Posted on 06/16/2005 11:42:33 AM PDT by JZelle
A Waldorf teenager and his family said yesterday that his high school owes him an apology because he was denied his high school diploma when he wore a bolo tie to his recent graduation. Thomas Benya, 17, and his parents, who are of Cherokee descent, said school officials at McDonough High School in Charles County, Md., disrespected him and degraded his family's heritage when they did not give him his diploma because of his bolo. School officials have said the bolo violated the school's graduation dress code. "I would like to be given my diploma by [the principal] in a dignified manner and place in front of my family and friends," Thomas told reporters outside the Charles County Board of Education administration building. The school district is not budging on its stance. "We are trying to keep a reasonably formal ceremony," said Ronald G. Cunningham, associate superintendent of Charles County Public Schools. "I would think the route for the family is to meet with the principal." Rules regarding graduation attire are created and enforced at the discretion of individual school principals, Mr. Cunningham said. Thomas said he has worn a turquoise bracelet, key-chain adornment and other accessories symbolizing his heritage every day and to all school functions for about four years. He wore a bolo -- a string tie held together with a round ornament common in the Southwest -- to a formal school function and during rehearsal the day before graduation. He said his American-Indian heritage is noted in his school records. "They told him to put away his heritage for a day for the sake of conformity," said James Benya, the boy's father. "They consider it's no issue at all, and that hurts."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Then it's pretty lame for a reporter from a major national newspaper to use it then, isn't it?
Used to be known as "Chuck" County, MD....too many P.C. types here now....
Is his heritage cowboy?
Get a life, kid.
If the dress code just said, "tie required", then the kid has a legitimate complaint. If the dress code specifically banned bolo ties or, somehow, specifically designated a certain type of tie, the kid is SOL.
So a bolo tie is necessarily a Cherokee heritage? Certainly a lot of us "Cherokees" here in AZ.
I would like to see the wording of the dress code provision he supposedly violated. Does it say no bolo ties? Does it require how wide the tie has to be? Or did someone just make the arbitrary decision that a bolo tie isn't a real tie? After seeing his picture (dignified) I am on the studant's side on this one.
But it won't get in the paper unless he pretends its some sort of dopey racial issue. I would he rather he shut up and stop trying to pretend he's insulted on some grand scale for his peoples.
It's a frigging bolo tie.
Yes, and they can carry their REAL ceremonial knives.
I'm from the East but now live in the West. Still don't think of them as ties in the formal sense.
I dont understand. Why, Thomas Benya did you wear only your bolo tie. If you are as proud of your heritage as you say you are, why didnt you come dressed in a breechclout and mocasins. Oh yeah, dont forget the feather headdress and the tomahawk.
bah, i was told i had to wear a tie for graduation, my friend and i started hitting thrift stores to find the ugliest, most obnoxious ties we could find. faculty for the most part expressed great displeasure with our choices but didn't say anything because all they said was to wear ties.
True, they do lend a more casual appearance.
No, what they probably said was "we all play by the same rules". Nothing insulting in that. No beer steins for Germans, no kilts for Scots, no sombreros for Mexicans, no exposed privates for naturists. The details of the story indicate that he was specifically told days in advance that bolo-ties weren't within the graduation dress code.
I'm aware of the difference between a bola and a bolo. I wasn't aware that the State Tie of Arizona was a bola, nor was I aware that states had State Ties ;)
It's a tie that to him represents his heritage. And considering what his 'peoples' went through at the expense of the US government, I'd be pretty insulted as well. I can't fully claim the proud heritage of Cherokee (as much as I would wish to I am only 1/16 myself) but I fully support his right to wear the tie. Or does the First Amendment stop at the doors of the government run school system?
Keep patting yourself on the back for joining the whinging racial grievance gang in their perpetual state of hurt feelings.
Apologize to Jesse and Reverend Al for me.
Oh good, stereotypes to boot. Anybody want to offer actual arguments about the issue of the young man's natural rights being infringed upon instead of making snide comments about the young man's heritage?
Why did't the boy respect the school and wear the outfit that everyone else wore?
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.