School Bans Patriotic Clothes, Flags

William Haskins · Apr 5, 2006

SAN DIEGO -- In the wake of last week's immigration-reform protests, one school district is taking drastic measures, banning all symbols of patriotism, both U.S. and Mexican.

Beginning Monday, the Oceanside Unified School District is banning all flags and patriotic clothing. According to school officials, some students are using the garments and flags to taunt classmates.

Some critics of the move are calling it a violation of free speech protections guaranteed by the Constitution.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/8439483/detail.html

WerenCole · Apr 5, 2006

So what is next? No religion, no patriotism. . . how about banning sports affiliations?

Their in San Diego right? I say they ban Dodger hats from school.

Maybe they should ban trademarks. . . therefore there would be no dissention among the kids who are pro nike, and those who are pro reebok. Coke v. Pepsi wars? A plague on our nation. . . we must standardize! RC Cola for All.

Eh.

jst5150 · Apr 5, 2006

Eddie Izzard: "Watch out California ... you can't smoke in bars and soon it will be no drinking and no talking."

That sums up the current fervor.

Jcomp · Apr 5, 2006

y jole. I understand wanting to quell dangerous situations, but suppressing conflict through such ridiculous measures is moronic. Doesn't do the kids any good, doesn't reflect well on the school, just a bad move all around.

clintl · Apr 5, 2006

If I'm not mistaken, Oceanside is a military town (it's right next to Camp Pendleton, the big Marine base). This ought to go over well there.

Shadow_Ferret · Apr 5, 2006

Unemancipated minors don't have any Constitutional rights.

William Haskins · Apr 5, 2006

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]". . . In the absence of a specific showing of constitutionally valid reasons to regulate their speech, students are entitled to freedom of expression of their views." [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]— Justice Fortas, speaking for the majority, Tinker vs. Des Moines[/font]

http://www.landmarkcases.org/tinker/home.html

Shadow_Ferret · Apr 5, 2006

Oh, what does he know?

DaveKuzminski · Apr 5, 2006

Hmmm, seems to me that the school district is part of the government. If so, then it's clearly running afoul of the First Amendment.

Spiritwriter · Apr 5, 2006

In California, IMHO the schools were overwhelmed and unprepared to handle the situation. We have two completly different mindsets at work here, and unfortunately, not all leaders are adequate to the task at hand.

William Haskins · Apr 5, 2006

In California, IMHO the schools were overwhelmed and unprepared to handle the situation.this may well be true, but it seems to me that the answer is not to err on the side of censorship.

Shadow_Ferret · Apr 5, 2006

Uniforms. That's the answer.

My-Immortal · Apr 5, 2006

Why are people protesting the crackdown on illegal aliens wearing the Mexican flag (or symbols) at all? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to wear the American flag (symbols/colors etc) to show that they REALLY want to stay and that they want to become legal residents of the United States? Can someone please explain that?

If I snuck into a foreign country illegally and they were trying to force me back to a country I was willing to break the law to avoid, I don't see how wrapping myself in the flag of my former country is the best way to convince the foreign country to keep me....and forgive me of my illegal status....

But then, maybe I'm missing something....???

September skies · Apr 5, 2006

exactly, Immortal! That's what I keep saying, if you love Mexico so much, go back! If you really do love America, respect it.

I bet if a group of us went to Mexico and started waving American flags, demanding fair treatment there, free medical care and free education for our children (IN ENGLISH!!) -- they would throw our sorry A$$es so fast into jail or back across this way - faster than we can say Chalupa or Chihuahua!

As for the ban on flag and patriotic attire - that's ok for now - 99% of them are wearing Mexican slogans and waving Mexican flags

Something scared me last Friday when I asked a couple of girls to respect the American flag that they were dragging around in the street.
Read here: A Frightening Event

eta: "girls" above keeps coming out as "s" only - even after two attempts at fixing it. Hope it changes now.

Jcomp · Apr 5, 2006

My-Immortal said:
Why are people protesting the crackdown on illegal aliens wearing the Mexican flag (or symbols) at all? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to wear the American flag (symbols/colors etc) to show that they REALLY want to stay and that they want to become legal residents of the United States? Can someone please explain that?

If I snuck into a foreign country illegally and they were trying to force me back to a country I was willing to break the law to avoid, I don't see how wrapping myself in the flag of my former country is the best way to convince the foreign country to keep me....and forgive me of my illegal status....

But then, maybe I'm missing something....???

word life...

My-Immortal · Apr 5, 2006

Jcomp said:
word life...

Can you explain this? If you're making a point, I'm missing what it is. Thanks.

