Topic: what do you think about this

[bucky katt]

i'm not looking for arguments and name calling, democrats calling republicans evil and vice-versa, how about it folks?   i'll ask mods to keep an eye on things and remove this topic if i deem it necessary. sick and tired of the backbiting and arguing.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36981179?GT1=43001

in my opinion the school screwed up royally in booting these kids. after this is America NOT Mexico, for now.

[scrapvalue]

@&%*  %^$#  !#@&  $#%*

I wonder which political party the people who kicked the kids out are members of?

You don't have to answer that question, but please just think about it.

[mlinder]

"But to many Mexican-American students at Live Oak, this was a big deal. They say they were offended by the five boys and others for wearing American colors on a Mexican holiday.

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

This makes me giggle.

In a sad, angry way.

[DammitDan]

Would expressing my "southern pride" by wearing a Confederate flag T-shirt and bandana on Martin Luther King's birthday mean anything to anyone besides bigotry?

These kids knew what they were doing, and anyone who says they were just being patriotic has their head stuck in the sand.  Bigotry shouldn't be accepted anywhere, regardless of the symbol being used (or misused in this instance).

Besides, wasn't there a time not so long ago when wearing an American flag as a piece of clothing was considered unpatriotic?  I wonder what has changed....

[mlinder]

This isn't Mexico, Dan.

Why don't we celebrate the 14th of July, August 15th, etc. ?
Should we raise the Mexican flag above the American on Cinco De Mayo?

Why do you assume the wearing of the American flag was bigotry? What if it was someone saying, yes, I'm celebrating America, because you can celebrate Mexico freely here in America?

Speaking of one of those dates, wouldn't it be the below flag that should cause issue on Cinco de Mayo?

[BlindJoe]

[youtube=425,350]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="

name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="

type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube].

[DammitDan]

Why do you assume the wearing of the American flag was bigotry? What if it was someone saying, yes, I'm celebrating America, because you can celebrate Mexico freely here in America?

Oh come on...  You honestly believe that these four students, all of whom are friends and obviously PLANNED to wear American flag apparel (including bandanas) on Cinco de Mayo at a heavily Hispanic school, were just trying to show their love of America.

The fact that the kids and their families were so totally (I would say aggressively) unapologetic leads me to believe that this WASN'T a simple "love America" issue.  They were trying to make a racial statement.

In my opinion, using the American flag as a thin veil for bigotry is worse than burning it.

[seaweb11]

The Carlin Video is a classic bit of common sense

[mlinder]

No, I'm not saying that.

But I am saying that our right to do so should be protected, because wearing the American flag hurts no one, and if having to allow some jackasses wear it so that non-jackasses can is important.

If I were going to wear flags on a day like Cinco de Mayo (which I wouldn't), I'd wear both the Mexican and American flag.

Simply put, if we allow the Mexican flag to be waved, we HAVE to allow the American flag to be waved at the same time, by anyone who wishes to do so.

[mlinder]

The Carlin Video is a classic bit of common sense

It is, but in this case, Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of their 'independence' from France. It's something to be celebrated.
It's a remembrance of your Nation and people breaking free from oppression (or fighting to not pay back debts owed, depending on your interpretation).

I don't walk around feeling or saying "Yeah, I'm an American and Americans kick ass!", but on the 4th of July, I do say to myself, "I come from stock that fought for what they believed in and gave me a pretty damned nice setup, regardless of how it's been abused and twisted over the years, so I'm going to have a beer and watch some #$%* explode in their honor."

[rynanza]

The fact that the kids and their families were so totally (I would say aggressively) unapologetic leads me to believe that this WASN'T a simple "love America" issue.  They were trying to make a racial statement.

I'm not a big commenter, but this caught my eye.  There are several "races" in Mexico, as there are in most countries.  Mexico is a country, Mexican is a nationality, this is not a "race" issue. 

[mlinder]

The fact that the kids and their families were so totally (I would say aggressively) unapologetic leads me to believe that this WASN'T a simple "love America" issue.  They were trying to make a racial statement.

I'm not a big commenter, but this caught my eye.  There are several "races" in Mexico, as there are in most countries.  Mexico is a country, Mexican is a nationality, this is not a "race" issue. 

Bleah, yeah, forgot to point this out while concentrating on the whole 'freedom of speech' thing.

[DammitDan]

No, I'm not saying that.

But I am saying that our right to do so should be protected, because wearing the American flag hurts no one, and if having to allow some jackasses wear it so that non-jackasses can is important.

If I were going to wear flags on a day like Cinco de Mayo (which I wouldn't), I'd wear both the Mexican and American flag.

