Students Kicked Off Campus For Wearing American Flag

[The Witch]

On any other day at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Daniel Galli and his four friends would not even be noticed for wearing T-shirts with the American flag. But Cinco de Mayo is not any typical day especially on a campus with a large Mexican American student population.

Galli says he and his friends were sitting at a table during brunch break when the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal's office.

"They said we could wear it on any other day," Daniel Galli said, "but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today."

The boys said the administrators called their T-shirts "incendiary" that would lead to fights on campus.

"They said if we tried to go back to class with our shirts not taken off, they said it was defiance and we would get suspended," Dominic Maciel, Galli's friend, said.

The boys really had no choice, and went home to avoid suspension. They say they're angry they were not allowed to express their American pride. Their parents are just as upset, calling what happened to their children, "total nonsense."

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," Julie Fagerstrom, Maciel's mom, said. "All they were doing was displaying their patriotic nature. They're expressing their individuality."

But to many Mexican-American students at Live Oak, this was a big deal. They say they were offended by the five boys and others for wearing American colors on a Mexican holiday.

"I think they should apologize cause it is a Mexican Heritage Day," Annicia Nunez, a Live Oak High student, said. "We don't deserve to be get disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."

As for an apology, the boys and their families say, "fat chance."

"I'm not going to apologize. I did nothing wrong," Galli said. "I went along with my normal day. I might have worn an American flag, but I'm an American and I'm proud to be an American."

The five boys and their families met with a Morgan Hill Unified School District official Wednesday night. The district released a statement saying it does not agree with how Live Oak High School administrators handled this incident.

The boys will not be suspended and they were told they can go back to school Thursday. They may even wear their red, white, and blue colors again, but this time, the day after Cinco de Mayo, there will be no controversy.

~ Source ~


Opinions?

 

[Valvalis]

TBH it sounds like these students may have already had some sort of beef with each other before this happened Maybe the American students were doing it on purpose to try to offend the Mexican-American students or something? I mean, for all the years I was in school we had Mexican-American students in some of the classes, and no one ever asked the teachers to take down the classrooms' American flags on Cinco de Mayo--and there was a flag in every classroom. I don't know how this particular school mentioned in the article functions, but unless the classrooms at this school really take down their flags for the day to be more sensitive (which I doubt--they'd also have to skip the Pledge of Allegiance), it sounds like it may have been more of a student-specific incident than anything else.

 

[The Witch]

Even if those kids did it to mess with the Hispanic Classmates, it's the American flag flying in America. They don't have any right to complain about the American flag flying in America. If they have a problem, they should leave.

And this is too anyone that has a problem with the American flag, not just Hispanics.

 

[SapphireStar]

I do find that really extreme. Being threatened with suspension for wearing your flag is just retarded. I mean, the same thing has happened in the UK when people werent allopwed to wear England shirts in some pubs and some shops were asked to remove England flags on St Georges Day!?!?! Its our country for fucks sake and I can understand their anger and frustration. Lots of people died so we could fly and wear our flags with pride, but someone always has to police you with politics.

 

[Dee]

Quoting myself from another forum,

The boys should be allowed to sport decorations of the home flag tackily on their clothes whenever they damn well please. As long as they weren't outright saying fuck these Mexicans or something as equally horrible, no one should give a damn. Expressing patriotism in your own country is hardly anything to get upset over, regardless of what day it is. It isn't even a holiday recognized for anything in regards to American's other than just another excuse to get shit faced. Plus, the battle didn't even take place in America. Even though it was premeditated and they probably don't wear the flag or decorations of it on any other holiday other than maybe the Fourth of July...

I say who cares? The Hispanic students were not being oppressed and had an equal chance at celebrating their heritage. The best thing they could have done was ignore the other students as paying attention and making a big deal out of it will only fuel the fire (as it has obviously done).

 

[The Witch]

I agree with you two completely! And that's exactly what I think, too.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

This sort of thing is stupid.

