people who will use violence to "shut them up". If school's can avoid those situations, within reason, then I agree with the avoidance strategy.

I don't know if this school is such a place. If it is not, then yes, it is a stretch of political correctness. If it is, then I back the school's decision to attempt to avoid violence from breaking out in their school.

Flint · 05-07-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

...an act such of this...

Quick reality check: an "act such as this" refers to what?

classicman · 05-07-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Students showing their Mexican-American pride walked out of class at Live Oak High School on Thursday, and rallied at the Morgan Hill Civic Center, calling the actions of the students who wore the American T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo offensive. They also demanded to speak with the mayor.

"I think they should apologize because it is a Mexican heritage day," Annicia Nunez, a Live Oak High student, told NBC BayArea. "We don't deserve to be disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."

The ignorance of the student above, Annicia Nunez, is quite apparent since school is not in session on the Fourth of July as it is a national holiday in this country.
A holiday which celebrates the fight for the independence of a country that they now live in, and enjoy the benefits thereof.

classicman · 05-07-2010, 03:16 PM

* Update from the Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent

"The Morgan Hill Unified School District does not prohibit nor do we discourage wearing patriotic clothing," Dr. Wesley Smith said in a written statement. "The incident on May 5 at Live Oak High School is extremely unfortunate. While campus safety is our primary concern and administrators made decisions yesterday in an attempt to ensure campus safety, students should not, and will not, be disciplined for wearing patriotic clothing. This matter is under investigation and appropriate action will be taken."

classicman · 05-07-2010, 03:21 PM

Oh and then this ...

Quote:

A day after five Morgan Hill students were sent home for wearing American flag T-shirts, the controversy erupted ten-fold.

Dozens of students at Live Oak High School made a mass and impromptu walk out of class Thursday. They weren't protesting the ejections and instead were showing their Mexican-American pride. Many support the school's decision and say they were offended by their classmates' wardrobe choice.

Many of the students who walked out Thursday held Mexican flags as they left campus. The said they marching for respect and unity.

"My plan is to bring out the message we are also Americans and we need Americans to show our culture respect of our Hispanic background," student Mike Hernandez said.

The group walked to City Hall for a loud but calm noontime rally. They returned to school in about 90 minutes and finished the day in class.

Spexxvet · 05-07-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

"My plan is to bring out the message we are also Americans

Then don't be offended when someone wears an American flag.

piercehawkeye45 · 05-07-2010, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Quick reality check: an "act such as this" refers to what?

How is that a reality check? I am fully aware how stupid it is to resort to violence if you are offended that someone wore an American flag during Cinco de Mayo or if someone wore a Mexican flag during the 4th of July. But, unfortunately, it happens.

As Classicman's post states, that decision was about safety, not about political correctness. Obviously it could still be an overreaction from the school district, but my gut feeling says it is not.

Once again, we don't anything about these students besides that they wear American flags on their clothes every once in a while. They could be legitimate patriotic people, or they could full out white supremacist. We don't know. But from my personal experience, the only people that would think about wearing an American flag during Cinco de Mayo, in a school with a large Hispanic population, then get all defensive about it, are more towards the racist side.

classicman · 05-07-2010, 03:32 PM

Is there an Italian Polish, Russian, German, Irish or Chinese holiday like this?

classicman · 05-07-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

As Classicman's post states, that decision was about safety, not about political correctness. Obviously it could still be an overreaction from the school district, but my gut feeling says it is not.

I don't believe that at all. This has PC written all over it and its bullshit.

Quote:

we don't anything about these students besides that they wear American flags on their clothes every once in a while.

And we don't know anything about the other kids, except they are "Mexican Americans." Are they into human trafficing. prostitution, drugs gun running??? We don't know squat about either side.
Oh and why is it these people can no longer just refer to themselves as Americans? Why is it everytime this crap come up they get to use their "label of choice" F-that.

Quote:

They could be legitimate patriotic people, or they could full out white supremacist. We don't know. But from my personal experience, the only people that would think about wearing an American flag during Cinco de Mayo, in a school with a large Hispanic population, then get all defensive about it, are more towards the racist side.

When I got dressed Wed am, the fact that it was Cinco de Mayo had ZERO to do with my choice of attire. Pretty much like every other day of the year. I understand that my area and this have vastly different cultures and population compositions, but still.

To call these kids out for wearing the US flag on their shirts IN THE US because its another country's holiday is complete and utter BS. That guy should be fired - that is the appropriate action.

DangerouslySimple · 05-07-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman

Is there an Irish holiday like this?

Of course there is... we drink beer and wear green. I will be offended if anyone else wears any other color that day... Maybe I should complain to the mayor?

squirell nutkin · 05-07-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Cooler than those wetbacks wearing the Mexican flag on our holidays, which by the way, are real holidays in this country.

Pie is not Mexican so why would she wear a Mexican flag? (And for the record, jinx only looks Mexican)

classicman · 05-07-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

The school mascot of Live Oak is an Acorn

now that explains everything!

05-07-2010, 03:16 PM	#37
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	* Update from the Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent "The Morgan Hill Unified School District does not prohibit nor do we discourage wearing patriotic clothing," Dr. Wesley Smith said in a written statement. "The incident on May 5 at Live Oak High School is extremely unfortunate. While campus safety is our primary concern and administrators made decisions yesterday in an attempt to ensure campus safety, students should not, and will not, be disciplined for wearing patriotic clothing. This matter is under investigation and appropriate action will be taken." __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

05-07-2010, 03:32 PM	#41
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Is there an Italian Polish, Russian, German, Irish or Chinese holiday like this? __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

05-07-2010, 01:40 PM	#31
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I wonder what the reaction would be to flag designed toilet paper. It's not the flag, so nobody would take offense, I'm sure. I agree with you jinx that the school was foolish here. They shouldn't have done anything and it was almost certainly political correctness run amok. I think that schools have the right to enforce a dress code and even make spur of the moment calls as they see fit in order to keep disruption to a minimum, but I don't think it was warranted here.

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