Simply put, if we allow the Mexican flag to be waved, we HAVE to allow the American flag to be waved at the same time, by anyone who wishes to do so.

I can agree with you on this     Jackasses exist everywhere, and I believe that the kids in this story (and especially their families, who taught them these ideas) can count themselves amongst the jackass population.

I'm not a big commenter, but this caught my eye.  There are several "races" in Mexico, as there are in most countries.  Mexico is a country, Mexican is a nationality, this is not a "race" issue.  

Try telling that to the vast majority of unintelligent people out there who would rather "just shoot all the illegals"...  For them, Mexican is just as much a racial identity as much as, if not more than, it is a nationality.  Bigoted people have always and will always associate their racism with a person's country/continent of origin.  Italians and the Irish are just two other examples...

[rynanza]

Try telling that to the vast majority of unintelligent people out there who would rather "just shoot all the illegals"...  For them, Mexican is just as much a racial identity as much as, if not more than, it is a nationality.  Bigoted people have always and will always associate their racism with a person's country/continent of origin.  Italians and the Irish are just two other examples...

There is no "vast majority" of people who want to shoot illegal immigrants.  It seems you are the type who equates those who believe that our immigration laws should be enforced with being racist.  Its sad when a term as loaded as "racist" is thrown about purely to score political points and denigrate people who don't share your particular political view. 

[kslrr]

None of you have mentioned that the artical said that for these boys, May 5th was just another day and so they wore their flag shirts like any other day.  They did not pick May 5th exclusively to wear the flag.

[ksmith0034]

I used to like George Carlin...

[scrapvalue]

The people that are here from Mexico celebrating their independence from France should really be celebrating there independence from Mexico.
They left Mexico for a reason. The reason is, it sucks there. It is a third world country for the most part.
Everyone of them should be wearing an American flag.
The kids that were wearing the flags on their shirt were setting at a table minding their own business. They weren't protesting anyone or anything.
And if they were, hey its a free country right?


Quote from article,  
> But to many Mexican-American students at Live Oak, this was a big deal. They say they were offended by the five boys and others for wearing American colors on a Mexican holiday.<

Wearing American colors in America? oh how terrible!  

[DammitDan]

Try telling that to the vast majority of unintelligent people out there who would rather "just shoot all the illegals"...  For them, Mexican is just as much a racial identity as much as, if not more than, it is a nationality.  Bigoted people have always and will always associate their racism with a person's country/continent of origin.  Italians and the Irish are just two other examples...

There is no "vast majority" of people who want to shoot illegal immigrants.  It seems you are the type who equates those who believe that our immigration laws should be enforced with being racist.  Its sad when a term as loaded as "racist" is thrown about purely to score political points and denigrate people who don't share your particular political view. 

  

[bender01]

I started a Stars and Bars thread here once and it got pulled! I mean dissapeared! It wasnt meant to be racist. And it isnt.(That was not fought over slavery! Money!) So since your in TN start wearing the Mexican flag out and about. Should be able to wear it anywhere and everywhere anytime! Just dont actually wear A United States Flag as a garment I believe is the rule. Never let it hit the Ground!

[bucky katt]

This isn't Mexico, Dan.

Why don't we celebrate the 14th of July, August 15th, etc. ?
Should we raise the Mexican flag above the American on Cinco De Mayo?

Why do you assume the wearing of the American flag was bigotry? What if it was someone saying, yes, I'm celebrating America, because you can celebrate Mexico freely here in America?

Speaking of one of those dates, wouldn't it be the below flag that should cause issue on Cinco de Mayo?

just what i've been saying.  as Rober D Raiford has said many times, this is getting to be the United States of the offended. seems like the politically correct go out of their ways to not offend those of other nationalities and races but screw the americans. living as i do in a town closely related to the Military, Army in particular you can bet that this article has really created a stir.

[333]

None of you have mentioned that the artical said that for these boys, May 5th was just another day and so they wore their flag shirts like any other day.  They did not pick May 5th exclusively to wear the flag.

Do you really believe that?  That 4 FRIENDS decided all independently of each other, to wear the flag shirts on the same day, and that happened to be Cinco de Mayo at a school with a high population of Hispanic people?  Really?

It's pretty clear to me that these kids went out of their way TO offend.

[scrapvalue]

None of you have mentioned that the artical said that for these boys, May 5th was just another day and so they wore their flag shirts like any other day.  They did not pick May 5th exclusively to wear the flag.

Do you really believe that?  That 4 FRIENDS decided all independently of each other, to wear the flag shirts on the same day, and that happened to be Cinco de Mayo at a school with a high population of Hispanic people?  Really?

