Students punished for wearing American flag colors on cinco de Mayo
Five students from Live Oak High School in California were forced to leave the campus on Cinco de Mayo because of the American flag designs on their clothing. School officials claim the students were being disrespectful and insensitive to their Mexican-American peers.
Assistant principal, Miguel Rodriguez, asked two of the boys to remove their American flag bandannas, while the other three students were told to turn their t-shirts inside out.
When the students refused to comply, they were asked to go to the principals office.
Student Daniel Galli was told that he and his friends would be allowed to wear the clothing on any other day, but since it was Cinco de Mayo the administrators felt their t-shirts would provoke a fight on campus.
Were the Mexican-American students really offended by the American apparel? Some were.
"I think they should apologize cause it is a Mexican Heritage Day," said student Annicia Nunez. "We don't deserve to be get disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."
Galli says he and his friends did nothing wrong, and they refuse to apologize. Even the Morgan Hill Unified School District is on Galli's side. A district official released the following statement:
"The district does not concur with the Live Oak High School administration's interpretation of either board or district policy related to these actions."
The boys were never suspended for what they call their "patriotic clothing," and they returned the school the next day wearing the colors of the American flag.
No one can deny the fact that Galli and his friends were trying to make a political statement through their clothing. However, the school officials should have let it go. It was unacceptable for the administration to ask the students to change their attire.
The school's administration unintentionally made themselves look unpatriotic for telling students to get rid of their American-themed clothing. This is the type of story that the conservative media LOVES. For instance, conservative radio host Laura Ingraham covered the story on her show, and used the situation to illustrate Mexican-Americans as unpatriotic and un-American for not wanting other students to wear the American flag on a Mexican holiday.
"The last time I checked, we were in America!" Ingrahm says.
The school officials are emphasizing a divide between the white students and the Mexican-American students when they should really focus on the fact that they're all Americans with the right to express their own opinions and thoughts. If some of the students wish to do so through their clothing, they should be allowed to.
Galli and his friends might have tried to antagonize their Mexican-American peers, but all students have to deal with this type of behavior in real life. Why not expose students to differences of opinion early on? Not all education comes from reading text books. It comes from social interactions and disagreements. Situations like this could lead to an enlightening discussion about diversity in the United States, and it's extremely important to have these conversations in the classroom.
I discuss this story with Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks in the video below:
Comments
WOW, just...wow.
Well, I have a few issues with this, first off, the last time I checked this IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PEEPS! Do the mexicans raise our flag in mexico on 4th of july? Prob not, what the hell is this Country coming to? If a mexican child in a 'mexican' school wore a mexican flag t-shirt on July 4th, would they be punished, suspended etc?
It's not a very attractive flag. I think it's time for an update.
NOT THE POINT.
Um, I am pretty sure Mexicans don't take their flag stickers off their cars on the 4th of July. Furthermore, who cares if they wear American Flags on Cinco de Mayo? It's not the Mexican independence day. It celebrates a vicory over the FRENCH. Would the students / faculty have even noticed if the guys were wearing french flags? Burets perhaps? You gotta be joking, this is completely ridiculous.
This is frightening. What next? There is no right NOT to be offended in the Constitution, and it's an abrogation of common sense. The best response is no response. Who even thinks of such nonsense as to be offended that some people don't celebrate another person's holiday! We are becoming a tyranny due to crazy notions of political correctness. It's actually encouraging bigotry and chauvenism when you pander to the veriety of offenses people could take, if the are dumb enough to do so.
If you want to wear your ugly ass green and red flag, go back to mexico and wear it. i proudly have an AMERICAN FLAG tattoo on my left arm and i'm damn proud to show it off. If you look at your history books people mexico got their asses kick by a hand full of LEGIONARIES. What are they so proud of???? I'd like to see them celebrate JULY 4TH in mexico, that won't happen. Thanks for the tacos though.
