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
Please add me to this ping list. I was trying to find a list like this. thanks
Seeing another Country's flag or standing up for their anthem happens all the time... But, I'd never say or expect any American Citizen to say a "pledge"...listening politely...fine.
I have rather strong feelings about the American Flag...and I will always question for the details of a situation that uses it as a "reason" for an action. To me the consequences are quite personal. My husband is an American Soldier and has been rather busy these last few years showing his allegiance to America by putting his life on the line in another country & helping that country set up a stable government or at the very least give them a chance to try for one. My husband's "Anglo" but the majority of his Unit is "Hispanic" or "Mexican-American"...they all consider themselves as a "we" American. He'd stand up for the Iraqi flag & anthem and it would not show any disrespect to the American Flag on his shoulder or alter his oath to uphold Constitution of the United States of America.
A grateful and respectful California salute to these two fine American citizens!
I can tell you straight up - The Dept of Ed will NOT apply sanctions in this case. So much for a "conservative" government.
I would never tell you where you belong, my first thought would be "where you were born". I'm suspecting you are displaced, your parents brought you here although you were not legal? I think there are things you can overcome, depending on how young you came here. If you weren't legal when you came here (your parent's fault!), if you are a decent citizen with loyalties only to the United States of America, we can deal. Not only that, there are many FReepers who would deal in your behalf but only if you have loyalty to our United States. So, where do your loyalties lie? If you choose America, you don't get to go back. However, I would welcome you and be willing to sponser you.
Are you really that stupid or are you trolling along? This has NOTHING to do with international ceremony, it is a blatent move to shove PC down the throats of our children.
This post wasn't to me, but I was born in Texas. I have a friend who is an American of Mexican decent. We've enjoyed the Cinco de mayo celebrations together for 30 years, until recently. They are mostly a noisy bitch session of/by/for illegals and mass immigration AND they fly the mexican flag instead of ours in Los Angeles all the time. Have you seen the photo's on FR of the USA flag burnings in California by Mexicans? The nation of Mexico is not our ally. In NO way. My friend would have kicked his son's butt if he'd stood in honor of any countrys national anthem except the USA. My children will not honor an enemies flag or anthem.
One question - Did these venues refuse to display our flags and play our anthem when they displayed other flags and played their anthems. Serious question.
done, you're in
I believe that the original post said that the Mexican flag stood alone. That is not acceptable on US soil. Any foreign flag in a formal setting, to include all government buildings, should be places so it is lower than the accompanying US flag.The Mexican flag was put up there to be honored above our flag. That's what the rules say.
Thanks for the e-mail address. I have written Lt. Bedard and his son a very complimentary note.
Lol! I was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1963. My father, a decorated World War II vet, was born in Alcolu, South Carolina in 1924. My mother, was born in La Junta, Colorado in 1922.
In other words, displaced and illegal my ass! I hate to break it to you, but I'm a white boy through and through. Not that, that should even matter.
Now, I'm questioning if you somehow truly got the wrong idea, or if your whole post that inferred that I'm an illegal just wasn't meant to be insulting. I'm leaning heavily towards the latter, since I know I said I was born here in 214.
Now, THAT is a very good post.
I assumed from your emails that you were illegal. Stupid me, I was all ready to help you thinking you have a good grasp of America in your soul. Pity, you were born in America and have no concept.
It appears instead you are a great American who does not understand what gift you have been given. I'm guessing you live in Colorado. Haha, what liberal paradise and high housing you've been given.
"At least since the 1970s, the government of Mexico has tried to cultivate and expand long-term relations with the Mexican diaspora in the United States. In 1990, these efforts materialized in the creation of the Program for Mexican Communities Abroad, an office established in the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs to coordinate efforts by different government agencies to tighten ties with people of Mexican ancestry living abroad. Its principal mandates are to raise awareness among Mexicans around the world that the 'Mexican Nation extends beyond the territory contained by its borders' and to implement international cooperation projects offered by Mexico for the benefit of its diaspora, 98.5 percent of it in the United States."
See "Fostering Identities: Mexico’s Relations with Its Diaspora," by Carlos González Gutiérrerz
http://www.indiana.edu/~jah/mexico/cgutierrez.html
I have often included sources describing Mexico's "nation beyond borders." (This has nothing to do with "Aztlan.")
So IMO this event at the high school was viewed by some as happening on virtual territory of Mexico and as such there was no need to place a foreign (i.e., American) flag along side the Mexican flag. And all were expected to honor it as though in Mexico. (Territory of Mexico at least for that moment.)
IMO, the corrupt government of Mexicorruption is more interested in "taxing" its citizens living in America (remittances) than they are in a "nation beyond borders." It's the dollars that matter.
Columbia University professor Jagdish Bhagwati cites India and Mexico as the two biggest advocates of "nations without borders."
LOL - surely hope you were addressing Focault's Pendulum's "about page".
I was wondering if you were going to let that slide past untended . . .
see #166
bump
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