It's like when Muslims come over to Australia and they try to get religious classes banned from the schools their children are attending because it's not their religion.

How about, 'Fuck off back home if you don't like it!' It's our country and we will teach our religion, not yours.

It's not even compulsory to attend religious classes anyway unless you go to a Catholic, Christian, Anglican school.

Anyway getting a bit off topic.

The point is, this is their country and they shouldn't have to feel like they can't wear something as simple as a shirt with the American Flag on it.

Fair enough if they'd never worn it before and only wore it on that particular day. Then they were asking for it.

But it says that they often wore those shirts.

"They said we could wear it on any other day," Daniel Galli said, "but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today."

Have a cry.

Might move this thread to the debate section too.

[Moved to the Sleeping Forest]

 

[Raiiyokuu]

All I have to say is....

Stupid.

No one deserves to be revoke of their individuality.

 

[GalaxyFlare]

Fuck off back home if you don't like it!' It's our country and we will teach our religion, not yours.

LMAO Kandy.......The American flag stand for freedom and The right to do just about anthing! This is like the wrong to handle a minority celebration, even if these kids were tying to instigate a confrontation.....its there country!

There was a similar situation here in OZ with the RSL Veterans and something about a flag being taken down in relation to it conflicting with veitnam or another thing.....the point is outside of a direct opposition to an event people have the right to wear what ever the fuck they want!

Just like the people celebrating there lucky victory over the French!

Being too politically correct can be just as dangerous as completely ignoring the sensitivities of minority groups, sometimes its better to let the deiscisions that favor one group over another be adaptive in a policy that ca n be applied from the top of a Organization like a state run education department through its out lying schools districts.

The fact that the Department Head disagreed with the head master says it all!

 

[GBJoker]

Technically, it is illegal to use the American flag, or equivalents as clothing...

And May 5th is barely celebrated in Mexico as it is.

Welcome to the Democrats (Obamas) democracy.

 

[GalaxyFlare]

The problem with multicultural societies is when a minority grows in numbers they start to demand a greater level of respect and either through natural respect or an outspoken individual or group they can gather a movement, if the group starts expecting preferential treatment and dont get it, then those in positions like the Head Master in the story are sometimes forced to placate the minority.

As for Days of Celebration, they lose there point in some Societies when the reasons for there commemoration are not held in high regard.....its sad in some cases but some days are just not that important to those it represents.

 

[DeadFantasy]

Its utterly ridiculous and I think this issue is just stupid. I sure as hell (if I were Mexican) wouldn't give a flying fuck. What if a Mexican was wearing an American flag on cinco de mayo? Would they be pissed off to saying how they don't celebrate it and blah blah blah? It's fucking horseshit.

I agree with the parent's forget them no apology. Your in America correct? If you don't like people's patriotism, well no one invited you here anyways your more then welcome to leave.

I mean it goes for everyone not just mexicans

Its hardly celebrated in Mexico as Natalie said.

'cause it's not even the day they got their indepedence they just fought off France 'cause of their debt.

 

[Channizard]

-sings- And I'm proud to be a Canadian...

I don't get this crap... It's your own country and shit, do what you want, but what really boggles me, is how what someone else is wearing, is supposed to affect how you feel. Unless it's the American flag shitting on the Mexican flag, the Mexican's should have no beef with it. What is one flag doing to their country on a holiday?

 

[eye of the divine]

This reminds me of what happened in the UK but people weren't aloud to fly/wear the union jack as it could be construded as reicist according to the police so we weren't aloud to fly that flag anymore.

Its a load of crap! national pride is fine but yes it can be taken too far but punishment shouldn't be given out until things have gone too far.

 

[SapphireStar]

LMAO Kandy.......The American flag stand for freedom and The right to do just about anthing! This is like the wrong to handle a minority celebration, even if these kids were tying to instigate a confrontation.....its there country!

