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 ...
This flaming-liberal principal deserves nothing less than to have to be locked into a room with some Marines and other veterans and have to explain his actions to them face to face. What a spineless wimp.
"You don't ban them all."
They only banned the ones the kids have access to.
These are kids. The flags have become a tool to instigate conflicts. Taking it away is appropriate. They can wave their flags off campus after school all they want.
"Well, if the flag is nowhere in the school the flag is the one that has been punished"
Who says it's nowhere in the school?
Yes, a lecture would be a good idea too. That way, the kids will understand why the flags were taken away, and after school, maybe the kids will treat the flag with more respect.
I'm quite sure the Flag is still flying on the pole at that school.
I saw nothing in the article that reflected that the flag is still flying on the pole in front of that school. As matter of fact, I'll guarantee you that it is not.
Liberals are bent on the perception of fairness. To this principal, no flags means no flags.
Its very hard to say there isnt racial overtones or ethnic and racial misconceptions when seeing some these threads and how so many assumptions are being made.
I'd wave the flag in your face no matter what race you belong to.
Other articles have plainly reported that the students were reacting to the many Mexican flags being flown supporting the illegal immigrants, and it was only after other students started flying the American flag that the principal was offended and took action.
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As for his trampling the free speech rights of students, no such rights exist.
I believe you are incorrect, courts have ruled numerous times that students do not lose their constitutional rights when they enter a school.
"Skyline High School Principal Tom Stumpf"
Should read: Spineless High School Principal Tom Stumpf
When students were using the Mexican flag to taunt, all was well, it was only after other students were flying the American flag that the principal took action.
Proof positive on it's face.
I thought the illegals were here to take advantage of all that America offers.
If they don't like the American flag go home and live in the third world know as Mexico.
When did kids decide that they could leave school to protest?
The whole point is that when it got out of hand, he took control and told both sides to lay off the flags. I'm not sure what you would have done as principal.
I believe you are incorrect, courts have ruled numerous times that students do not lose their constitutional rights when they enter a school.
Not so. Freedom of speech stops when it results in disorderly conduct, as it should.
Proof positive on it's face.
Hardly. Were you there? Can you describe what led up to the banning of the flags? And why did he ban both flags, not just the US flag? I'm not going to accuse him of hating America without some proof. Have you any?
It was tolerable until the American flag was flown.
It was tolerable until the American flag was flown.
Sure doesn't sound like he's anti-American does it? In any case, he stopped all waving and abuse of flags, when it got out of hand.
As an aside, of course in addition to causing trouble on campus, they were abusing the American flag. Under no circumstances should any flag, but certainly not the American flag be treated with anything other than respect. And those here on FR encouraging such behavior and that of the burning of a Mexican flag are quite misguided, and not well grounded in the proper display and treatment of the flag.
He believes the American flag is divisive. He has no problem with the Mexican flag being waved until an American flag shows up and is waved...then it is out of hand.
In any case, he stopped all waving and abuse of flags, when it got out of hand.
And we define "abusive" here as: "The presence of an American flag".
As an aside, of course in addition to causing trouble on campus, they were abusing the American flag. Under no circumstances should any flag, but certainly not the American flag be treated with anything other than respect.
I got news for you. When the Marines planted the flag on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwa Jima, it wasn't out of respect for the Japanese.
I didn't see where he said that. He used the term "abuse", and using the flag "derisively" when describing what happened. He was absolutely right, unless you have some evidence to the contrary.
And we define "abusive" here as: "The presence of an American flag".
Again, you are putting words in his mouth. He decried the abuse of the US flag. I'm a little slow at times, but that just doesn't add up to an anti-American stance, no matter how much you want it to. And where in the article does it say that other than the one instance referred to by the principal, was the Mexican flag thrown into people's faces?
I got news for you. When the Marines planted the flag on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwa Jima, it wasn't out of respect for the Japanese.
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?
"the abuse of" = "the waving of". It is the principal who abused the flag. These kids brought honor unto the flag.
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