No American T-Shirts Allowed

MSMB ^ | May 7, 2010 | Rob W. Case

[Making_Sense [Rob W. Case]]

Another strange occurance in the age of Obama that an overwhelmingly large portion of the the activist media is not reporting on, is the recent story of these American flag T-Shirts.

The principal of Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California instructed kids who decided to wear their American flag T-shirts on Cinco De Mayo, were instructed to either turn their shirts inside out, take off their American flag bandanas, or be sent home. The ultimatum was delivered when students who were celebrating Cinco De Mayo found that the American flags were "offensive" to their celebration.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I have an idea: GTFOOMC!!

[verum ago]

"I think they should apologize cause it is a Mexican heritage day," Annicia Nunez, a Live Oak High student, told NBC. "We don't deserve to be get disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."

YOU'RE NOT IN MEXICO, Ms. Nunez!
Nor do you have "the right to not be offended"

[nathanbedford]

Most of us will react in anger over the exaltation of foreign colors above the American flag, and rightly so.

But I would like to comment on the First Amendment. Increasingly we are moving to a place in our understanding of the First Amendment that the right to free speech ends where someone else's subjective sensitivities begins. Scarcely any doctrine could be more dangerous to free speech.

We have seen the baleful results of this tendency in the cases against preachers and against Marc Stein in Canada and against those who speak out against Muslim excesses in Europe.

It is not the subjective sensitivity of the person who alleges offense which may be determinative of the right to free speech because the left will contrive to find ever more hypersensitive individuals claiming affront. If they can match their hypersensitivity with victim status because of their race or inclination to commit buggery, so much more must their power to restrict our first amendment liberties grow.

In this case apparently, the principal and vice principal alleged that Hispanic students celebrating Cinco de Mayo might take offense at the American colors worn by Anglos and be attempted toward violence.

The Supreme Court has come treacherously close to adopting the standards in the school environment when the administrators believe that the speech is somehow disruptive. Many FReepers have expressed support for the idea of shutting down free speech in the schools to further an environment productive for learning. This tendency must be resisted where ever it raises its ugly head. Disruption alone should be the proper object of state control and not free speech.

It is the job of the school authorities to encourage free speech, not discourage it; it is the job of the school authorities to discourage and punish violence, not appease it.

[wardaddy]

Steyn

[nathanbedford]

Right, sorry.

May I blame this on my Dragon Naturally Speaking software and a lousy proofreader?

[Rick_Michael]

Apparently we live in Mexico now....

[Right Wing Assault]

it is a Mexican heritage day

Big deal in America, but not in Mexico from what I've heard.

[john mirse]

"I think they should apologize cause it is a Mexican heritage day," Annicia Nunez, a Live Oak High student, told NBC. "We don't deserve to be get disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."

*******

This is one of the weirdest statements I have ever read, because I thought the young woman was an American.

I live a long way from California where there is a very tiny Mexican-American population, so I am not quite sure what the controversy is all about.

Concerning this bizarre controversy: I thought the high school students who complained about the American flags were themselves Americans of Mexican background.

Myself, I am baffled why an American student wearing an American flag shirt would be an insult to another American student at all .

For instance, can you imagine Irish people being insulted if other Americans wore American flag symbols on St. Patrick's Day?

For instance, can you imagine Italian-Americans being insulted if other Americans walked around with American flag symbols on Columbus Day?

I don't know what the answer to this problem is, but for Mexican-Americans to be insulted when an American flag is displayed on their special day is a bizarre situation to me.

To me, Mexican-American students should take the opportunity to celebrate BOTH flags on their special day: A flag representing Mexico, the country of origin of their parents or grandparents, and a flag representing the country of their new and future home, the United States.

My suggestion: Next year during this Mexican-American celebration, the Mexican-American students should invite and welcome all those other Americans wearing American flag symbols to share the special Mexican-American day of celebration.

Who knows. Both groups of American students might come to enjoy each other's company on that special day.

[Shimmer1]

I second that!!!!!

[Shimmer1]

It’s not even a very special day, in THEIR country. It’s just an excuse to riot and throw their weight around.

[sergeantdave]

Where’s Ike?

He could order the 101st Airborne into the school and order this commie principal to respect free speech or else.

[lentulusgracchus]

Who knows. Both groups of American students might come to enjoy each other's company on that special day.

You don't get it.

Unlike earlier immigrants, the Mexicans consider assimilation optional, and many of them continue, even in the second generation as the quotation shows, to regard themselves as Mexican.

They are not assimilating, they are colonizing. Huge difference.

[lentulusgracchus]

[Art.] The ultimatum was delivered when students who were celebrating Cinco De Mayo found that the American flags were "offensive" to their celebration.

Oh, really? Well, let's see how they feel about the Confederate Battle Flag!

Run 'er up, boys!

[screaminsunshine]

No American tax money for that school til they fire the Principal. Tell him to call Mexico.

[screaminsunshine]

Well I wish I was...

[gakrak]

The worst part about this whole thing is that it's not a Mexican holiday but another fake one made up by idiots, Amen.

[BilLies]

Bill O’Reilly cover it BIG last night.

[rvoitier]

Does this mean I can’t wear an American Flag t-shirt during Oktoberfest?