Tensions Remain High at Live Oak High School
Tensions continue to rise at Live Oak High School, just twenty minutes down the road from here, where five students were sent home for wearing American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo.
So, which side of the fence do you sit on? Was this an example of Freedom of Speech or was it disrespectful?
From the San Jose Mercury News:
Four students exposed raw feelings about race and immigration in a Morgan Hill high school this week when they made the provocative choice to wear shirts and shorts bearing the stars and stripes of the American flag to school on Cinco de Mayo.
Now their actions — which an assistant principal at Live Oak High School labeled “incendiary” — are spilling across the small town’s borders, igniting a national debate on cable television’s 24-hour talkfest.
Wednesday, as the school’s Latino pupils — nearly 40 percent of the Live Oak student body — were celebrating the Mexican army’s victory against France in 1862, many wearing Mexico’s colors of red, white and green, the boys showed up dressed in the American flag. Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez told them to wear the clothes inside out or go home. At least two of the boys left campus because they found the other option to be “disrespectful” to the flag, and the others remained in school without changing, their parents said.
Tags: American Flag, California High School, Cinco De Mayo, Dominic Maciel, Flag Controversy, Live Oak, Live Oak High School, Matthew Dariano, Miguel Rodriguez, Morgan Hill, Nick Boden, Wesley Smith
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May 7, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Oh for gawds sake………I so no reason that the kids wearing the American flag colors etc. should be chastised in their own country in this instance.Boot the Mexicans out along with their defiant in your face pushing of their culture and flag and language.
If these are legal American/Mexican people(sticky wicket), they should learn the meaning of the word assimilation.My grandparents did, They came from Poland etc. They became Americans with total respect and worked hard became doctors etc. and spoke English and saluted the flag and understood the “chance” at a better life they were being allowed.
The Mexican illegals (if that word even applies) are demanding disrespectful and waving their own flag inside America and screaming their heads off they are being treated poorly!!!!!!!!!
By the way….do you see any signs or paperwork available in Polish???
The kids are mad as hell….can you blame them?
May 7, 2010 at 6:50 pm
On certain days American patriotism is prohibited???
I’ll wear this shirt at any place and time I DAMN PLEASE!
http://tinyurl.com/patriotism-where-I-damn-please
May 7, 2010 at 7:27 pm
How dare a principle of an American school expell a student for wearing the colors of our American Flag. We have willingly accepted their Mexican Day. That does not mean we can not wave our colors on that same day. Our country is giving away all we have stood for. Freedom. That principle, who is he/she should be disciplined without pay. The kids probably didn’t think of an issue until he started.
Personally I am sick and tired people walking all over our freedoms and then crying “we don’t get treated right’ BS In my community it is difficult for our young people to get jobs whose parents have fought for and contribute to the food stamps medicaid and all the freebies and even if one fills out an application, they are asked if they speak spanish. How about speaking old fashioned American English. Half the time I can’t even understand what is being said on a telephone or in my doctors office, or anywhere else in this land of opportunity.
Still they complain, complain, complain, right now I feel it is my liberty to complain a little. How about all the other immigrants who honor this land and contribute without getting anything for free, they don’t complain. They don’t walk around in gangs threatening the community.
Something very wrong is going on. That principle needs to have his head examined!!! I suppose others are mad for other reasons, but right now I can’t help myself. Half my male family have died and crippled fighting for the freedoms. They and their fellow servicemen and women know what the American flag is supposed to represent and it is not to give them freedom while we can not have it represented in our colors as well. I guess I need to quit!
May 8, 2010 at 2:04 am
I’m just gonna let the Words fly out of my Mouth here as they come into my Head, without my usual Deep-thinking, and in no particular order…… Okay, it was the Mexican people’s “Big Holiday”. They are entitled to Celebrate it here in the United States, whether Legal Citizens or not. It’s Special to them. WE don’t have to “Honor” it, or show any particular feelings toward these people because of it. America, however, wants and expects all of us to display “Good Will” toward all Foreigners who come to and live in our Country, “to show them we are a Friendly and Hospitable people”. But we have “Issues” about some of these Cultures, and their “Motives”, and their “Entitlement” to things WE are not even given, and, understandably, we have Attitudes. Now, only from my own personal experience, not ALL Mexicans are “Takers” or Trouble-makers. Mostly, they’re Hard-workers, Family-oriented, cherish their Children, stick to themselves, and are usually Polite and Respectful. I do definitely agree that they should all be required to learn and speak English— but that’s OUR Fault, not theirs. As of matter of fact, all the “Free” things and Entitlements handed-over to them, as well as to other Foreigners, is ALSO our Government’s own fault. Really, can’t blame THEM. I have to applaud the Mexicans for at least WANTING to Work, mostly paying for their Groceries and Supplies in Cash (not so much Food Stamps), buying Chicken and a Toy for their Child, rather than Shrimp and King Crab Legs when they DO have Food Stamps, and not having one Kid after another ON PURPOSE (like another Race I won’t mention)— just so they CAN take advantage of everything. They not only send their Children to School, but they’re “Involved” with their
Life and Activities and teach them Manners and Work Ethics, which is more than I can say for some others we know of who reside here. I hear more “Arabs” and “India” people on the Phone than Spanish people. I honestly don’t have as much of a Beef with the Mexicans as I do with some others who are truly,