It's pretty clear to me that these kids went out of their way TO offend.

Hispanic people living in America should not be offended by anyone wearing a shirt with an American flag on it!
I wonder just how many people were actually offended!

[xfactor]

I understand both sides of the story. On one hand you have the feelings of these Americans who are of Mexican decent unhappy because these students showed up to school wearing American flag t shirts. But then you also have these other Americans who are of European decent upset because they are not allowed to wear their American flag t shirts on a Mexican holiday, which might I mention is not recognized by the US government as a national holiday.


Moral of the story, both parties need to stop acting like babies and man up.

[bucky katt]

None of you have mentioned that the artical said that for these boys, May 5th was just another day and so they wore their flag shirts like any other day.  They did not pick May 5th exclusively to wear the flag.

Do you really believe that?  That 4 FRIENDS decided all independently of each other, to wear the flag shirts on the same day, and that happened to be Cinco de Mayo at a school with a high population of Hispanic people?  Really?

It's pretty clear to me that these kids went out of their way TO offend.

yes, actually i DO believe they just chose to wear these shirts. why is it people are trying to find someone being a rude little a-hole where all they were doing was wearing a shirt proclaiming their patriotism? the officials have opened up a huge can of worms by doing this i think. we'll see if everyone involved ends up doing the right thing here. i hope they do but i dont have much hope they will.

[BlindJoe]

The Carlin Video is a classic bit of common sense

It is, but in this case, Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of their 'independence' from France. It's something to be celebrated.
It's a remembrance of your Nation and people breaking free from oppression (or fighting to not pay back debts owed, depending on your interpretation).

I don't walk around feeling or saying "Yeah, I'm an American and Americans kick ass!", but on the 4th of July, I do say to myself, "I come from stock that fought for what they believed in and gave me a pretty damned nice setup, regardless of how it's been abused and twisted over the years, so I'm going to have a beer and watch some #$%* explode in their honor."

It's still a matter of national pride regardless of the details surrounding the celebration, isn't it?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

I see stupidity on all sides of this situation.

Who are the Mexican-American students to be offended, who are the American students to offend? What stake do they have in their respective countries besides them or their parents being born there?

Who are administrators to bar a student from an education due to an image worn on their shirt that may cause other students to act in an aggressive manner?

Let your actions define who you are, not your nationality, or anything else for that matter.

[Hush]

Glad to see New Zealand isn't the only country overrun with politically correct thinking.
Hey it's your BLOODY country, wear what you like!
Would have been different if the boys had been goading the Mexican students but sitting having lunch PPPLLLEEEAASSEEEE.
It seems these days people go around looking to be offended and it's not too hard to be offended if you want to be.

[sangyo soichiro]

This is the shirt I would have wore.


What shirt would you have wore?

[bucky katt]

This is the shirt I would have wore.


What shirt would you have wore?

[sangyo soichiro]

Or this shirt.

[sangyo soichiro]

Is this shirt offensive?
don't click if you are easily offended, of if you have no sense of humor

[bucky katt]

 

[Swede]

I just couldn't resist  This site has some crazy shirts and they are all inappropriate and offensive.

https://www.tshirthell.com/

[demon78]

Tempest in a tea pot guys I'd worry more about the decline of your educational system that can't deal with a few smart ass kids effectively ( there will always be some, that say, up your nose to the rest of the group ) and on top of that allow the media in on it.
Bill the demon.

[traveler]

These Mexican students....are they not Americans as well?  How can they be offended about a flag that represents them as well?

If they are not legal to be here, then why are they in a school that is taxpayer funded?

If you make the kids wearing the american flags take them off, then the students wearing the mexican flag must take them off as well.

It should be noted that the principal that did this happens to be mexican.

~Joe

[Don R]

If a few million Canadians slipped over the border stressed our welfare and medical system and made us speak french to converse with them would you want them to go home? Not that they would want to, just sayin. BTW, I love you Canuks and my best friend from school is Hispanic.

[demon78]

The bind is Don that we wouldn't understand them either, depends where you go in the great white north it might be better to speak Cantonese, Ukrainian, or Finnish.
Bill the demon.
Oh and I forgot Newf

[Duke McDukiedook]

Sweet baby Jesus, why do people get so damn worked up over symbols?

That's all they are- symbols of ideals, looks like principals have to unbunch their panties a little, mesmells a lawsuit on the horizon.

[mlinder]

Symbolism is an important part of our humanity, no matter what race or nationality one may be.

Nearly everything we have and do as humans is based on symbolism.