It's official, America is too PC

[afterhours]

Free speech is not recognized in public school. So we have to look at this as a dress code violation. Do the T-shirts violate the dress code, yes or no? Additionally, did the students incite violence independent of the wardrobe? If the t-shirts are acceptable dress during the balance of the year, there is no logical reason to deny their use on a specific day regardless of intent. Punish the crime, not the reason for the crime.

you cannot wear shirt with inflammatory messages.....

just like you may have right to wear a "white power" shirt to a MLK rally or celebration, there will be consequeces, and the police will take you away for dis-rupting a peaceful event

that is why they were told to turn them inside out, the punishment was very low. they were not suspended, they chose to go home. they excercised thier right to choose.

[afterhours]

Exactly, and thank you. I said it earlier, if they did indeed incite violence, THAT is the reason to send 'em home, not the t-shirt unless it is a violation of the dress code, which I seriously doubt...

funny it seems there is little bit of agreement on this....

[Vonderbach]

you cannot wear shirt with inflammatory messages.....

just like you may have right to wear a "white power" shirt to a MLK rally or celebration, there will be consequeces, and the police will take you away for dis-rupting a peaceful event

that is why they were told to turn them inside out, the punishment was very low. they were not suspended, they chose to go home. they excercised thier right to choose.

But that's my point, an American Flag is not inflammatory by itself. Only when accompanied with another message could that even be remotely considered inflammatory.

Consider this for a moment. A random student wears an American flag shirt, completely ignorant of the day. This would be a completely harmless act. On the flip side, it is impossible to wear a "white power" shirt without understanding the implications that the shirt would carry on MLK day (or any other day for that matter.) The difference here is that one image carries an inherent message, the flag says nothing but "I am an American and proud of it." The students of Mexican heritage could wear the same shirt and be equally proud of their American and Mexican heritage. It's a shared bond for all Americans, regardless of race or heritage.

[afterhours]

But that's my point, an American Flag is not inflammatory by itself. Only when accompanied with another message could that even be remotely considered inflammatory.

Consider this for a moment. A random student wears an American flag shirt, completely ignorant of the day. This would be a completely harmless act. On the flip side, it is impossible to wear a "white power" shirt without understanding the implications that the shirt would carry on MLK day (or any other day for that matter.) The difference here is that one image carries an inherent message, the flag says nothing but "I am an American and proud of it." The students of Mexican heritage could wear the same shirt and be equally proud of their American and Mexican heritage. It's a shared bond for all Americans, regardless of race or heritage.

agreed, i have no problem with the shirt or the flag......

my problem is these kids got together, and planned this out. with a clear intent to disrupt. i would feel differently if this was random, but it was not.

[VaBusa]

agreed, i have no problem with the shirt or the flag......

my problem is these kids got together, and planned this out. with a clear intent to disrupt. i would feel differently if this was random, but it was not.

And my take is that IF the others weren't offended by the sight of their very own American flag, there would be no drama...

[HT_USMC]

There shouldn't ever be dissent for the American flag as an American citizen.

+1

I think my difference of opinion here is that you seem to only see fault in the 5 that wore the t-shirts, not the fact that you have American citizens wanting to celebrate their heritage and being offended by the very flag they opted to live under...

+1

And by making them go home, their First Amendment rights were infringed upon.

Simply wearing a flag does not disrupt an event. The event was disrupted because someone else (or many others) were offended by it.

I'm sorry that they were offended by and American Flag in America...but THEY were the ones that let the even get disrupted.

+1

if you do it to ruin other people events, and infringe on thier right to express themselves....

we keep repeating the same thing, how could it be wrong....but why is it so offensive for citizens to want to celebrate thier heritage? why were these boys so offended by the free speech of others.

Odd... they boys were just exercising their right to free speech. No?

i know that they were trying to dis-rupt the Cinco de Mayo festivities...because i heard one of the boys say it, from his own mouth...

1. so far we have a school of citizens having a peaceful celebration of thier heritage, as they have a right to do.

2. 5 kids who decided to disrupt the event, as admitted on video by one of them

3. a principal whose motives are not clear, maybe he was trying to keep the peace or maybe he was letting his politics cloud judgement(don't know yet).

the kids were wrong in trying to disrupt the event.....they are hiding behind the flag because it will give them sympathy from a country that is fed up with mexicans and illegal immigrants...

the problem is that this is not about those things.

This is precisely the problem. We as a country are growing tired of these issues being such "egg shells" that we have to tiptoe around.

Freedom of speech protects those born and raised here as well as those who immigrate to this country. If simply wearing a T-Shirt (read: not shouting, kicking and screaming, burning a Mexican flag) is all it takes to incite riot, we truly need to close our borders from this flood of Mexican immigrants. I mean, do we really want people who find it so easy to riot living here?

Huh?! What does that have to do with anything?!

