[MikeJ75]

I excerpted this article for two reasons. First, I don't see any reason to mention the names of the students. Second, the newspaper seems to have made an error in identifying one of the students, and I certainly do not want to post the name of someone who was not actually involved.

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.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Free_at_last_-2001]

...driving his vehicle on campus on his last day of high school with a rebel flag hanging from the window -a Howard Dean supporter?

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'd really like to apologize, especially to Eddrea, because I saw her in the office the day it happened and she was just in tears

Give me a break... Get out of Minnesota once in a while, kid...

[Spok]

"suspended for bringing to school a Mississippi state flag"

How long will it be before the American flag is banned?

[muawiyah]

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!

During wartime it might be best to keep that stuff to yourself, eh?!

[longtermmemmory]

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)

[4CJ]

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.

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.

[AMERIKA]

It seems that Georgia changed it's state flag in 2001, removing the Confederate part.

[general_re]

Seems to me there are significant freedom of speech issues here.

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.

[JudgemAll]

what in the world.... Ah, when scums pretend they can clean a "dirty" flag.

No threat involved there, just a couple diplomas.... but you can bet that being muslim and rooting for the murder of Americans, now, that is a proud free speech flag to wear indeed.

[stainlessbanner]

bump

[madison10]

There are Confederate flags all over my town: flying on poles, license plates, windows of cars, windows of house, etc. and I live in a small town in Michigan (south of Ann Arbor)

It's a rights/rebel issue, more than a racism issue. We, as Americans, just don't like being told what to do regarding our freedoms.

[onyx]

Here's Mississippi's flag, which 68% of voters approved.

[Lancey Howard]

Seems to me there are significant freedom of speech issues here.

I'm sure the ACLU will be right on the case.

[philetus]

Tell the school to shove their deplomas, take the G.E.D. ,get a deploma from the high school of your choice.

[lawgirl]

Where's the ACLU?? This is exactly their type of fight--oh wait, it's not a liberal cause.

Nevermind.

[lentulusgracchus]

Instead of withholding their diplomas, just give them a good paddling.

Come on, let's not temporize with false moderation.

They need to be stripped, flogged, hanged, and set on fire. They need to understand, with the kind of sunburst illumination that comes from seeing a rope, that white trash like them really are the bottom of the social pecking order.

Step up and say it; go ahead. Be the man you are, and tell us how you really feel.

[lentulusgracchus]

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.

Liberalism, like every other species of totalism, thrives best in the dark.

[FrankR]

"Seems to me there are significant freedom of speech issues here. "

Seems to me, you are right.

Where are all these people, and the ACLU, when the mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, is hanging a "Rainbow" flag over the courthouse there?

If - and I'm saying "if" here - the Confederate Flag represents a "way of life" and "hatred", then the rainbow flag does the same.

If - and I'm saying "if" here - the Confederate Flag represents a "way of thinking that disgusts others", well so does the Rainbow flag.

If we are to ever bring this country back to a level of common sense, then we must stop tolerating others' accusing us of what they are doing.

I think many will agree that the gay agenda is basically..."hatred". If you don't agree with everything they do, if you don't agree with everything they say, and if you don't participate in furthering their cause...then you are a "homophobe", and "racist".

That's their belief system and it's being played out and supported by the government and activist judges everyday.

But others get attacked for believing in the Bible, the Southern cause, and morality in general.

The clinton example of the "tail wagging the dog" is now rampant in America and it's going to take some standing up to tyranny to stop it.

[Eternal_Bear]

This happened in a town called Grand Blanc? (Great White)