That might be overdoing it a bit.

Yup - and the administration sent the wrong message: "If you have a differing opinion, be silent."

If wearing a t-shirt with a national flag is deemed to be so inflammatory, then the administration should have banned the display of all national flags across the board, including those of the non- red, white & blue variety. I've been doing some reading on this, and let me tell ya, both sides at that school were making political statements. 'Nuff said.

Thank you.

i heard this story on the radio earlier. reminds me of http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_But_the_Truth_(novel)

I disagree, this is nowhere near gang colors, and I think the school administration was punishing the students in order to make a political statement, a clear violation of ethical behavior for a government employee. Complaints are not enough reason to send them home. This was clearly a political decision, not one about keeping order. This wasn't someone trash talking Hispanics, this was someone displaying the American flag. There is something wrong with any students who had a problem with it, and the school should have made an effort to stress multiculturalism rather then making this bad decision.

What was the problem here? Why is wearing any flag, especially the American flag in America, offensive? How does one intend to cause trouble by wearing a shirt with a flag(the flag of the country they live in)? Why would anyone interpret this as instigation in the first place, even if they were trying to somehow cause trouble? "Look, he's wearing the flag of our country. We must send him home, now, he's trying to offend people." As the son of two immigrants who lives in the U.S. whose ethnicity is that of my parents, I don't understand what's so bad about this, especially considering Cinco de Mayo has is about a Mexican vs. French conflict, not a Mexico vs. U.S. conflict. I don't see any French students complaining about Cinco de Mayo being celebrated in the U.S. at all, and that would be a more valid complaint than those directed towards these five individuals about wearing the colors of their country.

The school administration is just making a political statement really, probably because of that whole Arizona thing.

That seems logical, but the Arizona issue is another issue. I find that one disturbing, but wearing the colors of your country in your country seems perfectly acceptable to me.

Subtle political messages can be more bothersome than straightforward ones

Clearly the subtle messages in this have confused people enough so that they don't realize that wearing a flag can be inflammatory enough to cause a disruption. I doubt the administration was making any political statement and again I stress that either way they were screwed in whatever decision they made.

As I would like to keep discussing this here on the forums try not to get political with recent legislation in other states which would get this closed

Thanks guys

Yes. And if someone is offended by the flag of a certain country, they probably shouldn't live in said country. Especially if their salary is paid by taxpayers of said country.

Why the dress code? No school I've ever gone to had one, and while there was some picking on people for wearing weird stuff nobody really cared, if you wear a santa hat in the middle of June, I'm sorry, I think that's weird

A school nearby tried to ban sagging pants a few years ago...they were a laughing stock for a while, then everyone forgot it happened, it was stupid.

It is perfectly acceptable, but all it takes is one person with a chip on their shoulder and a position of authority...



In an American school, the idea of being offended by the American flag seems quite odd. I don't see how our own flag, in our own country, in one of our schools, could be that inflammatory. Exactly what about it would be so upsetting?

Hmmm, I guess the school is playing safe ball and not taking risk by sending those kids home rather then letting them stay at school. At worst, those kids are probably gotten some heavy teasing and offended some students while at best, its just a joke, but I am more suspected that those kids are just wearing those color just to stir up some commotion.

That seems likely, but what I don't understand is why those colors would cause trouble, anyway. I wasn't aware that showing off the American flag in the U.S. was offensive to anyone.

Its not. It’s more of a “I am wearing these color in your day of heritage and pride. So what ya ganna do about it?” Its kind of like a make-believe situation where a bunch of Mexican kids came to school predominated by white kids in 4th of July and wear their brand of color; flag and all.

The difference being that if anything were done to those students there would be a public outcry about how insensitive America is.

The situation didn't went too far to find out the result but I would not be surprise if such outcry were to occur, though I am still suspected those kids are wearing those color on that particular day just to see the reaction.

Strange, that people could get offended by the flag of their own country.

School officials today http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/07/california-principal-apologizes-forbidding-flag-shirts-mexican-holiday/.

Apparently wearing clothing depicting the national flag of the the country you live in is NOT wrong.

EDIT: Besides, it was a US holiday anyway. Very few celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Mexico. It's pretty much a holiday pushed by Corona. Look it up.

Interesting last paragraph in that article:

"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."

We've turned into a nation of thin-skinned whiners constantly looking for offenses.

Yeah, I can see how patriotism, as discouraged as it is in your own country, could be so inflammatory. Good call.


Anytime.

Patriotism?

I doubt these boys even know what the declaration of independence is!

I doubt they know what the Bill of Rights is!

I doubt that this had anything at all to do with patriotism!

Clearly you have no idea what you're talking about because if you did you'd know that this doesn't have a damn thing to do with patriotism!

They deserve to be suspended.

I mean what a fashion faux pas.

There's always some idiot that gets offended by the silliest things. People stop saying Merry Christmas because it may offend non-christians like me...come on, I don't give two [censored] how you wish me a merry christmas, why would I possibly be offended by that?

Yet, people can be as offensive as they want on television. I was watching the National Geographic channel the other day and there were two programs I watched on that day. One was about neo-Nazis and the other was about KKK members, and modern members of both groups proudly talked about their groups' values and at their rallies, they are protected by police officers, yet people get offended by an American flag. Of all things to get offended by, people get offended by the flag of their country. :huh: