Posted on 04/01/2006 9:28:34 PM PST by Former Military Chick
(CBS4) LONGMONT, Colo. Several students were under suspension for flying flags at Skyline High School in a debate over immigration that has sparked debates over free speech and patriotism.
On Friday, some of the students skipped classes and took to the sidewalks outside the school.
"If this country means freedom why can't we fly our own flag? It's ridiculous," said Dustin Carlson, a suspended student.
The walkouts started on Monday when Mexican-American students began protesting the immigration bill now being debated in Washington, which calls for criminalizing illegal immigration.
Several carried Mexican flags which started counter protests from students who bore American flags. That's when the school stepped in.
Principal Tom Stumpf said students were becoming involved in what the school saw as bigotry.
Mexican-American student Lupita Silva claimed there were racial slurs and epithets.
"Just because you're Latino, they hate you," Silva said.
Stumpf said he feared the conduct with flags on schools grounds could "pretty quickly erupt into violence." He said it's his responsibility to ensure the school and students were safe and called reaction to the suspensions "misguided patriotism."
Several students were suspended but only after they were told no overt action deemed to be racial would be tolerated.
"It wasn't because of the flag necessarily. It was because of the fact that they had been warned before," Stumpf said.
Because schools are for learning.
How about Old Glory flying out on the school flagpole; is that banned too?
Betcha Principal Stumpf wouldn't have any objections to anyone carrying the UN flag.
Pardon?
Seems to me that the students have been used by the left as a propaganda tool.
I read that already - if a school is going to ban ONE flag, they have to ban ALL. Off topic: vote for your favorite version of "Danny Boy" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000003FVX/qid=1143957421/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-0794433-1431033?s=music&v=glance&n=5174
1. Mario Lanza
2. James Galway
3. Richard Stoltzman
4. Arthur Fiedler/The Boston Pops
5. Leopold Stokowski
6. Robert White
7. Ofra Harnoy
8. Peter Nero
9. Al Hirt
10. The Chieftains
11. Roger Whittaker
12. Kate Smith
I think the story was about flags being carried by STUDENTS.
The Star's and Stripes? I have to tell you this may be an issue that we will have to agree to disagree.
Euphemistic squirming. You're advocating a ban on the display of the American flag because of opposition to it by illegal aliens.
The ones carrying AMERICAN flags too?
Fine by me.
Please don't twist my words - I've stated if a school is going to ban ONE flag, they have to ban ALL - have a good night.
As long as it flies upside down under a Mexican flag.
No, the ones carrying American flags truly care about this country....sorry if you can't see the difference.
I sent an e-mail to Principal Smurf yesterday. It was very much to the point, not overly nasty but not at all nice either.
No one in this country needs any one else's permission to proudly display or wave Old Glory or to wear patriotic attire, such as a t-shirt or flag pin.
Patriots, arise!
Thanks for posting that link....good for these brave kids.
No one said you said anything -
to refresh your thought process -
"Principal Tom Stumpf said students were becoming involved in what the school saw as bigotry."
"Stumpf said he feared the conduct with flags on schools grounds could "pretty quickly erupt into violence." He said it's his responsibility to ensure the school and students were safe and called reaction to the suspensions "misguided patriotism."
Several students were suspended but only after they were told no overt action deemed to be RACIAL would be tolerated. " (They were suspended for the RACIST action of displaying American flags.)
He displayed no leadership. The bans did no occur after Mexican students displayed foreign flags in his school. The ban occurred when Americans responded. He is principal of an American school. He could quite clearly and directly make that clear to all. Instead he chose the path of equivalency - which is wrong. The Mexican flag is not equivalent to the US flag in a US school. The Mexican flag is subordinate.
If the Mexican students don't like the American flag, they can walk back. Pandering to them is not doing anyone any good.
And the administration bought into and supported their nonsense that display of the US flag is racist.
Ping!
Hit-and-run troll.
I see the difference - just trying to clarify YOUR post: "Seems to me that the students have been used by the left as a propaganda tool."
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