Guess you can't honor the American flag during Cinco De Mayo

[Kuzeh]

The law is not written for police to ask for "papers please" on every Hispanic person they see. Like any law though, it could be abused. Time will tell. As far as illegal immigration goes though. I'm all for deporting everyone that they find. Sorry so harsh.

 

[lcummins]

Read this...

https://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm


...maybe those kids were celebrating America AND Cinco de Mayo!

 

[The Mike]

Actually it doesn't celebrate a country, it celebrates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. You guys realize that Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday limited primarily to the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of Mexico but not widespread like July 4th for example.

July 4th technically commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence but because we have made it a Federal Holiday its nationally observed. The funny thing is only in the US is it a big deal not to celebrate it where in actual Mexico the important day is their Independence Day, September 16 I believe.

That makes people getting offended kind of funny because its like being offended for people crapping on Mardi Gras which I don't think is even a regional holiday but it comes to mind.

What it boils down to is that "They were being disrespectful" is translated to they were being racist and that has everyone's guile up. The race card comes out so often in every thing that we might as well just label everyone racist and be done with it.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

You're being deliberately obtuse to the problem at hand - they were wearing the clothing to get a rise out of the Mexican students, and that in and of itself is wrong. How could you say it's not? Just because you aren't calling someone a derogatory name doesn't mean you can't be racist. Do you not think it's odd that a group of high school guys decided to be patriotic on Cinco de Mayo? I mean, come on!

I doubt it was a coincidence ... and I don't care that it wasn't a coincidence. I disagree that showing American national pride on Cinco de Mayo is inherently wrong because it would "get a rise" out of Mexican students. I think anyone that is so sensitive as to be offended by an American flag in an American school is in the wrong ... on Cinco de Mayo, or any other day.

Are you seriously suggesting we attempt to determine the specific intent of any person wearing an American flag on Cinco de Mayo? And, if we deem their intent too racist ... we do what, exactly? Perhaps their display of American national pride was meant to counter displays of Mexican national pride, but had no intent to "get a rise" out of anyone.

This McCarthyite anti-racist witchhunting has to stop. When it is come to the point that an American flag is considered a racist statement, its gone way too far.

SnakeDoc

 

[The Mike]

This McCarthyite anti-racist witchhunting has to stop. When it is come to the point that an American flag is considered a racist statement, its gone way too far.

This I agree with, its a problem because of the racial tones that were applied to it by the teachers/principal and a couple of students. Most of the kids interviewed at the school itself didn't understand why they were suspended and the kids that did agree with it, agreed because they saw it as racist. It boils down to being too PC about a racial issue that didn't exist. They were in American Flag shirts and chanting USA at lunch. Does that make them _______s? Yup but racist? No, we have no proof of that, no racial slurs were uttered, they weren't even chanting at the festivities just in the background. One of the kids is half Mexican and said he didn't understand why he couldn't celebrate the other half of his culture whenever he wanted to. The kids are douches but its getting way blown out of proportion by people who are making an issue out of it.

 

[BadMoon]

Hmmm this is very interesting and I can see both sides. The story does a pretty ____ty job at reporting. Is there somewhere else with more information? Like were the kids making racist remarks and shouting at other students? Or did they just show up to school that way and went around their daily business. Are these students always showing their pride for the US or known for that? I wish there was more to the story. Unless they were shouting racist remarks or something similar I don't see a reason for them to have to apologize or to be suspended. I believe they did it for attention as well. I can't remember anyone in my school going to such extremes when displaying their patriotism. I mean did you see those shorts?

 

[The Mike]

Here is the news story from one another Bay Area station:

MORGAN HILL, CA (KGO) -- Five students were sent home from Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill on Wednesday for wearing American flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo.

One day later, tension on campus still bristles. About 50 students carrying a Mexican flag walked out of classes Thursday morning.

Some Mexican-American students ABC7 spoke with felt it was disrespectful of the boys to wear the American flag shirts, like wearing it in the face of others celebrating Mexican heritage.

Austin Carvalho, one of the boys sent home, says he and the others were pulled aside by Vice Principal Miguel Rodriguez, who told them the shirts posed a safety issue.

"He said we could do it any other day but yesterday because we were supposed to respect their Mexican culture," Carvalho said.

