I have no idea what to categorize this as, except as more school administration idiocy:
Skyline High School students walked out of class Friday morning to protest the school administration's new policy banning the carrying or wearing of American and Mexican flags. Most of the 100 students were protesting that American flags were included in the ban. Many of them were unclear about the policy, thinking that only American flags were banned, when in fact the ban covers the flags of both countries.The ban likely will be short-lived, lasting only as long as it takes for tempers to cool in the wake of Congress debating a contentious immigration bill, principal Tom Stumpf said.
"The flags no longer were being used as symbols of patriotism or of cultural heritage, but of ethnic intimidation, harassment and blatant bigotry," Stumpf said.
We are continually reminded that America is a country of immigrants, from all races and countries, and the flag is a symbol of that. So maybe Mr. Stumpf could explain exactly how an American flag could be used as a symbol of ethnic intimidation or blatant bigotry?
The ban includes T-shirts and other clothing that have replicas of the flags. At least for now, it also includes Mexican or American flags flown from the antennas of cars parked on school property."My obligation is to secure the safety of students," Stumpf said. "The flags were being flagrantly misused to incite violence."
A group of sophomores said the ban likely was precipitated by an incident in which a student with an American flag waved it in the face of an Hispanic student.
The problem here is clearly with the student, not the flag. Rather than banning both flags, and thus lowering the American to the level of the Mexican on our soil, the administration should explain to the aspiring General Pershing that these "Mexican" students are American citizens just like he is.
Oh wait, what's that you say? Well, now, that's another problem altogether, that sadly, the Supreme Court has decided our schools have no say in.
