CA Principal Apologizes for Forbidding U.S. Flag Shirts on Mexican Hol

[nebula]

Updated May 07, 2010

California Principal Apologizes for Forbidding U.S. Flag Shirts on Mexican Holiday

FOXNews.com

A California high school principal has apologized for telling five students they couldn't wear U.S. flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo, the local superintendent said Friday.

Tensions at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill had risen in the wake of the decision to forbid the shirts, as the students who wore the shirts defended their right to show their patriotism -- even on a Mexican holiday -- while a large group of Hispanic students staged a walkout Thursday in protest.

"This has certainly been a very difficult time for our school district," Superintendent Wesley Smith said in prepared remarks delivered Friday at a news conference.

<snip>

More than 200 Hispanic students reportedly skipped class on Thursday and marched to school district headquarters while chanting "we want respect" and "si se puede" -- "yes we can," the Morgan Hill Times reported.

"We did this to support the Latino/Hispanic community," Francine Roa, a 2005 Live Oak High School graduate, told the newspaper.

Full article

[Axxman]

Didn't sound like an apology to me...sounded like excuses. Maybe I missed it but I didn't see anything in there that said "we were wrong."

[MorningGlory]

Didn't sound like an apology to me...sounded like excuses. Maybe I missed it but I didn't see anything in there that said "we were wrong."

I totally agree...they only said this because of the backlash. The Mexican students should return to their, or their parents', country if they think our flag is disrespectful to them; wouldn't want them suffering under Old Glory.

[other one]

The Congressional Flag Code states that it is offensive to incorporate the flag into clothing in the first place. I personally am offended when I see flags or parts of our flag worn as normal dress. I've seen people actually have the flag as part of their shorts or pants and actually set on our flag.

While we do not have actual civil code laws as to degradation of the flag for improper use, we do have a code and clothing is not part of what is acceptable.

It's also my understanding that many of the kids were doing more than just wearing the flag on their clothing, but were also yelling insulting things at the Hispanic students, which really is not acceptable within a school system.

The whole situation is just an example of the failed immigrant law enforcement by our government and the resentments built up on both sides.

The school administration is caught up in the middle...... Yes, the students have the right to be Americans and show their patriotism, but the Hispanic students have the right to celebrate their heritage on one day a year also. The school administration is responsible for the safety of the students and sometimes do dumb things in response to problems. I think everyone should agree that this was not very smart of the principle to do...... but there is enough dumb to go around to everyone........ and if we keep pushing the immigration thing instead of either enforcing the laws, or change them to something workable, we're going to end up in severe violence before long.

And there are people within our government that would not mind seeing that happen so as to create reasons to further limit the liberties of our citizens.

Until "We the People" start to understand who the enemy really is, we will not prosper in this world. And until we repair the shredded moral fiber of this country and stop actions like both sides of this school situation participated in, and start taking care of "We the People" instead of "Me the Person" we will keep loosing our place in this world and soon liberty itself.

[Rick-Parker]

Wearing clothing that depicts the American flag is not the issue here. The First Amendment Right to free speech is what is at stake here. Those Mexicans can exalt Mexico above America, but Americans can't show their patriotism? And who started the arguments? More than likely it was the Mexicans.

edited by myself.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Parker1

[Axxman]

The Congressional Flag Code states that it is offensive to incorporate the flag into clothing in the first place. I personally am offended when I see flags or parts of our flag worn as normal dress. I've seen people actually have the flag as part of their shorts or pants and actually set on our flag.

It's also my understanding that many of the kids were doing more than just wearing the flag on their clothing, but were also yelling insulting things at the Hispanic students, which really is not acceptable within a school system.

I don't think that wearing a depiction of the US flag on clothing is bad. I think the Flag Code is referring to sewing or incorporating an actual flag into clothing.

Also, considering that the mexican students deemed the depiction of the American flag, and red, white, and blue color schemes as insulting...I'm not too certain that I'm going to take their word on what they would consider the insults they alledgedly heard. They would consider any pro-American talk offensive or insulting. they probably complained that the boys were speaking english too....

[oldzimm]

I just received a picture in a email of Mexican students at Montebello High School in California flying the Mexican Flag above the United States Flag on the same pole and to make matters worst the United States Flag was flying upside down. I can't imagine why we didn't see a story of this in a National Newspaper.

[MorningGlory]

I just received a picture in a email of Mexican students at Montebello High School in California flying the Mexican Flag above the United States Flag on the same pole and to make matters worst the United States Flag was flying upside down. I can't imagine why we didn't see a story of this in a National Newspaper.

That picture is from a few years ago....I got it too. Still maddening though. It won't get better until we take back our country.

[Rick-Parker]

I just received a picture in a email of Mexican students at Montebello High School in California flying the Mexican Flag above the United States Flag on the same pole and to make matters worst the United States Flag was flying upside down. I can't imagine why we didn't see a story of this in a National Newspaper.

Flying the flag upside down is the sign of distress. How appropriate, even if it is 2 years old. There are now about 3 million more illegals here now than then. We are in great distress!

[MorningGlory]

I just received a picture in a email of Mexican students at Montebello High School in California flying the Mexican Flag above the United States Flag on the same pole and to make matters worst the United States Flag was flying upside down. I can't imagine why we didn't see a story of this in a National Newspaper.

That picture is from a few years ago....I got it too. Still maddening though. It won't get better until we take back our country.

how do we do that? i'm ready and willing to do what it takes!

By electing the right representatives to Washington; even a shift of FIVE Congressional seats can mean a profound shift in policy. By electing state officials who are against illegal immigration, by not hiring illegals, if you are in that kind of position; by not renting to them if you are a landlord regardless of the law. And by supporting any movement in your state to pass a law similar to the one just passed in Arizona. You may be only one person, as I am, but if you put 50 or 60 million times you and I together...it will create an overwhelming wave.