This is such a set-up. Look, these kids came with the intention of stirring up trouble, and this was what these future Fox viewers wanted. They LOVE being the victims. The principal, on the other hand, just didn't want any fistfights in the halls. It's completely within his power. Cinco de Mayo is becoming an American holiday, just like St. Patrick's. Anybody come into school tearing off shamrocks and cutting green ties on St. Pat's would have a fight on their hands too.
So are they going to make Mexican- American not wear the Mexican flag on the fourth or for that matter Presidents day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veterens Day? No of course they wont make them take off their flags. This is America and it is our flag let them wear it. But I will say do be rude and wear it in spite wear cause you are Proud of it. Dont make a scene.I love this Country and may God bless it...
Jim H, We need more morons like you to keep us laughing. Why is it that the First Amendment only applies to you bleeding-heart liberals when you are running your mouths, but it does not apply to those of us who maintain our conservative, country-loving, patriotic principles?
Did you notice what appeared to be the school's flag pole in the background. Hmmm, I wonder if the principal had the flag removed from there and all the classrooms too. I bet they didn't. What a mess?
What is very telling is that one of the protesting students said it was disrespectful for the "Americans" to flaunt their flag in our faces on our day. Is he not an American? Either he is an illegal alien or he does not consider himself to be an American. If he is an illegal alien, I don't care if he is offended by our American flag. If he has no loyalty to this country and does not consider himself to be an American perhaps he should stop enjoying the benefits of living in this country!
Where is the ACLU? Shouldn't they come to Morgan Hill to protect these 5 boys' civil liberties? I hope these boys and their parents sue the school district for millions!!
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican federal holiday, NOT a US federal holiday.
What does being told you can't fly the nation's flag in deference to another nation's flag say about the sovereignty of the nation you live in? Are we becoming subjects of Mexico?
If they'd sent students wearing the Mexican flag on Cinco de Mayo home I'd be offended too. That's freedom of expression. Differing reasons, same result.
This doesn't make ANY sense!!!!!!
Funny, but Cinco de Mayo is not a holiday in Mexico; their independence day is in September. I'm one of those liberals who hate flag waving, but this school administration was out of line and just ridiculous. This is just plain stupid.
I understand that school officials shouldn't have tld them to take oof their shirts. However, I do consider it very disrespectful. I'm from Latin America too and I see why some Mexicans were offended: it was clear that they did it on purpose and as an inmigrant, the message I got from that story is ''We don't want Latinos here''.
So, it's not the American flag waht offends, but the students attitude, and for us, Latinos, it IS a big deal, and not something irrelevant and you and Cenk said.
hey rodrigo you even know what may 5 is? that like 90% of mexico doesnt even celebrate it? they should be honord that corona made it so popular in the states.
love it or leave it brother. this isnt mexico.
i see the mexican flag flying all the time during memorial weekend, fourth of july. all of our great american historical days. does it offend me? yeah it does. but i love the fact that we live in a free country and they and i are allowed to do things like that. well i guess i cant anymore. so much for my rights.
OK THIS IS JUST WRONG. MORE STATES NEED TO BE LIKE ARIZONA. NO BIG DEAL IF LEGAL
It seems a little insulting to the students celebrating Cinco de Mayo to imply that if they saw someone wearing the shirt they would be uncontrollably violent.
I guess the United States of America is no longer The Land of the Free huh?
Unfortunately, it hasn't been for quite some time....
For JimH..well, you're a "tool"- The whole "skivies in wad" uproar is typical from those who forget that the flag is a symbol of AMERICA's FREEDOM. For those who believe it is disrepectful to wear a US FLAG on their shirt anytime/any place, especially on 5 May, then you need to reflect what freedom is and the next time you see a US servicemember, thank him/her their SACRIFICE & for ensuring your freedom is secure 24/7X365. Adios- See, I'm sensitive too.
