If the teacher had given back the flag without incident, does anyone think that would have ended it... or would the ACLU have been brought in because the flag was confiscated in the first place?

If the teacher had taken a Bible and thrown that in the garbage would you still be defending his actions?

I hope He does sue and wins. You may not like mexico(Not You specifically OohRah) But they have a right to be proud of their heritage just like talians the irish etc etc etc do. What that PE teacher did was BULLSHIT.

Larry Mohr

726-
I wasn't defending the teacher's actions in my post. But to answer your hypothetical, I wouldn't have called in the ACLU. I would have been critical of the teacher taunting a student and failing to return the Bible or this kid's flag. I have NO problem with the teacher confiscating something which he deems to be disruptive and potentially provocative.

My question dealt with this: at what point did it become something "worth" getting the ACLU involved? Would it have been permissible to have simply put the flag aside and given it back at the end of the school day? Or was it the failure to give it back and the (alledged) taunting which took place? Or is this a case of a person/family inflaming a situation to ruin someone's career?

Funny i thought the aclu defended the teacher who burnt the American flag. Interesting, the side have changed, now we can sit back and watch the opinions reverse.

LAR-
What makes this case (for me) more interesting is the timing. It was Cinco de Mayo, so you'd expect to see this sort of thing on that day. I think the teacher had had enough and took the flag - maybe there had been some student threats - perhaps that'll come out in the lawsuit. I think you cut the kid some slack that day, of all days.

It's also interesting the location - Idaho. Not what you'd consider the hotbed of Hispanics.

He should have treated the flag as he would have an American flag, however, people do worse to American flags and its ok... form of protest mostly - some others are just jerks though.

He's "Thinking" about filing a lawsuit. HA! That gave me a good giggle. ACLU is involved - hello mcfly?! Coach is going down!

"I said, 'What's the problem?'" Camelo, speaking in Spanish, told The Times-News of Twin Falls. "He said, 'The problem is that we are in the United States and not in Mexico.'

Good for the coach.

If the Mexicans love their flag so much then fly it -- back in Mexico.

Our country has ONE flag and its colors are red, white, and blue!

"I said, 'What's the problem?'" Camelo, speaking in Spanish, told The Times-News of Twin Falls.


The "speaking in spanish" was purposefully added to stroke people like CaliChris right out.

Tis funny CalifChris pitches a fit about Hispanics flying the mexican flag in America but nary a word for the Italian Americans who fly the Italian flag in their pizzarias Nor the Irish Americans flying the Ireland flag. Nor the Germans for that matter. Funny dat be.

Larry Mohr

"It's also interesting the location - Idaho. Not what you'd consider the hotbed of Hispanics."

It's also not surprising, as some areas of Idaho are filled with racists. I also think it's silly to focus on whether the ACLU should or should not be "involved" in this situation. The fact of the matter is that unless there is a school rule prohibiting flags, the teacher was wrong to take it away. If the rest of what the student describes is true, the teacher is also an asshole and should be fired for that reason alone.

"If the Mexicans love their flag so much then fly it -- back in Mexico."

I see italians and polish people all over Chicago displaying their home flags in one way or another. Do you think all those people should go back to Europe, or does this only apply to Mexicans?

Fucking Polocks and their damn flags, we oughta kill'em all and deport 'em.

Fuck the kid.
Sincerely,
dethpud

I hope the teacher washed his hands after touching it. (Few would understand this statement, unless you have visited a restroom after a Mexican has been in it. They do not flush their paper. They throw it on the ground, or into a trash can.)

"If the Mexicans love their flag so much then fly it -- back in Mexico.


Our country has ONE flag and its colors are red, white, and blue!

Posted by CalifChris "

Wow. Didn't see that coming. Paint me "shocked".

Idaho is fairly racist and gym teachers as a rule are either dicks or pedophiles. Mexicans do most of the hard work here in Idaho--the white "natives" are lazy and stupid. Lately a lot of muslim central asian refugees have settled here which should shift some of the hate. Flushing the koran is probably next.

Too funny.

When they stop trashing my country with their garbage and graffiti maybe then I'll listen.

I hope He does sue and wins. You may not like mexico(Not You specifically OohRah) But they have a right to be proud of their heritage just like talians the irish etc etc etc do. What that PE teacher did was BULLSHIT.


Maybe he should have just set it on fire and called it free speech.

Why do Americans even celebrate the 5th of May? It's not an important holiday to anyone other than the latinos, specifically the mexicans.

Then why do we Americans celebrate St Patty's day?? Isn't that an Irish Holiday??

Larry Mohr

Axiom-
St. Patrick's Day? Chinese New Year?

51773-
And in many parts of the world, they don't even HAVE toilets! At least not the neat, white, porcelein kind we have!

Then why do we Americans celebrate St Patty's day?? Isn't that an Irish Holiday??

