Four more students suspended for wearing Confederate flags

al.com ^ | 10/18/01 | ap

[shuckmaster]

MOULTON, Ala. (AP) -- Four more students were suspended Wednesday from two Lawrence County schools for defying dress codes by wearing Confederate flags on their clothing.

The suspensions came as 15 other students at Lawrence County High School in northwest Alabama finished three-day suspensions imposed Monday when they showed up with Confederate flag clothing in defiance of a rule instituted by Principal Ricky Nichols on Friday.

One student at Lawrence County High School was given a three-day suspension for defying the rule, Nichols said. At Speake School, a third-grader, fifth-grader and eighth-grader were sent home for one-day suspensions Wednesday for wearing T-shirts with rebel flags, Principal Earl Leonard said.

Leonard said the students got opportunities to change into other T-shirts or turn theirs inside out. He said their parents chose to take the children home.

Nichols, in his first year at Lawrence County High School, said that since the fall term began he has been reassuring minority students and parents that there was nothing to fear from children wearing clothes with depictions of Confederate flags.

But Nichols instituted the new rule after racial slurs were used in two incidents last week.

Suspended Lawrence County High School students and parents said the shirts are a display of Southern heritage and had nothing to do with race.

[jude24]

Perhaps its because I'm a NY Yankee (though my father is a transplanted southerner), but I don't see the big deal. I can see both sides of the arguement. I am well that, to a large number of people of Southern heratige, the Confederate flag is a sacred symbol. However, living in the more liberal Northeast, I know that to the more ignorant masses, the Confederate flag, rather than being the symbol of a noble fight against an expanding federal government, see it as a symbol of slavery, racism, and oppression, and not without cause.

It's unfortunate that the Civil War was fought over state's rights regarding slavery (that's what it was, in its most elemental form), and not some other more palatable issue. However, since that was the ultimate root of the conflict, the symbol of the confederate flag has been highjacked by the racist groups that have come since. So, to the average American, the Confederate flag indeed is a symbol of oppression and racism. It's unavoidable.

The school should not have to put up with such behavior within the walls. I agree, it seems that they are singling out unpopular speech, and while technically they have the legal authority to do so, their behavior is still unamerican and probably unconstitutional. A better move would be a blanket ban on printed t-shirts, and require button-down or polo shirts.

[A2J]

"lighten up folks its only clothes. East Cleveland is wanting to make to make it illegal to wear baggy pants with your underwear showing. Does this mean they will go after the fridge repair man too?"

But it's not about clothing, it's about the intentional eradication of everything Southern.

A kid wearing his pants in a way where his butt crack shows is generally offensive to all and should be restricted. However, by punishing a few students based merely upon the complaints of a small group is nothing more than selective intolerance.

[shuckmaster]

, the symbol of the confederate flag has been highjacked by the racist groups that have come since.

This is a completely bogus media hyped myth. It's actually extremely rare to see the Confederate flag used in a racist context & those few cases usually involve a tiny handful of northerners surrounded by 100's of police & protesters.

[angry beaver norbert]

I am NOT, repeat, NOT an enemy of the United States. I stand ready to loose my Southern blood to defend God and Country, The United States of America, the Constitution,the Stars and Stripes, and the Republic for which it stands. This while some so-called 'educators'(from areas not in the South) have stated that the flag (Stars & Stripes) stands for hate and war. The Founding Fathers were the first American Rebels, and left wide open the view that revolution, at one time or another, would be the option of "We, The People" in the event of government gone bad. There were two brothers once, that fought like cats and dogs, untill a bully from another community picked on one of them, at which time they united and beat the cr@p out of him.

[RebelDawg]

Say what? I didn't see this in the article anywhere. Did it say the kids hate America or did you just make it up?

She made it up! Methinks that she is the one that hates America or maybe she just hates the Bill of Rights...

[Mark17]

It is totalitarians who make this an un-United States. Are you one of those totalitarians?

[B4Ranch]

Hey Redneck, If you ever find a reason to come to Reno, Nevada, look me up, the Mrs. and I'll provide your room and board.

A Western Redneck

[hoot2]

this could really hit the fan...

[RebelDawg]

You could never be just like us, boy. You're not even an American.

I'll second that!

[hoot2]

"Nichols, in his first year at Lawrence County High School, said that since the fall term began he has been reassuring minority students and parents that there was nothing to fear from children wearing clothes with depictions of Confederate flags."

Guns, gangs, drugs, t-shirts.

Circle the one that you think would cause the least amount of fear.

great post. we're the minority in kalifornia...we're not worried about being shot or car-jacked by a flag...

[SEA]

With the US at war, can't this silly little principal of this silly little school find something better to do for kids who may very soon be in the military protecting his tenured a$$?

