http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/05/06/2010-05-06_california_kids_blasted_for_wearing_american_flag_shirts_on_cinco_de_mayo.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36981179/ns/local_news-san_francisco_bay_area_ca/



I, by no means, advocate an “America rocks and all other countries can go eat one” mentality. Still, this is baffling.

5/6/2010 3:24:55 PM

another example of political correctness going way too far

5/6/2010 3:27:23 PM

Red and blue are common gang colors.

The students violated the rules and they got sent home.

Stop whining.

5/6/2010 3:28:46 PM

which common gang wears both red and blue

5/6/2010 3:29:37 PM

The Croods.

5/6/2010 3:30:12 PM

I've heard of the Blips, but never the Croods

5/6/2010 3:32:39 PM

Gang affiliation was not the reason they were sent home.

Stop trolling.

5/6/2010 3:33:09 PM

All they wanted to do was wear a "THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN" shirt during Black History Month, but the administration hated their patriotism .

5/6/2010 3:34:32 PM

These kids wore American Flag shirts in protest of Cinco de Mayo because they are too young to understand its significance here in America. That will all change when they turn 21 and can legally drink.

5/6/2010 3:38:49 PM

I wonder what would happen if they all wore union jack t-shirts on St Patricks day.

5/6/2010 3:40:39 PM

Quote :

"All they wanted to do was wear a "THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN" shirt during Black History Month, but the administration hated their patriotism ."

It's not a matter of patriotism. Too many people get their panties in a wad over petty shit. Why? Well, because they can. If you have a problem with it, look the other direction.

Quote :

"These kids wore American Flag shirts in protest of Cinco de Mayo because they are too young to understand its significance here in America. That will all change when they turn 21 and can legally drink."

Keywords being "here in America." It's not even widely, much less nationally, observed in Mexico.

5/6/2010 3:43:37 PM

Quote :

"I wonder what would happen if they all wore union jack t-shirts on St Patricks day."

No one will get it. St Patricks day is celebrated here for the same reasons Cinco de Mayo is...its just another drinking holiday.

5/6/2010 3:48:30 PM

Quote :

"All they wanted to do was wear a "THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN" shirt during Black History Month, but the administration hated their patriotism ."

That's a bit of an extreme comparison

I think what they did was in poor taste. Freedom of speech is allowed in schools up to the point where it causes a disruption to the learning process. They were asked to change and they refused, so the principal sent them home. I don't see anything wrong with this.

5/6/2010 3:52:55 PM

My learning process is being adversely affected by this kid with a Metallica shirt on, please send him home for the day

5/6/2010 3:57:25 PM

Quote :

"another example of political correctness going way too far"

yep


^Very poor taste, wearing an american flag shirt in america... should know better.

5/6/2010 3:58:11 PM

I do agree that it was in poor taste. The bottom line is "to each his own."
Besides, I have a hard time seeing a difference in that versus say, a poor kid offended by the popular kids wearing Abercrombie. We're essentially cultivating a future of overly sensitive asshats.

5/6/2010 4:03:09 PM

The Hispanic peeps aren't allowed to wear their flags for the other 179 school days, right?

5/6/2010 4:23:08 PM

2 side notes

I think its ridiculous how often the media uses the words "blasts" or "blasted" in titles. Sometimes it feels like they are going out of their way to call something a blasting, when more accurate descriptions would easily fit in the title.

I know my high school principal would never stand for anyone telling him no after he asked them to not wear a hat at school... god help you if it was a bandanna.

5/6/2010 4:30:09 PM

Bastards should go after Obama too. Son of a bitch was flying the American Flag over the White House on Cinco de Mayo. Fucking racist pig.

5/6/2010 4:41:51 PM

can you imagine the cries of racism if a kid was sent home for wearing a mexican flag on 4th of july?

5/6/2010 4:43:12 PM

Quote :

"they are going out of their way to call something a blasting, when more accurate descriptions would easily fit in the title."

I thought the very same thing.

Quote :

"I know my high school principal would never stand for anyone telling him no after he asked them to not wear a hat at school... god help you if it was a bandanna. "

Sure, it's against the school's dress code. (Which is another topic entirely.) Still, turning the shirts inside out? It's not even like other students wouldn't know that they're wearing the American flag, only that they were reprimanded for doing so. That makes it that much worse.

5/6/2010 4:45:50 PM

Quote :

"can you imagine the cries of racism if a kid was sent home for wearing a mexican flag on 4th of july?"

To them I would say the same: Get the fuck over it.

5/6/2010 4:47:33 PM

more information in this article:
http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news/265402-five-lohs-students-sent-home-for-wearing-american-flag-t-shirts

5/6/2010 4:52:18 PM

Quote :

"The five teens were sitting at a table outside during their brunch break"

wtf brunch break

5/6/2010 5:01:15 PM

^^
I'm sure these fine young gentlemen weren't trying to cause a scene. Haha.

I find it hard to believe they would be sent home just for wearing an American flag on their clothes. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm willing to bet these kids were just being little cunts about it.

