In these troubled times with all the racial strife was it wise to bring a Mexican flag to school?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080507/ap_on_re_us/flag_incident

Sure the gym teacher handled the situation stupidly, but why cause tension? If the kid wants to honor Mexico, do it at the proper time and in the appropriate place. Better yet do it in Mexico, and while he's down there, he can celebrate the 4th of July also. I'd say the Mexicans would probably give him a big hurray for such a show of allegiance.

Answer 1

What?  Do you mean if you went to another country, you cease being an American?  Balderdash!  The lad had every right to bring his flag, and every right to display it as long as it was not causing serious disruption.  

That's the American way - we're supposed to welcome all.  I suppose you'd demand I take down my German and Irish flags that honor my ancestry.  Well, you can go pound salt!

Answer 2

why can't the kid bring his mexican flag to class, that teacher is a   typical closet racist, i hope the ACLU gets his as* fired. it's all good! HAHA!!!

Answer 3

i agree with the dude above me. expecially the bladerdash part.

chinese people celebrate the chinese new year here, muslims fast on ramadan, jews fast on rosh hashanah, why cant a mexican bring a mexican flag to school on the day his country won the war?

thats like not being able to have a us flag in england or germany on july 4th

BALDERDASH

Answer 4

Part of being a recent American (say, the last 3-4 generations) is honoring your families heritage, if only to please the grandparents. In Heavily Italian-American and  Irish-American neighborhoods you see the flags of Italy and Ireland everywhere. Watch a Sopranos episode - count how long it takes till you see an Italian flag in a scene.

Cinco de mayo is just like St Patricks, or the Catholic feast days and Italian fests here in the US - a way for people to celebrate their backgrounds. Picking on this kid for it is just racism. Did anyone harass kids on March 17th that wore green to class because their last name was Irish in origin? Why a different set of rules if the child is Mexican and has darker skin than an Irish American like me?

Dress it up in patriotism all you like, but at it's heart this is racist. BALDERDASH.

Reminds me of that saying : "Those who cant do, teach. Those that can't teach, teach gym..."

Answer 5

In Mexico, they don't even celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I've heard some call it "Cinco de Gringo." The gym teacher could have handled it better, but the kid should have left the flag at home. Why stir things up?

Answer 6

The ACLU thinks it was wise. They want to sue on the behalf of the student who spoke Spanish during the interview, of course.