[RebelDawg]

So, to the average American, the Confederate flag indeed is a symbol of oppression and racism. It's unavoidable.

Hmmmm, to the average Muslim the Cross means the same thing.

Are you of the opinion that the cross should be banned as well??? Perhaps it should be removed from church tops???

After all to many muslims it is a symbol of the oppression and racism of the crusades. Now I know that the cross is a symbol of religious faith and it is unfortunate that the Crusades occurred but to many Muslims the cross is a symbol of hatred... Now wait a minute that sounds just like your little dialog about the Confedrate Flag...

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

"drop those kids over Afghanistan if they hate our country so much."

You got that half right.

Southerners have always been the most patriotic Americans, and the ones most likely to enlist in the armed forces. Why do you think a southern drawl is almost de rigeur in all of the branches?

I can almost guarantee that the people waving Confederate flags are the ones MOST likely to sign up and MOST likely to end up in combat units.

So there is a very good chance that these boys will be dropped "over Afganistan" or anywhere else when their country calls, and they will go willingly because that is their Southern tradition, of which the Confederacy and its images are an integral part.

[Soul Citizen]

The school of the Confederacy is right here beneath the glossy veneer!

We will not tolerate condemnation of our proud historical upbringing or allow political correctness to dissolve our heritage.

We are all the next generation of historians and it is our responsibility to teach the truth about this country to our nations youth.

We are a rare group who have witnessed the truth about our own fate in this country.

Although, the war between the states happened over 100 years ago, and there are no surviving veterans of that war, this generation has seen in modern times what the war was really fought about!

Thankfully, due to our modern technological advances, the internet, we have been able to easily access information and share historical accounts and documentation that previously was very difficult.

Especially since many records were destroyed or lost after the war, and the occupier rewrote history.

Certainly there is the issue of slavery, it must be pointed out however that both our flags here once supported this; yes the United States flag.

Further proof of this was the many years of segregation under the stars and stripes.

Slavery is wrong period!

Regardless of ones skin color none of us deserves to live a life in condemnation for the color of their skin!

This also brings me to recall the plight of the American indian.

These are the real Americans prosecuted under the flag of the federal government for their skin color!

These native inhabitants suffered greatly from the lies told from the federal government!

So here we are in modern times with the age of offensiveness and political correctness.

The reality is we cannot change the past!

Yes even today slavery still exists in Africa with Arabs, and Asians trading in human flesh!

This is appauling!


However, More importantly we rediscover in modern times what the war between the states was really all about!

It was fought over states rights and the dissolution of the values around which we as a country united to fight for our independence!

You see in the period of time after the Revolutionary war, resolve weakened.

Many veterans died, as a result of experiencing the greatest turmoil imaginable from the stress and ravages of war.

In the years that followed the Revoluutionary war the people changed, they began to compromise the ideals for which we had originally fought and died for.

We can see this evidence in the difference between the articles of the confederation and the constitution. Further, when we look deeper into their roots we can see the pacts, such as the Magna Carta, that led to their design, and how these documents evolved.

A rift formed between the peoples of the north and the people of the south over how these should be followed!

We became divided as a country, as to the intent of the founders and how to interpret the constitution.

We saw a repeat of this history in modern times!

We witnessed a largess federal system of government lose the faith of the people because of the lies and questionable activities with foreign nations.

We witnessed the dissolution and the disbanding of the militias, a result of the largest propaganda machine since nazi Germany.

We saw a split between the people in modern times.

Some choose to support the word of the government regardless of clear evidence that it was wrong and lied to the people.

We saw another half of the people stay true to the ideals of the founders, as they recalled who their duty was to in serving public office.

The other half would just as soon rather keep control of the masses and disarm the citizenry.

We witnessed serious breaches of public trust and abuse of the power of high office.

As a people we feared our right to free speech would be infringed, as to many out spoken critics of government it was!

We watched the politicization of the FBI and the IRS, agents sent into the field against those who opposed the interest of the governing!

We witnessed the ursurpation of the ability of the people to investigate our own government.

We watched the executive branch usurp the legislative through fear tactics and politicas of personal destruction!

We watched the Executive branch usurp the power of the Judicial branch, as justice was frequently obstructed and investigations dropped by pressure!

We watched our most basic of rights infringed, the right to recieve a fair trial.

Yes, I am refering to all the infringements we as a counrty just witnessed!

WE MUST NEVER FORGET!

It is our eternal vigilence that has led to an new government being transformed now!

Without our resolve this country would be a monarchy, and the foreign peddlers would be in control.

We witnessed how close the election was, and we learned how our elections were bought in years prior!

We have been under attack from within.

All this caused serious rift in the people!