But many are calling the school's action hypocritical because dozens of other students wore red, white and green, the colors on Mexico's flag, and were not sent home. Some had even painted the Mexican flag on their faces or arms.

"If they made them, like, all the Hispanic-Americans take off their red, white and green also then I maybe wouldn't have had a problem with it," Carvalho said.

"If they, people, can wear a Mexican flag in America, we should be able to wear an American flag wherever we want to go, right?" parent Diana Fedalizo asked.

"I don't think that it should cause fights; I think that everybody has the right to be who they are, and we are in America," parent Carol Clevett said.

The students wearing the flag shirts were given an option to turn their shirts inside out, or go home. They refused, claiming it was a violation of their First Amendment rights.

"We thought we could be able to wear the American flag whenever we want in America," Carvalho said.

The Morgan Hill Unified School District has come out backing the students, disagreeing with how the school handled the situation.

Now parents are asking for action.

"We demand that this assistant principal be fired," parent Donnie Croft said. "It's crazy, crazy the day you get kicked out of school for wearing red white and blue. Come on."

A link to the actual report itself:
https://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=7426088

Now ask yourself, nothing in any news report on any channel mentions any racial slurs or comments towards the other students. Its being deemed as racist and so that is why there are walk-outs, etc.

 

[LaMelnik]

Who's at fault....

Corporate America is to blame. They promote Cinco de Mayo like it is a party day. So this advertising gets thrown in our face.

That advertising generates news in the media...

Then the event gets bigger and causes a stir with those who do not agree.

Those who don't agree get fed up and pull an anti campaign.

The anti-campaign winds up generating enough heat to say it is not PC to do.

Then everyone is fighting over what is right and or wrong.

Honestly, everyone is at fault here. The parents, kids, school and news media.

it's an ugly issue that is now a national story and everyone wants to blame everyone.

How about we blame ourselves for feeding into the greed of corporate America for looking for anything and everything to generate revenue.

We as American's party when it's Cinco de Mayo, Chinese New Year, St. Patricks Day, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day, President's day, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, Thanksgiving, etc...

Hell there isn't much that corporate America doesn't glamorize and find ways for us to spend money.

I remember growing up that everything was closed on major holidays. Now I can only think of Christmas.

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

Mmmmmmm no. Just because Mexicans decided to live hear, does not mean they love Mexico any less. It was just a better way of life. At the same time we also love this country because of what it provided for us... at least most of us. Those kids at that school were just stupid and wanted attention and make a big deal out of nothing, and those school staff too. So please, don't go quick to say that comment because there is no truth to that.

Sorry but last time I checked all I said was "This comment on the page made me lol". So im not quick to say anything. This comment you speak of was made by someone else. Glad you can read English though. Or should I say Leer, get it?

Whoa my Spanish 101 professor was right I would be using spanish quicker then I thought.

 

[BadMoon]

Here is the news story from one another Bay Area station:



A link to the actual report itself:
https://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=7426088

Now ask yourself, nothing in any news report on any channel mentions any racial slurs or comments towards the other students. Its being deemed as racist and so that is why there are walk-outs, etc.

Thanks Mike.

 

[The Mike]

Corporate America is to blame. They promote Cinco de Mayo like it is a party day. So this advertising gets thrown in our face.

This is very true. I have a student from Mexico who just came to this country less than a year ago who didn't understand what Cinco de Mayo was and why we were making a big deal about it, yet all my other Hispanic students (even those who weren't Mexican) were making a big deal about it claiming it was a heritage day. He even said in class that in all his years in Mexico he had never seen or heard of a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

 

[hoodonit00]

If its offensive to be patriotic of the United States in the US, what is being patriotic of Mexico in the US? Again, celebrating Cinco de Mayo celebrates a COUNTRY, not a culture.

So couldn't it be looked at as the American students ( they aren't Mexican, unless they are citizens of Mexico) celebrating a Mexican national holiday on an American campus to be offensive to Americans?

Thank you, that pretty much sums up what I wanted to say but couldn"t put in words.

 

[hoodonit00]

Aren't we a bit of a sensitive cranky pants... I actually wasn't referring to you posting it That's fine as this is the section for these kind of threads.

