Posted on 06/04/2004 1:21:20 PM PDT by MikeJ75
GRAND BLANC - Bringing flags bearing the Confederate insignia to school could cost two Grand Blanc High School seniors their diplomas.
School administrators met Thursday to determine the fates of the two students and a third who was involved in an altercation sparked by the flags. School officials wouldn't announce the outcome of the meeting.
The Confederate flag has sparked a heated debate at the school about whether it's simply a symbol of the South or one of racial discrimination and slavery.
The two students who brought the flags to school Wednesday said there's nothing racist about the Confederate flag. They said it represents Southern pride, among other things, although one of the students said he wanted to apologize to peers who were offended.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlive.com ...
One of the students was disciplined for driving his vehicle on campus on his last day of high school with a rebel flag hanging from the window. The other student was suspended for bringing to school a Mississippi state flag, which apparently has a Confederate emblem in it. The students had been warned on prior occasions.
Seems to me there are significant freedom of speech issues here.
In addition, even if I am wrong about the freedom of speech issue, although I think the students were unwise (they're teenagers, so that goes without saying) to bring rebel flags to school and are lucky they didn't get beat up, stabbed or worse, I do not believe that a harsh punishment is warranted. Instead of withholding their diplomas, just give them a good paddling.
ping
Give me a break... Get out of Minnesota once in a while, kid...
"suspended for bringing to school a Mississippi state flag"
How long will it be before the American flag is banned?
Ridiculous. they should fire whoever suspended them instead.
As America, our history our heritage, and freedoms disappear in the rear view mirror.
During wartime it might be best to keep that stuff to yourself, eh?!
However if these same studenst came in with a Bush is a war criminal banner, or a Homosexual "act up" pink triangle, or hippie peace symbol, or Martha Burk Kill all Males logo, or a commie hammer and sickle THESE would be totally acceptable and rewarded.
I do not agree with bringing rebel flags or any other symbol to graduation other than those accedemic symbols. The exception is for military service men and women who go through graduation in Uniform. (way cool BTW)
Why not bring them? Why paddle them???? Has the flag ever attacked anyone? Are the other students so insane/racist/intolerant that they attack anyone with a different viewpoint? At my kids school, probably 1/4 wear Dixie Outfitter shirt DAILY - almost a uniform.
Good thing they did not bring a FL flag. The X is close to a rebel flag. (or the union jack)
I lived in the south for a few years, and being a pseudo-northerner (ND) i have never understood the continuing problems with the stars and bars, i put a dixie bandana on my dog who is named Billie (after Billie Holliday, so i dont consider myself a racist). maybe i am ignorant, naive or have a clue, not sure which, but it is a symbol of our country just the same as when we only had 13 stars, POW/MIA flags, state flags, or flying the Maple Leaf or what ever. thats just my rant
It wasn't an issue, until the NAACP and other liberals needed an issue to divide us.
Comparing the Confederate Flag and Osama Bin laden is about as stupid as comments get. The Confederate flag is not Unamerican its a part of American History .
"Maybe some free speech issues here but the cold, hard facts of life are that the Confederate battle-flag symbol and Osama Bin Laden are well-grounded in anti-Americanism!"
bullshit! thoughts like that are the same closed minded idiocy why these kids got suspended in the first place. I'm from the North, not south, and have to say, banning of this flag is outright ludicrous.
It seems that Georgia changed it's state flag in 2001, removing the Confederate part.
Not really. The law is fairly clear - a student's right to free speech does not extend to speech that is considered disruptive to the learning environment. Who decides if it's disruptive? The school officials. So sez the law, effectively. These are children, in the end, and children are not fully vested with the rights - or responsibilities - of adults in our society, and hence they do not enjoy the same range of expression that you or I do.
All that being said, withholding the diploma of the student who now appears properly apologetic seems rather harsh - I think repentance should play some part in determining the penalty. As for the other rebel-without-a-clue, perhaps giving him a good hard whack with the cluestick by removing him from his graduation will cause him to open up his eyes about his relative standing in the adult world.
Own it.
You bought it at Appomattox, just as Lincoln played "Dixie" on the White House lawn the evening after Lee's surrender.
I'm sure if they sported an Malcolm "X" Tee or the image of Che' they'd be in high cotton.
Own our history, the human history, of The Republic.
During "wartime" the so-called "Battle Flag" of the confederacy adorned aircraft and ships. It is as American as "Don't Tread On Me."
Embrace the essential ambiguity of our nation's nobel history, our essential greatness without the whitewashed PC history. Can the wearing of any crosses can't be far behind? The Crescent, the Star of David?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.