It's pretty obvious the kids were trying to cause trouble. Just a coincidence that they just so happened to wear clothes with American Flag motifs on them, on the day of Cinco De Mayo? Really?
I hope people aren't that daft or socially inept to realize what was going on.

A watered down weeny mans version of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegemite, a real condiment, for men named Bruce.

Puts hair on yer teeth :toughninja:


hey, lookit here, a topic. Lets climb onbuddy, you know, and I know, that when some US kids are wearing the US flag to a US school when there happens to be a non-US, non-religious (its a military holiday for petes sake!) holiday going on becomes in any way disruptive, then we have bigger problems that we can't go into here.


as you know.

Things that are "offensive" are always like that. Flies over one person's head, then lands square in the next person's eye. Put simply, Cinco de Mayo is a country-specific holiday, and showing up to the celebration deliberately dressed in the colors of a different country can easily be seen as being a jerk. Considering their rather unusual combination of clothing worn to school (i.e., swim trunks) it seems likely that this was indeed their intent, so negative reactions aren't surprising. If someone is doing something solely to annoy other people, they're being a jerk, regardless of whether you're actually offended by their actions. We don't have all the details from the article, as always, but if that's the case I'm not surprised the school did something.

As for sending them home, well...I'm not particularly distraught by that, but maybe I'm used to the fact that on the scale of negative reactions to someone looking different, that's barely on the radar. Having been shot at for it before, I'm not easily moved by any complaints of this being too harsh.

At the thread in general: Imagine if someone were throwing a superbowl party at their house for a certain team and someone showed up wearing a jersey for the other team just to mess with them. They'd be lucky to get out alive.

This means war :swear:

Anyway, I think it's fairly likely the kids were trying to be provocative. As someone else said, it's not like they'd wear american flag shorts on any other day.

What?? I do that all the time! National Championships, Super Bowls, World Series'. I've got hats and such I don't want, but it's well worth it. Sometimes those parties need a little more action!

As far as the school nonsense goes....it seems typical these days. The kids probably wanted some attention, the school overreacts and makes things worse. Blah, blah.

St. Patricks's Day is indeed a very big deal for some schools in the US - to the point children are harrassed for not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day, even in areas where the population is anything but predominantly Irish (happened in our area just recently). It makes me wonder if the uproar over those T-shirts is occurring for similar reasons, and is less about the T-shirts and more about the lack of conformity.

IMO, if the school district wants conformity in clothing, they should make uniforms mandatory, otherwise, they can hold their tongues.

Since when?

That's exactly my point. I guess the guy who wore the opposing teams jersey at a party for the other team to watch the superbowl, I'm sure that was just coincidence. No, the guy was trying to stir up trouble, and get a few laughs and/or metal doors in the face.
Just like these kids who wore american flag motifs/colored clothing. They didn't just do it by coincidence, don't be so daft.
Has this country really gotten so blinded by the phrase and idea of "freedom of speech" that we can't tell an obvious case of a few teens going against the grain to get laughs and offend people at the same time from something being "wrong"?
They got what they deserved.

+1 Points to School.

Difficult situation, but honestly, it was clear that these students were doing this to cause trouble. You don't wear swim trunks because you woke up this morning and decided to wear swim trunks (unless you're going swimming). That isn't how it works. To me, I see five kids that used their clothes to make a political statement, and a High School is not the proper forum for such a statement, especially when there are students who could be intimidated by the statement. Furthermore, I think the district administration is gutless for not supporting the school administration. If you don't trust the calls they make on the ground, don't employ 'em.

Not wearing green is not a similar example. It is not a political message.

I want to see the ACLU get involved in this one.
It is an often unkown and unenforced US law that the flag not be worn as clothing, touch the ground, be displayed at night without illumination, fly in inclement weather, or be used as curtains. Patriotism is generally welcomed.
So did these boys break a law? Yes, an obscure one.
Did these boys meet the school dress code, aside from the bandana? Yes, although the flag and bandana broke flag respect laws. The bandana broke school law and was removed.
Were these boys trying to make a political statement, and expressing freedom of speech?
Yes they were.
Could it have been offensive to others of hispanic origin at the school?
Yes, considering the recent Arizona rulings.
Was the vice principal correct in sending them home?
No, they broke no school dress code law. Now, the government could prosecute them for breaking federal law, but there's a slim chance of getting a jury to convict them.