Larry Mohr

Posted by LarryMohr


I still haven't heard of the Irish claiming New York for Ireland...

Libs love people who burn the American flag and call it free speech but somehow these same libs think it's wrong to throw a Mexican flag in the garbage, and teachers have no free speech.

Personally I think the Mexican flag belongs in the garbage. If it's such a great country, then why do all those MF wetbacks leave Mexico and come here?

Our country has ONE flag and its colors are red, white, and blue!

Posted by CalifChris "

Wow...I hope all the fishing lodge owners up here in socialist Canuckistan take that attitude...i get sick of seeing the american flag flying on Canadian soil every time i unload my boat to go to the cabin.

The article says the school is about 1/3 hispanic. I don't know if there is a lot of racial conflict there or not. If the teacher felt the flag was an inflammatory and disruptive symbol or put the kid at risk of assault then I think the teacher was justified.

I'd say the same thing if it were a white kid displaying a confederate flag.

Why the teacher put it in the trash, that's a questionable call on his part. Don't get a real clear picture of what happened from the article.

"Libs love people who burn the American flag and call it free speech but somehow these same libs think it's wrong to throw a Mexican flag in the garbage, and teachers have no free speech."

That's stupid. When a teacher steals an American flag from a high school student and throws it in the trash, you might have a point.

Right now I'm in Puerto Vallarta, and you know what?
The locals here don't give a flying fuck about cinco de mayo. The major beer distributors here in the US promote this day only to sell a ton of beer.
It was only one battle they won against the French.
The real mexican independance day is sept 16.
A total scam. Viva Budweiser!

Libs love people who burn the American flag and call it free speech but somehow these same libs think it's wrong to throw a Mexican flag in the garbage, and teachers have no free speech.

Personally I think the Mexican flag belongs in the garbage. If it's such a great country, then why do all those MF wetbacks leave Mexico and come here?

Posted by fwthom

Wow. A new level of dumbness.
Here's a clue for you since you desperately need one. The ACLU believes that people in this country should be allowed to express their opinion; whether it's displaying an American flag, burning an American flag, displaying a Mexican flag or letting horseshit spill out of their mouth like you do.
This kid was expressing his opinion by waving a Mexican flag. Mr. Gym Teacher decided that the kid shouldn't be allowed to express his opinion and threw the flag in the trash, then lied about it like a weasel.
You support the weasel, which doesn't surprise me.

*there in the US*

How many people would be defending this guy if he had done the same thing with an Irish flag on St. Patricks, or an Italian flag on Columbus Day?

Regardless of his personal opinions, as a teacher, on the clock as a public employee, on school property, he should have shown better judgement. If he was truly concerned that it might have been disruptive, he could have just told the student to put it away, and sent him to the office if he refused.

If there are indeed racial tensions in the school, it seems he's part of the problem.

No he's not part of the 'problem'. PC idiots are.

He said he put it in a garbage can because he had no place else to keep it.

Does anyone believe this?

A classic. A kid probably being obnoxious, waves a flag of another nation around. The adult, an authority figure and probably someone a tad bit on the jingoistic side becomes miffed at the kid's behavior and takes the flag away. Why? Because he can. The kid objects. It becomes the kid's word against the teacher. Who is the principal, the administration and the school board going to believe? The teacher of course,

A friend of mine when we were sixteen was pulled over by a local cop for a break/tailight e being out. My fired disagreed and had the passenger operate the brake/taillight while he and the officer watched the lights, which all proved to be working flawlessly. My friend rather naively said something to the effect, "Officer you must have been mistaken" To which the officer wrote him a ticket for failure to use a turn signal. Lesson learned, the officer wrote the ticket because he could. After all who would believe a kid and his friend?

Does anyone believe this?

No.

You know it's funny. I was always under the impression that Country stood for Freedom. If that is the case what is wrong with the kid waving the Mexican Flag on Cinco De Mayo day?? That is part of the kids Heritage is it not?? You can be 100% American and still cherish Your ancestrial homelands. Does anyone bitch about say the Chinese Flag being waved n Chinatown?? Does anyone bitch about the Italian Flag being waved in say a Italian Restaurant?? Or the Irish Flag during St Patty's day?? Why then is Mexico being singled out?? Bigotry perhaps??

Larry Mohr,

Quantity transforms into quality. The speed and the massiveness of the Mexican invasion threaten the indigenous culture. And the demographics show no sign of the invasion abating. No other extraneous culture has tried to replace the American culture. Rather for Italians and others, it is a recognition of their heritage rather than an attempt to substitute the Italian culture for the American culture.

The Hispanic intrusion represents a clear and present danger to the culture of this country.

I was up in Idaho last week, and met a lady who had left Los Angeles County, California, some 20 years ago because of the changes wrought where she lived by the influx of Mexicans. She visted her family in Los Angeles County recently and thought that she was traveling in Mexico. More than 50% of the children in California schools speak Spanish in their homes, probably most are illegal aliens. And I susp[ect that more are concentrated in Southern California than in the North.

