Posted on 11/25/2005 3:01:56 PM PST by chicagolady
I am the father of the young man who did not stand for the singing of the Mexican national anthem during a cultural awareness program at Larkin High School.
I have been constantly asked to explain the details of the event, and it is in response to these individuals that I offer the following facts.
Some of the students, my son included, were compelled to attend this assembly. The Mexican national anthem was printed on fliers and handed out to the attending students. The Mexican flag was marched in and placed on a podium by itself. The attendees were then asked to stand and sing the Mexican national anthem.
My son was not alone in his refusal to stand. Statements given to me by other youths and parents put the number of refusals at close to 20.
Larkin staff members immediately confronted the seated youth. Some of the students were threatened with in-school suspension; most of the seated students were intimidated into standing.
My son explained to the angry teacher who confronted him that he did not see a U.S. flag on the podium and he did not believe they were going to sing our national anthem. This teacher stated, "They have to stand for our national anthem, so you have to stand for theirs."
My son stated in response, "Yeah, but they're in our country."
The teacher called my son a punk and sent him to the office. The administrator in the office supported the teacher's demand and told my son that he could have made a more intelligent decision. My son was not formally disciplined. The teacher who confronted my son defended her actions to her students during class the following week.
I called Larkin principal Richard Webb to express my disappointment and concern. I described the manner in which my son had been treated. I was told that my son should have stood and that the school stood by its right to have this assembly in its chosen form.
I then exercised my right as a citizen and addressed the school board.
The press was present at the board meeting and media awareness snowballed from that point forward. Some of my statements to the board included, "I am disappointed that those responsible for creating an assembly intended to educate and sensitize Americans also felt free to act insensitively with regard to our culture. It is permissible to present another country's anthem alongside ours and receive standing respect. It is not reasonable to expect or demand that Americans stand and display respect for another flag and country in absence of the American anthem or flag."
I also asked the board to consider two positive actions. "First, encourage Larkin High School administrators to not underscore one culture to the exclusion of others. This ill-conceived mandatory assembly did nothing but widen the current schism. Second, I would ask the board to lay down some principles for future assemblies. While it is good educational practice to teach about other cultures, it is not an acceptable practice to require mandatory response to the patriotic elements of those cultures."
I was appalled by Webb's printed statement. Apologizing only for the "unfortunate spotlight" placed on the school does not acknowledge the process that brought the spotlight. Lack of proper oversight created an assembly that offended a large number of people. Teachers behaving badly guaranteed parental follow-through. Administrative silence and denial has perpetuated their arrogant image.
Trivializing the incident and belittling those it concerned has only confirmed Webb's lack of grounding with the community.
Since Dec. 8, 2004, educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on Sept. 17 of each year. This year, Sept. 17 fell on a Saturday.
Our high school apparently chose on Sept. 16 not to hold an assembly on the Constitution of the United States, but to educate our youth on the patriotic elements of another country.
- Bedard is an Elgin resident.
11/25/05
I suggest you recheck your facts about Mexico and WWII at least. You're in error. Not that I suspect you'll change your mind. I might be wrong, but I sense a deep-seated bigotry against Mexicans on your part.
ping
"There's no backbone here...another case of someone looking to be offended."
Obviously you are the one, in the context of this forum, that is "looking to be offended."
You talk about protocol and yet seem to know nothing of the concept.
He won't answer to anything you said. It makes too much sense.
See #166.
I know for a fact that Mexico tried to send oil to Germany during WWII.
They claimed in both WWI and WWII that they were neutral, but they gave German and Japan agents free rein.
No, the date was September 16th, "Constitution Day" in Illinois and state mandated for instruction re: Constitution.
And just so you know, there is quite a significant difference between private individuals and groups celebrating whatever the heck it is they want to celebrate and making people stand for a foreign flag that stands alone (the US flag must stand with the other flag and be honored...it's a pretty simple concept)
This is NOT someone handing out sweets for some holiday or a small set built to commemorate Purim or Bastille Day or the like.