CaroGirl · Apr 5, 2006

Keep in mind that I’m not American, and I know how much you lot love your flag and all. But I send my kids to school to learn, in the hope that they will be safe and free from harassment (naïve possibly, but that is the ideal). If students insist on harassing each other despite warnings, by all means remove the offending object, piece of clothing, whatever, that is the catalyst for their bad behaviour. School is a privilege, not a right (think suspension or expulsion). Most schools already have a dress code, pathetic as it might be (no bare midriffs, no t-shirts covered in profanity, and so on).

Can you tell that I would support school uniforms? BTW, I don’t think they’re being patriotic, either group, I think they’re being antagonistic.

Jcomp · Apr 5, 2006

My-Immortal said:
Can you explain this? If you're making a point, I'm missing what it is. Thanks.

my bad. "Word life" basically means "I agree wholeheartedly." Must've forgot which MB I was on.

My-Immortal · Apr 5, 2006

CaroGirl said:
Keep in mind that I’m not American, and I know how much you lot love your flag and all.

Can you tell that I would support school uniforms? BTW, I don’t think they’re being patriotic, either group, I think they’re being antagonistic.

And you don't love your flag? Is it not meaningful to you? Just curious - not trying to be snide.

I think you're probably right about it not being about patriotism but rather as a way to be antagonistic - I was just curious as to the reasons why a Mexican flag would used to make the statement that illegal aliens should be allowed to stay in the United States and to become legal residents.

Take care all -

My-Immortal · Apr 5, 2006

Jcomp said:
my bad. "Word life" basically means "I agree wholeheartedly." Must've forgot which MB I was on.

Thanks.

I've got a headache today and I was really trying to figure out your reply. LOL

take care all -

Jaycinth · Apr 5, 2006

UGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

If my daughter were in this school I'd send her to school wearing a burka made from a communist flag...and if they complained about that I'd come to school dressed like Uncle Sam and I'd stand in the principals office singing the Star Spangled Banner, and if they complained about that.........
( I will not rant today...I WILL NOT RANT!!!!!)

Sheryl Nantus · Apr 5, 2006

CaroGirl said:
Keep in mind that I’m not American, and I know how much you lot love your flag and all.

hold on, here...

I'm Canadian, married to a happy American and living in Pennsylvania. I asked my hubby to put up both flags in front of the house and he did so - making sure that mine was to the right of the American flag (when you walk down the driveway) in agreement with the way the flag is supposed to be displayed. He's a vet, so he knew of such things.

Sure, I could have tossed a hissy fit and told him that I wanted it on the other side, but I respect the American flag as much as I do my own - and to insinuate that Canadians don't love our flag as much as an American is really doing us Canucks a disservice. And if you don't love your country's flag as much as an American, then you do have a problem.

but RESPECT the country you're in. I may toot the Canadian anthem on Canada Day but I stand proud when the American anthem is played because it's a country that allowed me to enter, get married and start a career. I'm not going to dump where I eat, to put it in plainer words.

sayeth the proud Canuck with the Pernament Resident Card.

William Haskins · Apr 5, 2006

My-Immortal said:
Why are people protesting the crackdown on illegal aliens wearing the Mexican flag (or symbols) at all? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to wear the American flag (symbols/colors etc) to show that they REALLY want to stay and that they want to become legal residents of the United States? Can someone please explain that?

But then, maybe I'm missing something....???

of course, it would make sense if they were actually embracing america for what it is. but they're not.

http://ccir.net/AUDIO/TakeoverOfAmericaCD/Menu.html

CaroGirl · Apr 5, 2006

My-Immortal said:
And you don't love your flag? Is it not meaningful to you? Just curious - not trying to be snide.

My flag? It’s just a leaf, really, but I do have a sort of visceral attachment to it, considering I’ve lived under it my whole life. It does stir my innards when I see it flying at international events like the Olympics. I am certainly proud to be a Canadian, if that’s what you’re asking.

William Haskins · Apr 5, 2006

so what if a bunch of americans who didn't have the legal right to be in your country came there, took to the streets demanding rights, used the maple leaf as a gag in their mouths, displayed it upside down, and raised an american flag at a public institution above your flag?

all the while claiming that the southern region of your country belonged to them?

School Bans Patriotic Clothes, Flags

poet

Funny what? Do I amuse you?

Vorpal Comics. Weekly Podcast. Twitch Artist. Vet

Represent.

Court Jester

poet

Court Jester

Preditors & Editors

poet

Court Jester

Mr. Invisible

cloud watching

Mr. Invisible

Living the dream

Mr. Invisible

Mr. Invisible

Your Cuddly Sociopathic

Holding out for a Superhero...

poet

Living the dream

poet