Posted on 04/02/2006 5:35:52 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
HESPERIA — While thousands of Hispanic students spent the week facing suspension for walking out of class, now Caucasian students around the country are being handed the same penalty for waving the American flag.
Flaunting the American flag is precisely what 13-year-old Cameron Miles did at Ranchero Middle School on Friday.
Wearing two shirts, one with the American flag, school officials said he removed the one displaying his patriotism and began waving it at a group of Hispanic students on campus.
“His friends began to hoist him on their shoulders so he could be more predominately displayed when the proctor asked him to give her the shirt,” district spokeswoman Debbie Baker said. “She explained that he can’t incite an already sensitive situation and he told her, ‘This is bullshit’ and ran.”
Baker and the boy’s mother, Denise Schroeder, said he received a one-day suspension not for wearing the shirt, but for defiance of direction given by a staff member and using profanity.
But that’s all they agree on.
Schroeder said she was never told by school officials her son had removed his patriotic shirt. She said he was told the shirt needed to be confiscated because him simply wearing it on campus could incite violence.
“My son just wanted to show his classmates that he had pride for his country. Why is this a symbol that incites violence but the Mexican flag is not? “Schroeder asked. “My brother is in the Navy. We’ve been wearing patriotic shirts for years. Ranchero’s colors are even red and white. Where are we going to draw the line with what they can and cannot wear?”
Baker added that if it was a Hispanic student waving the Mexican flag at students to cause a problem, school officials would have taken the same action.
“We still live in America and should be proud of the flag that represents our country. But using it as a symbol to incite violence cannot be tolerated,” Baker said.
To some, HR 4377 is becoming secondary to controversy over displays of the American and Mexican flags.
“I saw people I know from school waving the Mexican flag. If they’re so proud of that country they should go back there. But this is where they want to be., America. That’s the flag they need to be flaunting. How backwards is that?” asked 17 year-old Mike Brown of Victorville.
At a high school in Pico Rivera a student hung the American flag upside in protest. The California flag was stolen and replaced by a Mexican flag, which the protesters hung above the American flag according to reports by the Associated Press.
Another report states that on Monday a Jurupa Valley High School senior started organizing a pro-America rally. The event would include the waving of the American flag to help demonstrate support for HR 4377 bill.
The organizer, 17-year-old Josh Denhalter, was suspended March 30, for handing out some 300 fliers to promote the rally.
In Colorado, students from Skyline High School walked out of class Friday mor ning to protest the school administration's new policy banning the carrying or wearing of American and Mexican flags. According to reports from the Rocky Mountain News, most of the 100 students were protesting that American flags were included in the ban. The ban likely will be short-lived, Principal Tom Stumpf stated.
Also on Friday, 17-year old David Guzman of Victorville left his job at the Victor Valley Mall and discovered all his patriotic flags and ribbons once proudly displayed on his car were stolen and the car’s antennae was broken in half where a small U.S. flag hung just hours earlier.
“I don’t know who did it or why. But I’ve had them on my car since 9/11 and it wasn’t until now that anyone messed with them. I’m Mexican. All of this is embarrassing to me and my family,” Guzman said of the nationwide protests. “I don’t want people looking at me or my sister like we’re one of those idiots protesting for a getout-of-jail-free card.”
Guzman said many in his family have reached the boiling point and he would march in a pro-HR 4377 protest if one were organized in a legal manner.
“I think there’s a lot of us who just want to be able to have a voice, too,” Guzman said. “These protesters don’t speak for all Mexicans. I want people to understand that.”
I too, ask the question, why is this a symbol that incites violence but the Mexican flag is not?
They need to have two things happen to them ~ (1) Be sued, as school officials, for doing so (since it violates the civil rights of the students), and (2) Be sued, as individuals, for all sorts of personal damages.
It is time to inflict on them the ultimate American punishment ~ suit by a thousand lawyers!!!
There are a lot of people in this category, some of them probably Freepers.
PING
I too, ask the question, why is this a symbol that incites violence but the Mexican flag is not?
Ms. Schroeder sounds like a very patriotic mom, and she she has a brother serving in the Navy. An excellent role model for her son to be sure.
Aren't the teachers and administrators responsible from the beginning for encouraging the Mexan students to march?
Anyone who is incited to violence by the sight of the American flag does not belong in America. It's that straightforward.
The liberal infested public school system in action.
It is starting to seem like any display of American patriotism or recognition of Judeo-Christian values is off limits; however, to express hatred for our Republic or cultural values is to be encouraged.
Hopefully it has not gotten to where it is the symbol that incites the violence, but the misuse of that symbol. I think schools across the nation need to teach the kids how to respect the flag, and if they want to get into it with others, keep the US flag out of it. I truly hope it can get back to people using the flag to demonstrate their love of our country, and for no other reason. As for the Mexican flag, I think that in the Colorado case, the principal banned both. Hopefully, after a short cooling off period, that too will be withdrawn.
I have been told that a solar flare could wipe out all life on earth too.
(Lying Communist bastards in schools alert)
The Mexican rag represents the colonists who are occupying America. The American flag represents those whose land has been colonized. The colonists cannot allow a conquered people to be so brazen. I know the word "conquered" may seem extreme to some. But we are well on the way.
Where's our damn politicians and elected government leaders?
They're under the bed shaking at the thought of having to take a stand.
A FReeper posted last night that he grew up in Kentucky and they never said the Pledge of Allegiance in school. I checked his profile and he's in his mid-20s.I grew up saying the Pledge every day in public school in California during the 1950s and 60s.
When did the saying of the pledge of allegiance stop?
Another report states that on Monday a Jurupa Valley High School senior started organizing a pro-America rally. The event would include the waving of the American flag to help demonstrate support for HR 4377 bill.
The organizer, 17-year-old Josh Denhalter, was suspended March 30, for handing out some 300 fliers to promote the rally.
to suffer consequence to this measured response is illegal
these kids need a VOCAL legal advocate
If this forum is any example of the sensitivity of this whole issue, I think they are staying in today, and hoping it all blows over.
If the American flag can incite violence INSIDE America then the 'incited' are not respectful or loyal to America.
Fly that Old Glory kids!!
  |
cathy.gomez@hesperia.org
High Desert Howdy.
This kid got his picture on the front page of the paper. Can you imagine living with him for the next few days. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.