This is stupid. if the students wore it to send a racist message they'd deserve worse, but they didn't, so who the [censored] cares then? What's the problem?

I'm a substitute teacher and last St. Patrick's Day I almost inadvertently went wearing an orange tie, talk about a fashion faux pas.

Of course these kids didn't inadvertently show up school in American flag clothing, I'd hope no one wakes up and inadvertently decides to wear swim trunks for the day - those things can chafe.

Those kids who were offended may have took this as a more disparaging symbol than I think it was intended, but it was still a silly thing for these boys to do (and a sillier way for the administration to react).

Look at it this way. It's pretty obvious they did this to cause trouble, rile up some people, and make a political statement. Wearing the American flag as clothing on a day for celebrating a Mexican holiday, a day where hispanic tradition and style is generally atmospheric where ever you go that celebrates the holiday. Please tell me how that is a coincidence. It's so glaringly obvious that only people who are blinded by "omg that wasn't fair!" can't see it.
And it was fair. If you're in high school, causing problems, and riling people up, even if you aren't "breaking" any rules technically, you can still get in trouble.
It's called instigating. And that's exactly what they were doing. So they were sent home, and rightly so.

As a side note "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." But yes, everything Mamagato said here is spot on.

There is something of a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista_(Mexico) or http://www.answers.com/topic/aztl-n-american-southwest type mindset in some members of the Mexican-American or Mexican immigrant community in the Southwestern US. A few people view the two Mexican holidays prevalent there (Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day) as a political statement particularly in the prominence of the Mexican flag. Hence the American flag reaction in some quarters. I lived in a city that is 70% Hispanic (Salinas CA - primarily Mexican) and while the Fourth of July celebration was canceled by the city due to budget problems the two massively celebrated Mexican holidays went off with plenty of community funding (and Mexican flags prominently displayed on house, cars, businesses).

Also, here it is quite common for males to wear swim trunks as shorts, as long as they are at the knee, the local school board permits it. It's hot and humid nine months out of the year.


What I think the school has here is an opportunity to learn. Next year, to celebrate and encourage diversity, they could allow both US and Mexican colors, discuss history and culture, as well as the school cafeteria getting in the spirit by offering cuisines from both cultures.

I agree, don't get me wrong, I understand why someone could see that as a big deal.

My point is, that getting upset over it is stupid. I understand why they do, but really what's the point? If someone were to wear an american flag in Norway on our national day, I wouldn't care at all. If said person came up to me and started spewing racist comments at me, then I'd care, but anything less than that, I just don't see the point.

And I agree with you on that part of it too, I don't really care, at all, who wears what, no matter what day of the year it is.
But some people do. A lot of people do. Not me, or you, but enough that rules have to be enforced to keep the peace regarding certain peoples beliefs and feelings.

Yes, I knew that too.
My son's boy scout troop has ex military in them, every so often a collection of worn flags must be destroyed in a very solemn ceremony. I have witnessed it twice, and seen grown ex marines go misty eyed.

Yea The kids were most likely trying to cause trouble but the reaction was uncalled for like you said.Two wrongs don't make a right.


It is actually.They are pretty darn comfortable and are better than regular shorts when its hot out.

And a very nice breeze is comforting

Sounds a bit ridiculous since it's not Mexico. Even then I think it would be a total over reaction. Red, white and blue is the tricolore yes, but the US flag, the Union Jack, Australian and New Zealand flags are all the same colour. Big fuss over nothing. School being silly.

Looking back, I could have accidentally done what they did. In High School, I regularly wore a red cap, jeans when it was cold or chili (like it was for a while yesterday for me), and some of my shirts are white. It could have also been a day where I didn't feel like wearing a black shirt again for the 100th time.

It was a joke about gang colours.

Yeah but these ones had american motifs and stars on them. The boys were obviously stirring up trouble or wanted to be idiots, but its all rather passive. Unless they were singing bruce springsteen "born in the usa" at the other students then i would have taken serious action. Some people are likke that, complete idiots, i guess being english and growing up next to south end and the chavvy side of britain i evolved a natural resistance to idiots.