Mexican Independence Day, is in September, which is the largest secular holiday in Mexico. As for Cinco de Mayo's stature as a holiday, in the U.S. it is a somewhat overstated one as if it were manufactured to sell Corona Beer and various brands of tequila vs. it's standing as a celebration in Mexico. I've inquired of several Americans of Mexican descent and they've confirmed this. Cinco de Mayo has a great little advertising twist to it's pronunciation, too.
I live in Chicago, if you must know...which contains approximately +800,000 Hispanics and growing (primarily of Mexican heritage). I,ve never condemned ethnic festivals, in fact, Chicago has a huge Mexican Independence Day parade, along with Columbus Day (Americans of Italian descent), St. Patricks' Day (Americans of Irish descent), Pulaski Day (Americans of Polish descent), along with the Germans and Puerto Ricans, and others. No these celebrations haven't hurt Chicago yet, either.
And there is nothing wrong with being proud of a persons heritage, as long as that persons allegiance is to his adopted country. The program that was described in that high school was against all known protocol relating to that type of activity. It was if it was taking place in Mexico and no where else, and that the American students were to behave as if they were subject thereto. Wrong. They got it backwards. Big time. Period.
There are several issues at hand here that complicate the relationship with Mexico that would take hours to discuss, but regardless, the program of assimilation is the same for them as well as anyone else. Get the priorities straight, and the outcome should be favorable, otherwise, you'll have the Balkans here in the good old U.S.A. Now that would be frightening.
Silly me, I thought the culture and heritage of these students would be "American". Silly you for thinking otherwise.
In the interest of heritage and culture, let's have "Nazi day", or perhaps "Ku Klux Klan" day. We, as American's, should never ignore those of other faiths and beliefs. Many children have also come from these backgrounds.
Are you insane or just impartial to your own cultural beliefs? I think thats called "racism".
Since mexico is slowly invading our country I think this doesn't count.
After spending several years starting oil exploration crews for Pemex and re-reading Atlas Shrugged, I think I have The reason Mexico has become so bad.
I like the Mexican people in the fly over parts of Mexico.
The mid level and workers of Pemex are good.
It is the government and the high up in Pemex that are the vultures and looters.
The peso was about 8 cents (12.5 to a dollar).
When Pemex found the sito grande, a very large oil pool that covers parts of the states of Chiapas and Tabasco also a long ways into the Gulf of Mexico.
Pemex borrowed billions to produce this great oil find.
The looters (government) stole most of the money and what they did buy was junk oil rigs and drill pipe, etc.
1,000 pesos which was worth about $80 now will not buy a coke.
This was due to the looters stealing billions from the Mexican people.
Instead of overthrowing the looters the Mexican people had an out, they had no weapons and they could cross into America and have a much safer life.
This hurts both Mexico and America as Mexico lost some of it's hardest workers.
The gangbangers also came over from Mexico as they could rape and pillage at will.
The government of Mexico is propped up by the billions sent back by the illegals and by our government having borders that are too open.
The only chance I see to help America and Mexico is to seal the border, deport the people who are not here legaly.
We also need to arm the Mexican people so they can have a chance against the looters with their armies.
bump excellent read
Yes. Disgusting, isn't it?
This took place in Illinois. Do you expect Illinoisans to act like Texans that have succumbed to the hispanization of their state?
I would guess that they're celebrating the culture and heritage of some of the students. It's perfectly ok to be a good American and still celebrate your heritage. No one complains when German Towns all through the USA celebrate Oktoberfest or when the Irish make a big deal out of St. Patricks day.
They don't force children in school to sing the German or Irish national anthems. No one forces anyone to celebrate another's heritage. Why should our children be forced to celebrate a mexican's heritage or culture? Really dumb comparison.
You're wrong and here's why Every battle we don't fight emboldens those that seek to destroy our national culture.
We may lose this fight, but not before we make them painfully aware that we are willing to fight for our rights and our country.
see #166.
Yep, the people are good, the government is bad. There are good people all throughout the world who wish to come to America. They all have bad governments, there are may in Africa who would be good, solid citizens. We must take good people from all over, we cannot concentrate on Mexico to overrun us.
As long as they are legal.
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