What I'm getting at is that some stupid incident at a HS suddenly becomes the "story of the day" and blown way out of proportion. Its a dumb situation that really isn't worthy of reporting... but 24hr news networks/websites/etc need ratings

My appologize. I thought you were busting on me for posting an off topic thread,,,in the off topic area.

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

Wait this happened in California? Oh, that explains it.

 

[The Mike]

Wait this happened in California? Oh, that explains it.

Its funny AND sad because its true...

 

[hoodonit00]

I doubt it was a coincidence ... and I don't care that it wasn't a coincidence. I disagree that showing American national pride on Cinco de Mayo is inherently wrong because it would "get a rise" out of Mexican students. I think anyone that is so sensitive as to be offended by an American flag in an American school is in the wrong ... on Cinco de Mayo, or any other day.

Are you seriously suggesting we attempt to determine the specific intent of any person wearing an American flag on Cinco de Mayo? And, if we deem their intent too racist ... we do what, exactly? Perhaps their display of American national pride was meant to counter displays of Mexican national pride, but had no intent to "get a rise" out of anyone.

This McCarthyite anti-racist witchhunting has to stop. When it is come to the point that an American flag is considered a racist statement, its gone way too far.

SnakeDoc

Well put.

 

[Darth Snoopy]

Aw for crying out loud. What a bunch of hooey.

That's just ridiculous...
Most mexicans don't even really care that much for Cinco de Mayo...
I don't understand why it's such a big deal here in the U.S.A. ...
Stupid school officials...

I'm not sure why a Mexican American would be offended by this? They are American aren't they? They are living in the USA. We have become too PC for our own good.

I'm an American of Mexican descent. I'm proud of my heritage but I would not be insulted or offended.
Someone needs slap the crappola out of that vice principal.

 

[agen_kolar]

I doubt it was a coincidence ... and I don't care that it wasn't a coincidence. I disagree that showing American national pride on Cinco de Mayo is inherently wrong because it would "get a rise" out of Mexican students. I think anyone that is so sensitive as to be offended by an American flag in an American school is in the wrong ... on Cinco de Mayo, or any other day.

Are you seriously suggesting we attempt to determine the specific intent of any person wearing an American flag on Cinco de Mayo? And, if we deem their intent too racist ... we do what, exactly? Perhaps their display of American national pride was meant to counter displays of Mexican national pride, but had no intent to "get a rise" out of anyone.

This McCarthyite anti-racist witchhunting has to stop. When it is come to the point that an American flag is considered a racist statement, its gone way too far.

SnakeDoc

I don't think the American flag is being considered racist, nor do I think we should be examining the intent of anyone wearing an American flag on Cinco de Mayo. You're making this into more than what it is - a group of high school boys thinking they're being funny by wearing American colors on Cinco de Mayo. I doubt we have the whole story here, but I seriously believe there's more to it. They knew what they were doing. If anyone believes these students weren't doing anything other than being jack___es, you're fooling yourself, but not me.

That being said, I don't know how I would've handled this situation. The school official may have acted the way he did due to the offending students' prior behavior. Perhaps they were behavior problems, who knows? Typically those with prior histories are the ones who get screwed, even if they didn't do anything wrong.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

I don't think the American flag is being considered racist, nor do I think we should be examining the intent of anyone wearing an American flag on Cinco de Mayo. You're making this into more than what it is - a group of high school boys thinking they're being funny by wearing American colors on Cinco de Mayo. I doubt we have the whole story here, but I seriously believe there's more to it. They knew what they were doing. If anyone believes these students weren't doing anything other than being jack___es, you're fooling yourself, but not me.

I agree that they knew what they were doing. I think they very well may have been wearing American colors on Cinco de Mayo because they thought it was funny, or to counter Mexican national pride. I still don't see a problem with any of that.

If American patriotism on Cinco de Mayo is an affront to Mexicans, why is Mexican patriotism in the United States not an affont to Americans?

The American boys are like a yankees fan wearing yankees colors to Fenway -- they do it to show their pride and to poke at opposing pride. I don't see a problem with that.

However ... it may be more analogous Yankees fans taking over Fenway, and creaming a Red Sox fan that dared wear Red Sox colors to the Red Sox ballpark on Yankee day.

SnakeDoc

 

[Darth Snoopy]

None of us knows what really happened or what anyone's intent was because none of us were there.

So to speculate on what their intentions were is akin to spreading rumors, IMO.