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Colo. School Bans Flags Amid Protests - Principal Says Students Used Flags To Taunt Others
WCBSTV ^

Posted on 04/01/2006 10:12:20 AM PST by Sub-Driver

Colo. School Bans Flags Amid Protests Principal Says Students Used Flags To Taunt Others

(CBS) LONGMONT, Colo. Dozens of high school students protested a temporary school policy forbidding students from displaying the U.S. flag, as well as flags from other countries, amid racial tensions following immigration rallies.

Skyline High School Principal Tom Stumpf said American flags were brazenly waved in the faces of Hispanic students and in one case a Mexican flag was thrown into the face of another student.

"When it involves the American flag and its abuse in vilifying other people, we simply will not tolerate it," Stumpf said. "They were using the symbol derisively as misguided patriotism."

Students were warned about the policy Friday and several were suspended, although Stumpf would not provide details. Then, about 100 students protested during lunch time.

Student Dustin Carlson told the KCNC-TV, the CBS station in Denver, that he was suspended for two days.

"I'm getting suspended for it and personally I think that's uncalled for," he said. "If this country means freedom, then why can't we fly our own flag? It's ridiculous."

(Excerpt) Read more at wcbstv.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: oldglory; schlongmont; skylinehigh
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To: MACVSOG68
You really aren't trying to suggest even the remotest of comparisons between the planting of the flag at Suribachi and what the idiots in Longmont were doing, were you?

I believe it was the ones flying your Mexican flag that were the idiots and it's funny that you believe the flag at Suribachi was planted to honor the Japanese.

As far as comparisons go, Suribachi was more honorable and these students' waving of the flag was more honorable than the mere display of the flag I have on my front lawn.

101 posted on 04/01/2006 3:45:31 PM PST by Jim_Curtis (There isn't a more appropriate way to wave the US flag than in the face of its enemies.)
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To: Question_Assumptions

"I'm sorry but if you can be taunted by an American flag, I think that's your problem"

These are high school kids. And Yes, they have lots of problems. lol.


102 posted on 04/01/2006 3:48:31 PM PST by nuconvert ([there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: Jim_Curtis
"the abuse of" = "the waving of". It is the principal who abused the flag. These kids brought honor unto the flag.

When shoved into anyone's face, it is abuse, not only of the flag, but of the unfortunate victim. No one who treats the American flag with anything other than respect brings it honor. As I said before, they abused the flag and got what they deserved. What they truly need however, is for someone to sit them down and explain the proper respect and etiquette to be shown the flag. Apparently there are some here on FR unable to do that.

103 posted on 04/01/2006 3:50:30 PM PST by MACVSOG68
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To: Jim_Curtis
I believe it was the ones flying your Mexican flag that were the idiots and it's funny that you believe the flag at Suribachi was planted to honor the Japanese.

Anyone who treats any national flag with anything other than honor and respect is an idiot, be it a Mexican or an American. And please tell me how you reached the inane conclusion that I thought the Suribachi flag was planted to honor the enemy. This ought to be interesting.

104 posted on 04/01/2006 3:53:35 PM PST by MACVSOG68
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To: nuconvert
Feeling threatened or taunted by an American flag should not be one of them. Yes, racist and bigotted morons may use the American flag as a symbol of exclusion for immigrants but letting them get away with that and treating the American flag as a taunt puts it in the same category as the Confederate flag and no American should ever be excluded from showing or waving an American flag. In fact, I argue that if blacks would simply embrace their status as American (the ancestors of many blacks were here before the ancestors of many whites, including my own family) and immigrants would take up and embrace the American flags, the bigots and xenophobes wouldn't be able to use it as a symbol and would be a lot more welcome by those wary of the loyalties of those groups.

I've lived as a foreigner in another country -- Japan. I never complained about needed a visa, being fingerprinted, or having to carry an ID. I would never think to ask to vote, especially as a non-citizen. It's their country. And when I went to visit the Imperial Palace on New Year's day, they handed me a Japanese flag and I was willing to hold it up and wave it because I was in Japan. Show some gratitude and respect to the country you are standing in, people. If you can't stand the country, go somewhere else.

105 posted on 04/01/2006 4:09:37 PM PST by Question_Assumptions
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To: MACVSOG68
Anyone who treats any national flag with anything other than honor and respect is an idiot

Agreed, which is why the principal is an idiot because banning the flag surely doesn't do it honor.

And please tell me how you reached the inane conclusion that I thought the Suribachi flag was planted to honor the enemy. This ought to be interesting.

So, you'd agree that the flag can be waved in a fashion that doesn't need to respect everyone? The Marines at Iwa Jima waved it in the face of the Japanese and it was right for them to do so, agreed?

