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 have to agree with you - they are learning a radical lesson. (and I don't like radicals)
Well, damn, and I was counting on you liking me....
You nailed it. I think most of the posters condemning the school and supporting the patriotic student were/are military or military families. Just my opinion.
I can understand him doing that IN IRAQ but do you honestly think he would do it in the USA when our flag was not displayed also?
You are right on. My comments concerned NHL venues where I stand for BOTH anthems, not an "in your face" situation like the school fiasco.
Whatever is happening in the boy's school is wrong...something is way off... It sounds like the school possibly tried to do an "in your face" diversity assembly because of conflicts between groups (my opinion only). And if they tried to make students recite an oath to the Mexican Flag...horribly stupid and the boy was the only bright person in the bunch... Besides, isn't Elgin near Chicago and isn't Chicago more Puerto Rican than Mexican??? Why did they pick Mexico because of that politically touchy fact the Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory???
But what worries me a bit...the Flag becomes a prop for political agendas. The student was forced to go to an assembly for PC about Mexico...if that's the topic then seeing the performance of Mexico's Flag ceremony is kinda a given and really nothing to do with the American Flag (in fact not having it present seems honorable enough to avoide it being mishandled). Much different feelings on this issue if the boy was expect to recite & not just listen to others recite the Mexican oath.
To me the Flag is my husband's (and mine) blood, sweat & tears...And it can & does take a lot of punishment. Amazing to me that most soldiers I know can quietly tolerate protesters burning a flag...BUT I've seen Soldiers "rescue" old flags and with reverence fold them and conduct an official ceremony to dispose of ones...
That school didn't ask my opinion, but perhaps they need a lesson from a few soldiers on the American Flag...appreciating it...certainly helps understand & respect how foreign nationals view their flags. Of course, it sounds like there were no "foreign" nationals in assembly, just diverse Americans...and somehow they ALL need to learn the American Flag belongs to every ethnic background on this planet...who is a Citizen.
We live in deep south Texas. It was inspiring and wonderful to see that Mexican "Katrina" relief convoy move across Texas with the Mexican Flag unfurled. We all cheered. I saw the pride on those whose background was from Mexico...just the same pride that I had as an "Anglo" when Britain immediately announced her support after 911. We should all respect our diverse backgrounds, but have to be "Americans" first. Sounds like that's the part of the Civics lessons missing in the Illinois school.
And MOST of us are glad you are! Seems FR has been inundated with the terminally humor impaired.
To me the Flag is my husband's (and mine) blood, sweat & tears
As much oddity as there is in this world, I'm always heartened by the thought...if all the Flags of the world were displayed in a line in the desert (viewable from miles away) and nationalities of the world were set loose in a desert with roving bands of bad-guys of any sort shooting behind them....What Flag would they run to? I think most would seek for refuge with the American Flag...many choosing it over their very own country's flag. Hmmm, maybe we could toss Al Fraken, George Soros and a few others in to see where'd they'd run too also.
Umm.. not exactly. United States Code 36 Chapter 10 states that:
When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#175
It would have been fine if they had bothered to put a US flag up with the Mexican flag and also sung the Star Spangled Banner. In that case standing would have been appropriate as it shows mutual respect. The kid was perfectly in his rights and well within established protocol to not stand.
Thanks.
Interesting observation. I re-read the letter after reading this comment, and I concur. The liberal newspapers exhibit stylistic and intellectual laziness in their articles too often. Bedard, not a professional writer from what I gather, puts them to shame with this letter.
God bless this youngster for having the courage to stand up to teacher bullying. That's how they silence opposition. Bullying...take the kid to the office. Humiliate him before his peers. The school admin. should be fined or fired.
The Olympics and a school room are two entirely different realms. Those who wish to change our form of government must start with winning over the children. And they succeed one step at a time because the parents allow it to happen. This young man is lucky to have a father who is not willing to accept this "diversity education" being forced on his son.
Yep. American flagged ships at sea are never the first to dip either. It can be dipped only when returning the salute of another vessel.
"The attendees were then asked to stand and sing the Mexican national anthem."
In Spanish I hope. It would have been disrespectful to sing it in English!(/sarcasm)
I like this better:
175 (c)
No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof
AMEN!!!!!!!!!
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