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Outrage continues over Dowagiac students' decision to fly Confederate flag (Michigan)
ABC57 News ^ | October 20, 2011 | Jaclyn Kelley

Posted on 10/20/2011 4:06:01 PM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo

DOWAGIAC, Mich. -- School officials at Dowagiac Union High School have banned students from wearing the Confederate flag. Now students are fighting back!

There has been outrage, hurt feelings, and death threats after a student was suspended last Friday for wearing a belt buckle with the Confederate flag on it.

On Monday, a handful of students wore Confederate flag T-shirts in retaliation, and they too were suspended.

On Wednesday, dozens of students went to school in protest, wearing T-shirts with a Confederate flag on them. The students either left school on their own, or were sent home for fighting back against the school. School officials say wearing anything with the Confederate flag on it is violation of the dress code.

The school stands by its dress code policy and students were again warned on Wednesday that they would face expulsion if they wore anything that displayed the Confederate flag on it.

Still, students says they are not backing down. The students say they want the same rights as everyone else, and refuse to compromise, even with threats of violence surging on the internet.

While students and their parents say it is just about principle and fighting for their Freedom of Speech, there is no doubt that this protest has the community divided.

Many people in the community say they understand that everyone has the right to voice their opinions, but they say students are walking a very thin line when it comes to racism and doing something that could offend someone.

"Honestly, I think of 'redneck', 'country', and 'racist'."

That is what Angelique Ware immediately thinks of when she sees someone wearing or flying the Confederate flag. She has four kids, all around high school age. Although they do not attend Dowagiac Union High School, they do compete against student from that school in sports.

"To see their friends or classmates wearing something like that, to me, it really hits home," said Ware.

That is because her kids are interracial, which is why she worries about what kind of message these students are sending.

"Why are they doing this? Is it really for the rebellion aspect, or is it because they are having problems with racism at school?"

Ware hopes the latter is not the case. She says diversity is important to her and it was something she considered when choosing which school her kids would attend.

"We live in Benton Harbor, but we bus our kids into Berrien Springs because it is such a diverse school," said Ware.

She says she supports the school’s decision to ban the Confederate flag from the dress code, and also says any other reaction to the controversial symbol would be unacceptable.

"If I knew the school system was okay with flying that flag, my kids would definitely not attend that school."

Angelique says this sort of thing is something she would never expect to happen here in Dowagiac, and added that she is very concerned about why students at the high school feel so strongly about expressing themselves this way.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: confederateflag; dowagiac; michigan; starsnbars
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To: Mechanicos
It is so tiring the revisionist false history of slavery and the civil war.

Then why did you post some of it?

41 posted on 10/20/2011 6:26:53 PM PDT by SoJoCo
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To: Verginius Rufus

Something for folks to ponder when disparaging the Confederate flag. How would you feel about the American flag after the U.S. was defeated by China or Russia? Would it cease to have any meaning for you?


42 posted on 10/20/2011 6:28:50 PM PDT by WVNan (!)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

It must be nice that the administration at the Dowagiac Union High School have nothing else to worry about other than some kid wearing a rebel flag.


43 posted on 10/20/2011 6:30:06 PM PDT by SoJoCo
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To: cripplecreek

I live in GA, now. I grew up in Michigan.

About five years ago I was shopping at the dollar store. The clerk at the counter only said a three words to me, “Here’s your change.”

I knew immediately that she was from Michigan.

I asked her what town she was from... Dundee. My parents built a home there. She knew where my old house was. :)


44 posted on 10/20/2011 6:30:25 PM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("Real solidarity means coming together for the common good."-Sarah Palin)
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To: Verginius Rufus

Just inform them that it was the flag of the Republic of West Florida, or that the flag symbolizes the individual states of the United States of America.

Heck, you could tell him that it symbolizes the north star for that matter...


45 posted on 10/20/2011 6:33:10 PM PDT by Triple (Socialism denies people the right to the fruits of their labor, and is as abhorrent as slavery)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
"Honestly, I think of 'redneck', 'country', and 'racist'."

That is what Angelique Ware immediately thinks of when she sees someone wearing or flying the Confederate flag.

Angelique Ware has no idea what an extreme bigot she is.

46 posted on 10/20/2011 7:28:00 PM PDT by UnwashedPeasant (Don't nuke me, bro)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

The Stars and Bars, the Gadsden Flag, The Bonnie Blue , The Black Liberation Flag or what ever else you want to wave around I could really give a rat’s whisker about. It wasn’t any of these flags that were attacked on December 7th. 1941, it wasn’t the flag that was raised on Mt. Surabachi, it wasn’t any of them that it is and will ALWAYS be The Stars and Stripes.