MAY 5th is just another day for me...means nothing to most Americans; has no significance to our Nation. You're welcome to have a beer and enjoy the day however you wish... Just allow me the same courtesy... (which was not afforded to the 5 boys).

Funny... this flipping "holiday" doesn't mean anything to most Mexicans either! Cinco de Mayo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Seriously, it was a way to sell beer and throw a party. Now it's become a (Mexican) national holiday by proxy of those Mexican illegals and Americans of Mexican decent.

becuase as citizens they have a right to do so...without be infringed upon by others

Surely you see the flaw in your argument? Aren't the five boys afforded the same rights? Can they not wake up and decide to remind all those of Mexican decent that it's AMERICA they live in by wearing a patriotic shirt? Or do a bunch of immigrants (who should recognize the flag as their own) and possibly illegals have more rights and muscle than these youngsters?




It's funny. We can have abortion clinics with picketers outside for the pro-choice movement and for the pro-life movement stare each other down with signs in hand... no one is carted away or told to leave until/unless things become to aggressive/violent. However, when a bunch of folks of Mexican decent get together they instantly have their way with our constitution at the expense of other (natural) citizens.

Ticks me off, frankly.

[omslaw]

agreed, i have no problem with the shirt or the flag......

my problem is these kids got together, and planned this out. with a clear intent to disrupt. i would feel differently if this was random, but it was not.

OK - but again - simply wearing an American Flag shirt/bandana does NOT cause the disruption. YELLING would be disruptive - wearing a shirt is not. The only reason there was disruption was because those "celebrating" their heritage were offended and THEY caused the disruption.

Besides - as you said earlier - if it's a holiday created by Americans to sell beer - then why are the Mexican's using it to "celebrate their heritage"? Why should they be offended if an American wears an American Flag?

[Vonderbach]

Let's be clear about this, I embrace any holiday that gives me an excuse to drink. I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong impression.

[VaBusa]

Let's be clear about this, I embrace any holiday that gives me an excuse to drink. I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong impression.

Here here I'm drinking right now to celebrate your zest for life

[HT_USMC]

I guess to make my point a bit better...

On St. Patty's day, if I wore a shirt with a shamrock colored in by the US flag... are a bunch of Irish folks going get bent out of shape and force me to change my shirt? No? I didn't think so either.

Strangely enough, it's an actual national holiday in Ireland. However, I don't see the Irish have an agenda here in the states. (Yeah, I said it - deal with it) So that is the PRIMARY difference.

[VaBusa]

I guess to make my point a bit better...

On St. Patty's day, if I wore a shirt with a shamrock colored in by the US flag... are a bunch of Irish folks going get bent out of shape and force me to change my shirt? No? I didn't think so either.

Strangely enough, it's an actual national holiday in Ireland. However, I don't see the Irish have an agenda here in the states. (Yeah, I said it - deal with it) So that is the PRIMARY difference.

As well as the simple fact that neither you or I would go to Mexico and expect everyone there to acknowledge and celebrate the 4th of July by NOT sporting their Mexican flag...

[Blanca BusaLess]

OK - but again - simply wearing an American Flag shirt/bandana does NOT cause the disruption. YELLING would be disruptive - wearing a shirt is not. The only reason there was disruption was because those "celebrating" their heritage were offended and THEY caused the disruption.

Besides - as you said earlier - if it's a holiday created by Americans to sell beer - then why are the Mexican's using it to "celebrate their heritage"? Why should they be offended if an American wears an American Flag?

Omslaw I cant find anything that says any Mexican kids complained ?
Nothing nowhere states the kids were upset and complained.
I think Mr Rodriguez did it all on his own.
I may be wrong .

[VaBusa]

Hmmmm, interesting

FOXNews.com - Tensions High at California High School Following Flag Flap

"The issue was, there was nothing going on," Jones told Fox News on Friday. "There was no sense of violence at all amongst the students, there was no conversation, there was no bullying.

"We just feel like the vice principal overstepped his bounds. He jumped in too quickly. We can understand he might be concerned something would happen, but there was no indication that was going to happen at all."

"The Morgan Hill Unified School District does not prohibit nor do we discourage wearing patriotic clothing," the message from Superintendent Wesley Smith said. "The incident on May 5 at Live Oak High School is extremely unfortunate. While campus safety is our primary concern and administrators made decisions yesterday in an attempt to ensure campus safety, students should not, and will not, be disciplined for wearing patriotic clothing. This situation and our response are under review."

[afterhours]

+1



+1



+1



Odd... they boys were just exercising their right to free speech. No?



This is precisely the problem. We as a country are growing tired of these issues being such "egg shells" that we have to tiptoe around.

Freedom of speech protects those born and raised here as well as those who immigrate to this country. If simply wearing a T-Shirt (read: not shouting, kicking and screaming, burning a Mexican flag) is all it takes to incite riot, we truly need to close our borders from this flood of Mexican immigrants. I mean, do we really want people who find it so easy to riot living here?