It created a new wave of rebirth in the minds of the people to seek out and understand why we have developed our country the way we have.

It made a new generation rediscover the ideals under which this great republic was founded!

FREEDOM!!

As southerners, we as a people understand more than anyone what it is like being occupied, being ethnically cleansed.

We will not stand for this!

We have and remain the only viable check and balance to hold the strong central government accountable to the people!!

All other checks remained usurped during the last election coup!

Without our southern solidarity we would not be together as a nation today!

Before 9-11-2001 many were watching and waiting to see how the federal government would be managed.

We were very weary of government control!


However there is one serious miscalculation our foreign invaders made upon the American people.

There is no question that our founding fathers intended a national government would be for the purpose of the common defense of the states!

We now rally around a single flag with a single resolve!

Prior to 9-11-2001, the country was divided and support for the federal system was wanning!

During war time we will have a strong central government!

However, during peace time the powers of the central (federal) government should be curtailed and returned to their proper location, to the states where it is derived!

The southern people are and should be very proud of their heritage!

We are the final insurance the people have against government tyranny, so in a sense when we are taken over from the inside we are attacked and rounded up!

We are a real threat to those who desire to control the masses!

We are the brothers who failed to stray from the ideals of the founders originally.

The Confereracy is alive and well!

It is all around you, it is the unity of our states.

THE STATE

OF THE CONFEDERACY

IS UNIFIED!

For the youth of the states it is the responsibility of the educators to teach the truth, as difficult as it will be to speak in terms of the slavery issue.

People must also read the accounts of the battle of New Orleans and what the Union soldiers really found that was occurring in the true southern multicultural societies.

The south was the first to have true modern multicultural cities.

Hopefully we can instill in our youth a desire for in each of their hearts to reach an understanding about the state of the world in prior years.

We can do that by giving them the tools of knowledge to investigate the past and current events on their own, as long as we teach them to critically analyze events, and keep an open mind!

LONG LIVE THE CONFEDERACY!

[RebelDawg]

The U.S. flag is distinctive in its design, having fifty stars in a field of blue, and thirteen alternating horizontal red and white stripes.

Are you sure about that???

I thought that the U.S. Flag had a bunch of yellow, green red and black stripes. And I didn't think that it had any stars, I'm confused...

Oh wait a minute... thats the Afro-American Flag! Perfectly permissible in public schools unlike the Confederate flag or even the US flag which is deemed offensive in certain public schools. But hey who cares huh? /sarcasm

[tberry]

"This is supposed to be the UNITED States of America"

YES and in the United States of America you are supposed to have "freedom of speech." You know, like the protection given to Larry Flint's Hustler Magazine when it shows hairy pu*sy openly to the kids of the USA.

We are also supposed to have "freedom of association" but the government routinely makes people associate with those they do not want to associate with, under threat of law.

Forbidding the Confederate Flag is a PC infringement and tyranny to the Constitution.

[HELLRAISER II]

I appreciate the Invite, if I'm in the neighborhood I'll call.

[Mighty Pen]

The right to freedom of expression does not extend itself into puplic schools or institutions, if they want to wear offensive material on the street, they have every right to do so.

Hold up, now! When the U.S. Constitution says, "Congress shall make NO law...abridging the freedom of speech", that means that freedom of speech cannot be abridged in any publicly owned institution including schools owned by the government whether it be local, state, or federal.

I say those kids are brave.

[Twodees]

That comparison of the ANV battleflag to the nazi flag came straight out of CPUSA headquarters. You probably didn't know that the Starry Cross flag has gone into battle with Southerners in every single war since 1865. My uncles had it with them in WWII and Korea, my cousins had it with them in 'Nam.

Just who do you think fights the wars for the US, anyway? Mostly Southerners, that's who.

[tberry]

"You may have noticed that there have been many of Her flags flying lately, some at half-staff. The U.S. flag is distinctive in its design, having fifty stars in a field of blue, and thirteen alternating horizontal red and white stripes."

It's just like you Liberals to stand behind the American Flag and wave it fiercely hoping the big bad terrorist and Confederates will go away. You are hypocrites of the worst kind. You use the American flag for justification. At the same time you routinely try to destroy the provisions and rights found in the Constitution for which it stands.

All of the religious fervor, patriotism and regard for the Constitution that all are so lately proclaiming are exactly the values that the Confederacy was trying to save with session and the values their ancestors have routinely held down through the years.

You "Johnny come lately" patriots ought to worry as much about the Hundreds of thousands of citizens killed through abortion and the thousands of Citizens killed throughout the South, by Lincoln and his hinchmen as he tried to distroy the Confederacy and ignor the Constitution, as you are now about those lost to terrorism.