5/6/2010 5:13:53 PM

Quote :

"I find it hard to believe they would be sent home just for wearing an American flag on their clothes"

I don't

Quote :

"another example of political correctness going way too far"

5/6/2010 5:20:08 PM

Quote :

"The boys were told they must turn their T-shirts inside-out or be sent home - and that it would not be considered a suspension... so their parents opted to take them home. "

Even so, I'd bet the ACLU would actually take up this case if they make a call to their local chapter.
(not necessarily sue the school, I believe the ACLU will sometimes work schools to give guidance on policies before going that route)

5/6/2010 5:20:27 PM

This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of.

5/6/2010 5:21:18 PM

^^^
too bad we'll never know the whole story

[Edited on May 6, 2010 at 5:23 PM. Reason : .]

5/6/2010 5:22:59 PM

Quote :

"I find it hard to believe they would be sent home just for wearing an American flag on their clothes. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm willing to bet these kids were just being little cunts about it."

clearly. it would have been best to just ignore them though. now they've gotten exactly what they wanted: undue attention from a bunch of easily offended, whiny bitches.

[Edited on May 6, 2010 at 5:27 PM. Reason : .]

5/6/2010 5:25:48 PM

Quote :

"I wonder what would happen if they all wore union jack t-shirts on St Patricks day."

One of my buddies worked retail in college and had some McPatty O'Irishwoman flip her shit at the fact that he was wearing an orange tie on St. Patrick's day.

5/6/2010 5:27:43 PM

I don't think they were sent home just for wearing the shirts, but again because they wouldn't turn them inside out. The teacher/administrator was probably like "you guys have to turn your shirts inside out" and the kids were probably like "um...why?"

5/6/2010 5:37:47 PM

Quote :

"Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez"

5/6/2010 5:43:06 PM

^ ahahahahaha I completely missed that

5/6/2010 5:45:06 PM

Quote :

"Principal Nick Boden"

5/6/2010 5:45:53 PM

Quote :

"President Barack Obama"

5/6/2010 5:49:14 PM

Quote :

" I'm sure these fine young gentlemen weren't trying to cause a scene."

That was actually my very first thought. So I read multiple articles citing almost the exact same thing. Had they been causing a scene over it, you would be sure that the administration would have made that clear. Instead, the school district stated that they did not agree with the actions of the administration of that high school.

5/6/2010 5:51:13 PM

way to live up to your name, moron

5/6/2010 5:52:31 PM

Civics lesson: Tinker v. Des Moines?

5/6/2010 5:53:13 PM

Quote :

"Had they been causing a scene over it, you would be sure that the administration would have made that clear"

This is not necessarily true.

I don't think there is any defense for the way the school handled this, but i'd be very surprised if the kids were acting like innocent little angels.

5/6/2010 5:53:13 PM

4 friends all wearing American flags on May 5th is a political statement. I thought schools didn't allow political statements b/c they cause disruptions.

5/6/2010 5:55:00 PM

They were guilty of the crime of being black on a Friday night wearing a United States tshirt in the United States

Quote :

"I thought schools didn't allow political statements b/c they cause disruptions"

I just thought schools weren't supposed to promote a political view...never heard anything about students not being allowed to discuss politics...

5/6/2010 5:55:53 PM

^^ That's exactly what the Tinker ruling addresses.

5/6/2010 5:57:18 PM

Quote :

"Civics lesson: Tinker v. Des Moines?"

yeah this is what I thought. school is clearly in the wrong here.

5/6/2010 5:57:28 PM

main points of Tinker v. Des Moines

Quote :

"1. In wearing armbands, the petitioners were quiet and passive. They were not disruptive and did not impinge upon the rights of others. In these circumstances, their conduct was within the protection of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth. Pp. 505-506. so this should apply to the tshirts as well 2. First Amendment rights are available to teachers and students, subject to application in light of the special characteristics of the school environment. Pp. 506-507. large hispanic population at the school? its Cinco de Mayo which isn't a national holiday in this country? are those 'special characteristics of the school environment worthy of this? 3. A prohibition against expression of opinion, without any evidence that the rule is necessary to avoid substantial interference with school discipline or the rights of others, is not permissible under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Pp. 507-514. doesn't seem like a few t-shirts would cause "substantional interference with school discipline or the rights of others"

5/6/2010 6:01:08 PM

Even if the school doesn't allow political statement, (which you're right, it is a political statement), then should wearing the Mexican flag also be considered a political statement?

[Edited on May 6, 2010 at 6:02 PM. Reason : ]

5/6/2010 6:02:13 PM

I'm a damned dirty liberal and I think this is fucking outrageous, for whatever that's worth.

5/6/2010 6:02:24 PM

Nothing. It's worth nothing. But thanks anyway?

5/6/2010 6:03:05 PM

Quote :

"Even if the school doesn't allow political statement, (which you're right, it is a political statement), then should wearing the Mexican flag also be considered a political statement?"

absolutely. yet it seemed that school embraced students having the Mexican flag painted on their faces, but not actually wearing the flag.

5/6/2010 6:08:24 PM

Quote :

"absolutely. yet it seemed that school embraced students having the Mexican flag painted on their faces, but not actually wearing the flag."

Could it be considered in spirit of celebration? I pose this as a question because i haven't thought long enough about it to make a decision either way.

5/6/2010 6:11:55 PM