Funny... this flipping "holiday" doesn't mean anything to most Mexicans either! Cinco de Mayo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Seriously, it was a way to sell beer and throw a party. Now it's become a (Mexican) national holiday by proxy of those Mexican illegals and Americans of Mexican decent.



Surely you see the flaw in your argument? Aren't the five boys afforded the same rights? Can they not wake up and decide to remind all those of Mexican decent that it's AMERICA they live in by wearing a patriotic shirt? Or do a bunch of immigrants (who should recognize the flag as their own) and possibly illegals have more rights and muscle than these youngsters?




It's funny. We can have abortion clinics with picketers outside for the pro-choice movement and for the pro-life movement stare each other down with signs in hand... no one is carted away or told to leave until/unless things become to aggressive/violent. However, when a bunch of folks of Mexican decent get together they instantly have their way with our constitution at the expense of other (natural) citizens.

Ticks me off, frankly.

we are talking about citizens....not illegals. keep your racism to yourself. the citizens were having a peaceful time. they did not send anyone home. your racist ideals is getting the way of your ability to see the facts.

[afterhours]

correct, it appears rodriguez acted on his own....why? i don't know.

but the "Illegals" as some want to call them had nothing to do with it.

[Vega]

Question:

Would it be appropriate if I were do go onto a Native American Reservation sporting an American Flag t-shirts with 4 of my friends and a clear and declared intent to disrupt their festivities when they're celebrating something that may be of importance to their heritage, but not to me? Would that be a good time for me to exercise my first amendment?

Shouldn't we be respectful to other American's rights as we would expect them to be in return?

Ultimately, wouldn't we be living in a better place if we all did that rather than try to pick fights with each other?

This is and was never about being patriotic to those 5 boys. It was purely to create trouble and they hid behind our great flag like cowards in doing so. That's a shame and disrespectful to our flag as well.

[VaBusa]

correct, it appears rodriguez acted on his own....why? i don't know.

but the "Illegals" as some want to call them had nothing to do with it.

Agreed...I didn't bring that line of conversation in to the picture. I think my main issue with all of this is that we seem to have a sect in society that truly feel "being American" comes and goes. I don't think it does, therefore, one that is either born here or opts to be a citizen here should never find the American flag threatening or offensive in any way...

[VaBusa]

Question:

Would it be appropriate if I were do go onto a Native American Reservation sporting an American Flag t-shirts with 4 of my friends and a clear and declared intent to disrupt their festivities when they're celebrating something that may be of importance to their heritage, but not to me? Would that be a good time for me to exercise my first amendment?

Shouldn't we be respectful to other American's rights as we would expect them to be in return?

Ultimately, wouldn't we be living in a better place if we all did that rather than try to pick fights with each other?

This is and was never about being patriotic to those 5 boys. It was purely to create trouble and they hid behind our great flag like cowards in doing so. That's a shame and disrespectful to our flag as well.

No one here wants to take away your right to celebrate your heritage in America, but by the same token, do you find it appropriate to expect others around to you suddenly be "less American" so you feel more comfy?

And you might want to scroll up a bit...updates today, looks like the VP acted on his own, no apparent actual threats or fights, so that changes the view of what was done, don't you think?

[HT_USMC]

we are talking about citizens....not illegals. keep your racism to yourself. the citizens were having a peaceful time. they did not send anyone home. your racist ideals is getting the way of your ability to see the facts.

Strange, I thought I specified the difference between the two whenever/wherever applicable. The word immigrant is used to denote that I see them as Americans of Mexican decent and not as illegal aliens.

You're kidding yourself if you think it's not at least possible that there might have been a few of those students (and/or parents) in attendance who are illegally here.

For the record, I'm not a racist. This is the typical card played to get the typical American to play by these "new rules" of political correctness.

I believe the borders should be closed. Period. I believe we need a fence. Period. I believe immigration should be slowed. Period. I have compassion for those people in our world less fortunate, Mexicans included. I'm not racist but I believe in our nation and our nation doesn't have a snake on the flag. If you want in, you do it the right (legal) way and you are an AMERICAN and an American only. Period. American's don't have a problem with the red, white and blue. Period.

[Vega]

No one here wants to take away your right to celebrate your heritage in America, but by the same token, do you find it appropriate to expect others around to you suddenly be "less American" so you feel more comfy?

And you might want to scroll up a bit...updates today, looks like the VP acted on his own, no apparent actual threats or fights, so that changes the view of what was done, don't you think?

Thanks, but I've been keeping up and I'm not talking about the VP here.

Merely pointing out that the boys were trying to cause a problem. No coincidence. It was smart but not laudable on their part to use the American flag as a cover up for their intended racism knowing that they would have lots of people misunderstand and jump to their support at the mere sight of our flag.