The school shouldn't be responding. It's not their job since this is a "free" country. However, it is still somewhat disrespectful to be suddenly wearing the flag on Cinco de Mayo. Furthermore, some people might hate this country, but they have nowhere else to go. If they really do hate it, then it's because "Americans" are constantly rubbing it in immigrants' faces that they're not "American". Where has the true meaning of American gone?
That's dumb. I was sporting the French flag on Cinco De Mayo (my French teacher was giving out pins as a joke)- that is way more "disrespectful" than donning the American flag since the battle was between the French and the Mexicans- and no one had an issue with it, even our Spanish teacher found it funny.
Why can't people loosen up a bit? It's just a t-shirt, it's just a flag.
Those students should have been sent home. I'm sure they are they type who refer to mexicans as wet backs and beaners and they only did that to start trouble at school. The principal only sent the students home to prevent a conflict. I guarantee you if I was to wear a shirt with a mexican flag on it on the fourth of july or veterans day or presidents day or memorial day I would be cussed and talked about left and right. The students that were offended are mexican and that IS a mexican holiday and it IS celebrated and it should be respected just like the American holidays.
Anyone who thinks these kids should have been punished should find another country to live in. If you don't like looking at the American flag on cinco de mayo, st patricks day, Christmas, etc... Should find another country where freedom of speech and expression is NOT a right. Adios!
WE ARE IN AMERICA. IF YOU WERE OFFENDED BY THOSE BOYS...YOU BETTER CHECK WHAT COUNTRY YOU'RE IN AND DON'T FORGET IT. and kristin....why would you wear a mexican flag on AMERICAS INDEPENDENCE DAY...U TOO ARE IN AMERICA. i think youre confused. however if you wanted to wear it...guess what....AMERICA FOUGHT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF FREEDOM. SO WEAR IT IF YOU WANT BUT YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT. EVERYONE SAY IT WITH ME....
WE LIVE IN AMERICA!!! MOVE IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. PLAIN AND SO SIMPLE.
oh and jim....intent has nothing to do with actual events. just because you think someone was trying to do something doesn't mean they actually did it. however if the boys were being obnoxious, loud, disruptive, taunting, well then that would have been "stirring trouble". to wear a shirt, thats pretty harmless. because we live here...we get to wear the american flag...WHEN EVER WE WANT. like it or not that is actual. that is the truth. now had the school been more educating they would have talked to the kids about what may 5th was really about. yes thats when they beat france but i think it was a year or so later france came back for blood and do you know WHO HELPED MEXICO?????ANYONE....ANYONE.....yup...AMERICA! AMERICA HELPED MEXICO....lol oh the irony!
Perhaps next time the 5 boys see the Mexican flag being displayed on clothing in the classroom they should go to the Principle and file a complaint because they are offended by the display of another countries flag on student clothing. The schools don't want anyone to be offended and if they are they should say so. Then we would see if the school was truly trying to create a non offensive invironment or if they were just bowing down to pressure.
My bet would be that the boys would be told to go back to class and to deal with it. Then the actions of the school would be shown as discriminatory rather than trying to keep the peace. The 5 boys have a right to be in school without having the flag of another country flaunted in thier face. By the way,did I miss something? When was Cinco De Mayo declared a US Fedaral Holidy and a required celebration in our Publicly Funded schools? I must have been working too many hours to pay my bills and taxes to watch the news. Funny how that happens!
So sad that tension exists between americans with a Mex heritage and others :( no bueno - being in TX - I've seen both sides be the agressors
BUT unless these boys were behaving beligerantly or antagonizingly toward the Mex kids - no foul
I am as liberal as they come but - if the american flag becomes verboten - we's in some trouble
Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican holiday, but even if it were, it should not be celebrated in a U.S. school on the backs of U.S. taxpayers. The fact that these clowns are celebrating it at all screams racial motivations that have nothing to do with French in particular, but rather to exclude all non-Mexicans. All Americans of all colors should have been wearing American patriotic wear as a protest. The idiots in charge can take their Cinco de Mayo and shove it up their Cinco de A-holes and drag their racist butts back across the border from where they came.
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