arrogantly, and by no means deservingly, “Milking” the System, and/or whose main objective is to send their Free Money to their own Countries to make them Rich, or Richer. I think there was absolutely no harm in the Latino Students wearing their Colors on their Special Day, and it’s surely not wrong for the other Students to wear ours, whenever they so desire. But it was WHEN the Boys wore them. What did this Act honestly “Imply”. What would ANYbody honestly think. I’d really like to know if these Boys also proudly and CUSTOMARILY wear our Flag’s colors to School on “Flag Day”, “Veteran’s Day”, “Memorial Day”, etc. I doubt it. I don’t believe this was anything other than an intentional direct Slander. If we were in Mexico, would the Mexicans put us down if we wore our Red-White-and-Blue on July 4th. I doubt that too. Do I think the School Principal and his Altimatums (Spelling?) were Appropriate? Absolutely not. Again, it was the way it was “Taken”, and, unfortunately, if we blink our Eyes the wrong way anymore in this Country, right away it’s “Racist”. It’s a damn Sin that this is how it is. And this is just another example of the “Brainwashing” Effects on everyone’s given Right to say and do exactly what they feel. You can’t even stand and Protest something you Disagree with or are against, without being Handcuffed and hauled-off to Jail. It’s pathetic. All in all, if the Latino People wish to Celebrate ONE Day of the Calendar Year, I’m certain it was with every Good and Honest Motive. I can’t say the same for what the Boys did, and, actually, it just showed the Latino Students how Ignorant we can be… but, nevertheless, no matter how it “Looked”, there should not have been ANY Reprimanding whatsoever of the Students who simply did what they wanted to do in our so-called “Free Country”.
May 8, 2010 at 4:59 am
[...] Four students exposed raw feelings about race and immigration in a Morgan Hill high school this week when they made the provocative choice to wear shirts and shorts bearing the stars and stripes of the American flag to school on Cinco …More Here [...]
May 8, 2010 at 6:14 am
If Fred Phelps can boycott funerals, these kids should be able to wear a T-shirt with an image of the American flag. They didn’t mention what, if anything, the boys did in addition to wearing the T-shirts. I think the devil is in the details in this case.
May 8, 2010 at 8:28 am
Well said OneOp……….what a world we live in at the moment.
Political correctness has done in Great Britain and now the United States is following suit.
A person my age is dumbfounded at the course taken of our ship. Everything we fought and died for seems faded and non applicable . It makes me hang my head in shame to tell you the truth.
It’s difficult to look at my grandchildren and see the questionable future they will have to deal with.
May 8, 2010 at 9:21 am
The high school is right down the highway from us. There have been protests for a couple of days now. Some people have been pretty offended. Others side on the side of free speech.
May 8, 2010 at 9:39 am
So who are the people defending free speech?
May 10, 2010 at 11:53 am
John……are you ignoring me?
I was curious on who were the people defending free speech here?
May 10, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Oh, the free speech were the kids who wore the American flag t-shirts to the school. I don’t think it was a coincidence that they all wore them on the same day but I believe in free speech so if they wanted to wear them, fine. Just be aware that some people could be offended by your actions.
May 10, 2010 at 3:00 pm
John, when you mention that some people can be offended by your actions, who are the some people, specifically? Please.
May 10, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I believe that there were some Hispanic students and parents of students at Live Oak High School who were offended by the students who wore American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo. This is evident by the subsequent complaints and protests. Not everyone was offended though because there were others interviewed on the local news who didn’t have an issue with the shirts being worn.
May 10, 2010 at 3:59 pm
The “some people” was a general statement that no matter what you do these days, you’re bound to offend someone
May 10, 2010 at 4:19 pm
John, thank you. True about “some people” in general, I understand that.
I just hold to the thought that the the colors of the American Flag should be allowed any day of the year. It is the established flag of our USA. The Mexican Flag observance was an “add on” and it seems that under any circumstances the people who were offended should see it that way and not try to “overthrow” in favor of their flag and THEIR day of observance of it. No one tried to take anything away from them, because there was nothing to take away, It was a given. Observe it fine, but do not expect everyone to observe it with them.
Just my opinion.
May 10, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Yep. And as with anyone else, you do have a right to an opinion
I love that we’re free to speak our mind, even if people think we’re crazy! Ha ha!
May 10, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Cinco de Mayo should not be taken anymore seriously than Oktoberfest, Czechs fests, or any other cultural celebration that is observed almost yearly across the nation. It’s too bad people feel such a strong need to protest over something so insignificant.
Perhaps this has something to do with the illegal immigration issues in our country. Arizona recently passed a law requiring illegals to carry papers and are trying to get neighboring states to do the same.
May 11, 2010 at 2:30 am
*OneOp* (RE your last Comment): I absolutely agree that the Colors of the American Flag should be allowed any day of the year (and actually is). My question still lies with wondering whether the Students who wore our Flag colors THAT particular day are as “Patriotically Committed” in wearing them to School on OTHER days of the year as well. If this was a “One time” thing, it clearly shows to me that it was not at all out of “Sincere Pride”, but rather an intentional “Mockery”.
And *ThinkerBelle*, you’re right…. “Cinco de Mayo”
does not hold any higher place than other Cultural Holidays here in the U.S.— But we Americans sure do “Party Harty” in every Bar in town accross the USA
as though it is, don’t we.