47 posted on 10/20/2011 7:30:42 PM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: jmacusa

Typo, meant in include ‘’It wasn’t any of these flags that was attacked on 9/11. For me it is and will Always be The Stars and Stripes’’. Damned middle-aged eyesight!


48 posted on 10/20/2011 7:35:16 PM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: cripplecreek
"Lots of southern heritage in southern Michigan from when they all came to work at the bomber plant during WWII. I’ve read that we have a very specific accent across southern Michigan, Northern Ohio and Indiana."

I'll have to pay closer attention next time I visit the family. We certainly grew up dropping our g's, but I never thought of our accent as semi-southern. The confederate flag was definitely prevalent.

49 posted on 10/20/2011 7:41:21 PM PDT by Think free or die
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To: wardaddy

Yep...it was also flown during the Seven Years War. Some believe the flag may even date back to the 17th Century, although analysis of the pigments used has detected the presence of Prussian Blue (Ferric hexacyanoferrate) which was first used as a pigment in the early 18th Century. Of course they can’t rule out the possibility that it was applied as ‘touch up’ paint at some point later on in the flag’s existence.


50 posted on 10/20/2011 9:28:38 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

sorry for triple posts...it was from a Droid which has limits

back on desk top


51 posted on 10/20/2011 9:53:48 PM PDT by wardaddy (Nothing lasts forever.....that is evident)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
That is because her kids are interracial,

And so she thinks given that they should live free of being offended like they are special?

52 posted on 10/20/2011 10:19:53 PM PDT by wardaddy (Nothing lasts forever.....that is evident)
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To: wardaddy

I’m not certain the children are offended. Just the mother.


53 posted on 10/20/2011 10:23:07 PM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("Real solidarity means coming together for the common good."-Sarah Palin)
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To: Pan_Yans Wife

lol

I’m sure it’s not everyone but I often see white women with either mixed race kids...usually no daddy in their life or I see GenX yupsters with 1-2 blood kids and then some adopted kids outside their own race..these folks are always white (I have never seen blacks besides the Jacksons with adopted kids that weren’t black)

anyhow...these two groups.. ..often act like they have done some racial healing thing all on their own and deserve recognition or acknowledgement

it’s weird....I could go on with a lot more on this right now including one boy I’m watching grow up close to us and how he struggles with acting and being “white” like his adoptive folks who are shiny faced Christians and he is more drawn now as he ages to his own kind...the local black kids he is now exposed to in Middle School whereas there were none in Elementary to speak of except Titans and Docs kids...now he is acting a bit more “down” with his bros..it’s awkward..a pitfall to such endeavors

don’t know why the parents think they are special personally


54 posted on 10/20/2011 10:33:45 PM PDT by wardaddy (Nothing lasts forever.....that is evident)
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To: wardaddy
Apparently, Dowagiac schools and the flag is more important to her than the condition of Benton Harbor.

One of its nicknames is little Detroit.

55 posted on 10/20/2011 10:48:29 PM PDT by Darren McCarty (Perry and Cain I can support, but no Romney)
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To: Verginius Rufus; Triple
Several Bonnie Blue items for sale at:

https://patriotpostshop.com/categories/41

Since I am a bit of a rebel I do display The Bonnie Blue when camped in the big RV campgrounds at NASCAR tracks. I proudly fly the Bonnie Blue atop a 30 foot flag pole.

NASCAR tracks are not known to be bastions of liberalism so the flag of the rebels of the West Florida Militia, The Republic of West Florida (1810) and for 3 years the flag of The Republic of Texas does not start arguments.

In over 5 years only one liberal has taken exception to the Bonnie Blue. When faced with the fact that it was never an official flag of the Confederacy, even my PC liberal daughter's arguments have no substance.

Since liberals know very little if any history they have no idea it is a rebel flag.

I am Scots-Irish so I purchased a $13 Bonnie Blue from a online flag company rather than the $55 flag for sale at the web site above.

56 posted on 10/20/2011 11:02:04 PM PDT by TYVets (Pure-Gas.org ..... ethanol free gasoline by state and city)
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To: buccaneer81
A simple solution: Uniforms.

Yes. Simple and logical. Sadly, public school administrations today do not seem to be generally known for being logical, fair, evenhanded and resolute.

57 posted on 10/21/2011 6:52:42 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
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