Posted on 03/30/2006 11:38:23 PM PST by beaversmom
Tensions over immigration reform heightened in the Phoenix area's East Valley Thursday when students raised a Mexican flag over Apache Junction High School — and then other students yanked it down and burned it. "I know (they) shouldn't have burned the Mexican flag," said Jacob Stewart, a 16-year-old sophomore. "I heard it was raised above the American flag and that just irked me."
He said the turbulence was tied to debates going on in the state Legislature and Congress, where ideas ranging from offering illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship to making them felons are being floated.
Freshman Chelsea Garcia, 15, and junior Brittany Ramage, 16, said the unrest had more to do with long-running racial tensions at the school.
The week's events might have sparked some anger, Ramage said, "but kids aren't too deep about that stuff."
The Hispanic student who brought the Mexican flag said he was responding to a remark directed at him Wednesday. The flag-raising, flag-burning, and shoving match that followed happened before most students arrived at school.
Six students — three Hispanic and three white — will be disciplined, Principal Chad Wilson said.
Officials with the Apache Junction Unified School District would not specify what punishment the six face.
Wilson did say in a letter sent home to parents that there would be "increased supervision, including additional police officers, on the campus over the next couple of days."
School flagpoles have been lightning rods across the country this week, including an incident in which a Houston high-school principal was disciplined after he flew a Mexican flag underneath his campus' U.S. and state flags.
A new political awareness among students has also been grabbing attention, as thousands have walked out on classes to join rallies in Phoenix and elsewhere. More than 100 students from Mesa's Carson Junior High and Westwood High schools marched in protest on Mesa streets Tuesday.
What a great idea!! I have a beautiful Flag pin that I usually wear for the Fourth of July. I need to start wearing it NOW!
We heard the same here, and people are angry he was arrested. I'll try to get some details. In my book, the youngster's a hero.
There was another incident a few days back. Four Hispanic radio towers were damaged or cut down somewhere in Phoenix, knocking stations to Mexico off the air. Again, very sketchy info.
Let's try another approach, respectfully, Stands2Reason.
What's RIGHT about homosexuality?
I like Rush's idea more and more. Stop paying taxes...especially property taxes!
I agree with you...they are a hotbed for rabid socialism. If you don't want your kids exposed to it, do whatever it takes to keep them out of public school.
How do you feel about the Boston Tea Party?
I like Rush's idea more and more. Stop paying taxes...especially property taxes!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Any suggestions on how to do this?
People who stop paying government school taxes will have armed police knocking on their door.
MINE it?!
Next, I suppose we should also rig small explosives, stick them in beanie babies, and give them to Mexican kids like AL Queda did in Iraq?!
Please..THINK before you post.
And this isn't Libertarian Republic either.
His suggestion would be for everyone to do it at once. Numbers would make a statement, and a well coordinated effort at that.
maybe GW had best come home and calm things down instead of continually calling for Congress to send him the bill he wants while he is on 'foreign' soil--you know, the one that gives his friends 'amnesty'---the pubs are on their way out and best wake up before too many moons have passed
Good advice. I'm sick of hearing about what a good friend Vicente Fox and Mexico are. What have they done for us lately?
The email has been dispatched to the lovely Miss Malkin.
I forgot the unkindest cut of all, the Principal's quote about banning flag-related items. It went someting like this:
"We want to make sure for both the kids and the adults that no one expresses their opinion in a way that's offensive to others."
So displaying the American flag on American soil is offensive according to this guy. I never thought I would see such a thing happen in the Phoenix area. What has our society come to, when an American can stand in public with his bare face hanging out and make such an anti-American statement? THAT kind of action is what's offensive to me.
Why don't you pull your head out of the sand and face the music?
Can't dance?
Mine it and man it with firepower...illegal immigration [foriegn invasion] will cease in less than a week...
You are typical of new American thinking...lots of ideas and intentions...with absolutly NO solution or action...
My solution would work instantly...and you find that unpalatable because its not what? Sensative and Diplomatic?
I have had enough of sensativity and diplomacy. The job at hand is to immediatly stem/stop the flow of illegal foriegn invasion...
A fence, with moats, mines, and guns would do that tommorrow...
PC nonsense...political pandering...and what have we gotten as a result? A damn disaster in the making. An invasion that threatens to undermine and change the face of this nation and its culture forever.
The ship is sinking...and you want to analyze various methodolgy as to effective patches and fallouts...
Meanwhile your ship is going down. Why don't you just give your life jacket to someone else worth saving.
Guns, Mines and Men will stop the flow. DEAL WITH REALITY
For more details, you need only scroll up the page to posts #366 and #372.
The radio towers that were brought down were those of a local Spanish language radio station called (I kid you not) KMIA. It happened in Black Canyon City, abut 30 miles north of Phoenix. Further information is here:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/0329towers0329-ON.html
It's being investigated, but since no one has claimed responsibility, the conspiracy theories and doublecross scenarios are flying every which way. The best thing, as always, is to wait for the facts to emerge.
Bump!
Same as what's right about eating 5 boxes of Hostess cupcakes in a day.
Though I wouldn't recommend it, you are free to do so in a free republic.
You may disagree; hey, it's your choice. But it's not freedom.
That's why I recommend finding a forum more suitable for your beliefs.
Signed, the infidel S2R
I am fuming with my mouth hanging open...thanks for the ping KS!
What part of Free don't you understand?
If you don't like the first amendment, there are other countries that will accomodate you. But they aren't very nice places to live.
To believe people shouldn't be jailed for their beliefs doesn't make them libertarian. It just means they don't like communists.
Well thank you for all of the info.
I heard about it on one of the Phoenix radio stations, and did a no luck search on the AZ Republic Newspaper. It may have been to soon to look!
Sounds like there were hard feelings about those radio towers way before this debacle started. Yep, you're right, best to wait for the Dick Tracy's to find the facts.
Beautiful. Great job.
"We want to make sure for both the kids and the adults that no one expresses their opinion in a way that's offensive to others."
You're right. When do we as citizens get to be insulted and offended? And we get to speak out??
But now, since per Fox10 News announced that the fascist/communist statement has been reneged by the overwhelming outcry, that Principal has been
PWNED!
Those kids can wear the flag on Monday!
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