106 posted on 04/01/2006 4:10:42 PM PST by Jim_Curtis (There isn't a more appropriate way to wave the US flag than in the face of its enemies.)
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To: Jim_Curtis
Agreed, which is why the principal is an idiot because banning the flag surely doesn't do it honor.

He stopped the abuse of the flag, hardly the same thing.

So, you'd agree that the flag can be waved in a fashion that doesn't need to respect everyone?

When used as a tool to heap scorn on someone, it is no longer being used with the respect and eitquette required. When respectfully held, waved or flown, all those who are present need not agree with it or with what it stands for, but I'm afraid that is not what was being done that prompted this principal to take corrective action.

The Marines at Iwa Jima waved it in the face of the Japanese and it was right for them to do so, agreed?

The planting of the flag signified that we had taken the high ground. It represented a superbly respectful act, respectful to our flag and respectful to all of those who fell taking the island. Doubt that after such a fierce and costly battle, taunting the Japanese was on the minds of those who put up the flag. And the raising of the national flag to signify the victory has been customary for centuries. I don't really care if the feelings of the Japanese were hurt or not. But again, the Japanese were our enemy, not fellow students in a small midwestern town.

107 posted on 04/01/2006 4:25:23 PM PST by MACVSOG68
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To: jeremiah
How in the H E double L can a person be taunted with the American flag, if they came here to be American? This is BS.

We live in a looking-glass world, my man. Curiouser and curiouser.

108 posted on 04/01/2006 4:28:34 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all.)
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To: MACVSOG68
Anyone who treats any national flag with anything other than honor and respect is an idiot, be it a Mexican or an American.

So now that the American flag is BANNED in the school, how do the kids get to do the Pledge of Allegiance?

A FReep of the school board meeting is in the works.

109 posted on 04/01/2006 4:47:14 PM PST by Trteamer ( (Eat Meat, Wear Fur, Own Guns, FReep Leftists, Drive an SUV, Drill A.N.W.R., Drill the Gulf, Vote)
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To: MACVSOG68

If you can feel "taunted" by seeing the Stars and Stripes in front of you, you are unfit to be a citizen of the US.


110 posted on 04/01/2006 4:51:46 PM PST by Jim_Curtis (There isn't a more appropriate way to wave the US flag than in the face of its enemies.)
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To: Question_Assumptions

I have no argument with you.
I just don't think that the decision made by the principal was a bad one.


111 posted on 04/01/2006 5:06:39 PM PST by nuconvert ([there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: Trteamer

They haven't banned the flag. It's still there. They just aren't allowing kids to bring their own flags to school.


112 posted on 04/01/2006 5:08:05 PM PST by nuconvert ([there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: Trteamer
So now that the American flag is BANNED in the school, how do the kids get to do the Pledge of Allegiance?

The flag was not banned either from the front of the school or in the classrooms.

113 posted on 04/01/2006 5:11:56 PM PST by MACVSOG68
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To: Jim_Curtis
If you can feel "taunted" by seeing the Stars and Stripes in front of you, you are unfit to be a citizen of the US.

You can twist it all you want, but from what I have read, the principle was simply attempting to cool off a bunch of kids who were getting close to violence. Had violence erupted, I imagine someone might have asked where the principal was while this thing was brewing. Since the principal has not banned the flag from being properly displayed either in front of the school or in the classrooms, apparently "seeing" the Stars and Stripes, as you put it, did not seem to concern him.

114 posted on 04/01/2006 5:16:05 PM PST by MACVSOG68
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To: catholicfreeper

You forgot the sarcasm note. Somebody might actually believe you meant what you wrote.


115 posted on 04/01/2006 5:21:16 PM PST by Dante3
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To: MACVSOG68

Your statements sounds incedibly stupid. Or is it April Fool comment?


116 posted on 04/01/2006 5:22:19 PM PST by Dante3
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To: Dante3
Your statements sounds incedibly stupid.

Anyone who can't spell shouldn't call others' statements stupid. What part of respect for our flag do you not understand...all of it?

117 posted on 04/01/2006 5:25:42 PM PST by MACVSOG68
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To: nuconvert
I don't think it was a horrible decision but I don't like to see the waving of an American flag banned for any reason in the United States.
118 posted on 04/01/2006 5:32:47 PM PST by Question_Assumptions
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To: MACVSOG68
not in using it as a weapon to put down others with whom you do not agree.

How do we know this was the case? Do you have inside knowledge? Or just based on principal Stumpf's opinion? Should the pro-American flag students just behaved like sheeple and kept their heads down while Mexican flags are flying all about them in their own country?

119 posted on 04/01/2006 6:13:23 PM PST by daybreakcoming (If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. A. Lincoln)
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To: catholicfreeper
**Geaux Tigers**

Don't look like anyone told the Tigers that tonight. Cold Cold Cold

120 posted on 04/01/2006 6:31:54 PM PST by daybreakcoming (If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. A. Lincoln)
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