Kandy wasnt refering that to this case but to what happened in Austrilia with some Muslims wanted to ban religious classes.

I agree Kandy, dont like then basically fuck off. Im so sick to sodding death of people coming to different countries and trying to alter the culture and religion to theirs. Man, these topics piss me royally off

 

[The Witch]

Well, my mum said the School told them not to do that because the Mexicans were trouble makers. And so, to stop the trouble he said no one shall wear the flag.

So, maybe in a way, the school did the best thing? I mean, they were trying to stop violence.

 

[HighwindPilot]

This happened at a high school near where I live. The funny thing is, one of the students talked about how they "don't do stuff like that on Fourth of July" or whatever, when in fact, they do. You see Mexicans sporting red, white and green all the time on Fourth of July, and some take it to the extent of dissing the holiday and such.

People are all making a big deal over nothing, as though everyone's just looking for an excuse to make a fuss.

Best way to sum it up like this,

"American students suspended from an American school for wearing American flag t shirts on Cinco De Mayo day...in America"...lolwut?

 

[The Witch]

This happened at a high school near where I live. The funny thing is, one of the students talked about how they "don't do stuff like that on Fourth of July" or whatever, when in fact, they do. You see Mexicans sporting red, white and green all the time on Fourth of July, and some take it to the extent of dissing the holiday and such.

People are all making a big deal over nothing, as though everyone's just looking for an excuse to make a fuss.

Best way to sum it up like this,

"American students suspended from an American school for wearing American flag t shirts on Cinco De Mayo day...in America"...lolwut?

That's my beef with it too >.< And you know, you're right. I don't know how many times I've seen Hispanics wearing Mexican flags on the 4th of July.

It's bull shit.

 

[Shu]

The thing that makes me sick is the state of California is its own country. Over there the laws can just about go anyway possible. (sorry Mits and other Cali dwellers) There is a big Hispanic minority over in CA, but this is down right ridiculous.

For one I'm from the South East States of the US and I hear about the hatred of Mexicans, sad enough to say not just the illegal immigrants about every damn day. Paranoia is the real reason behind it due to the lack of taxes some pay, and the fact that some (legal immigrants) are getting their friends and family in illegally because they wish to establish a home here. Now this thread has nothing to do with this, but I just wanted to touch on why some folks here in America frown on others, and I don't support this.

Though I will say the dude was half Hispanic (after reading the source and the video), who wore a t-shirt. Freedom of expression is one of the many things I love about this country as long as it has limits. I notice huge bouts of Latino folks had a rally in which they put the American flag upside down and the Mexican flag above it. Did they get punished? No. Were they allowed peacefully to have their rally? Yes. Now when a half Hispanic person chooses to express his beliefs by wearing a t-shirt on Cinco De Mayo, a Mexican Holiday in which celebrates their independence from Spain, I don't see the problem. I'm sorry but this is not Mexico! America does not "celebrate" it the same way. We just use it as an excuse to eat Hispanic food and drink Margaritas till the early morning hours. For some they even question if it it a legitimate Holiday for Americans due to it being strictly for Mexican decendents. That's like if I were to magically celebrate the separation of the Soviet Union, and start wearing Russian t-shirts on the day it was signed off as separate nations. That's a little weird, don't you think?

A person should be able to wear what the heck he/she wants, whenever he/she wants unless it sits there and says "F-ck Mexico" that's a bit overstepping bounds.

 

[The Witch]

Brilliantly said, Shu! And I agree 100% with everything you said! Although, I didn't know the kid wearing the American flag was half Mexican, but it's still very interesting.

A person should be able to wear what the heck it wants, whenever it wants unless it sits there and says "F-ck Mexico" that's a bit overstepping bounds.

This sums it up for me. And that's how it should be in America. I won't stop Mexicans from wearing their flags(even though I am against it)and they sure as hell better not try and prevent me from wearing our Country's Flag.