This lady wants to bring her children and grandchildren to Idaho to escape the downgrading of American culture by the influx of so many illegal aliens, who have compromised the health care, educational, and criminal justice systems with their presence there, and their activities.

Soon, there will be no refuge from the impact of illegal aliens on the cultural milieu. We are receiving the dregs of those populations, many of whom are illiterate or semi-literate even in their own native language. What a boon?

Well, the city of Vallejo, California has just filed for backruptcy. I wonder what contribution the influx of Hispanic aliens has made to this insolvency.

Most of us like an environment that we find congenial to our chosen way of life. The politicians who have compromised us by not early on building a wall, manning the border, and severely punishing employers hiring illegals, should be held accountable and suffer for their "laches," but they will not.

And the Hispanics are similar to a cancer, in that extirpating them now, after they have metastasized, will do great damage to the host. How would the landlords be affected if these people were ousted now? They couldn't pay their mortgages, and then the lenders would fail, and then ... . And what of the retail establishments that have spent money to accommodate the trade of the illegals. Wouldn't these businesses fail?

We're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Our "quality of life" is going downward. How far?

What would you do?

Johnson-And the Hispanics are similar to a cancer

Pity there isn't some sort of "final solution" for the hispanics, eh?

"No Irish need apply"

-Johnson's Grandpa

"backruptcy - bankruptcy"

Johnson's post speaks to a larger cultural problem and he makes some valid points. None of them, however, excuse the act of a schoolteacher taking a kids mexican flag and putting it in a garbage can.

Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2008-05-07 10:39 PM

The article says the school is about 1/3 hispanic.

Larry,

If you believe in freedom so much why shouldn't the teacher have the freedom to put the stupid Mexican flag in the garbage where it belongs.

a teacher can get into hot water by taking up ANYTHING and puttint it in the trash.....he should have put it in his desk or just away and given it back when the day was over unless it was something illegal or against school rules.....maybe even a better choice would have been to take it and let an administrator take care of it, they dont do anything anyway...

but youknow what woody allen said

those that can....do
those that cant....teach
those that cant teach....teach gym.......

Our country has ONE flag and its colors are red, white, and blue!

Posted by CalifChris "

Wow. Didn't see that coming. Paint me "shocked".

Posted by Jomama

Same here. While fairly new here, I thought Chris to be more reasonable than his post would suggest.

Being proud of one's heritage (whether hailing from outside of the US proper, which is true for most of us) and being proud to be an American are not mutually exclusive sentiments.

"He said he put it in a garbage can because he had no place else to keep it."

ha ha ha ha ha
wow
he should've looked harder.

and the pos(t)er who says... "as some areas of Idaho are filled with racists."
don't look now but they are all over the place. they aren't all in the south and have bad accents. those border's fence were never up.

and this mexi-kid has caught on to the american way of life, huh?
sue the bastards.
if this were any other flag in the world, it'd be a non-issue.
as it is mexican... tis a story.
let the kid learn his lesson, sue and lose and hopefully the judge will hit the kid for court costs and be counter-sued for the teacher's lawayer's fees.

all the best

Poor gym teacher must know how the Blackfeet tribe felt when pale face invaded THEIR land in so-called "Idaho". Guess it's all in the eye of the beholder now, isn't it?

Posted by Alexandrite at 2008-05-07 11:28 PM

Pity there isn't some sort of "final solution" for the hispanics, eh?

"the Mexican invasion threaten the indigenous culture."

Seriously? You don't see the ass-backwardness in this statement?

This Country has Many flags. 51 THAT I KNOW OF. I am sure there are more concidering I didn't know Guam was America's

Larry Mohr

Posted by Argh at 2008-05-07 10:57 PM

If there are indeed racial tensions in the school, it seems he's part of the problem.

If you believe in freedom so much why shouldn't the teacher have the freedom to put the stupid Mexican flag in the garbage where it belongs.

Posted by fwthom

Um, because it doesn't belong to him.

Um, because it doesn't belong to him.

Well if you follow that particular line of utter fucking stupidity, it means that a teacher can't confiscate a laser pointer and put it in her desk, either.

Because it doesn't belong to her.

Do people like you just make a point out of finding and promulgating the most ridiculous and wrong point of view you can conceive of?

America! FUCK YEEAAAH!

"Those who can't do, teach.

Those who can't teach, teach gym."

Spud sez this so-called gym teacher outta be strung up and used as a human pinata as part of a belated Cinco De Mayo celebration.

People like that shouldn't be allowed to serve as mentors to the young.

Period.

Idaho is not only spud country but it's kinda got a rep fer having enclaves of racist fucksticks as well, sadly enuff.

This asswipe aint helping change that impression.

Be Well.

this cartoon comments on the seemingly inherent tendency of the Irish to be violent and disorderly.

Now what kind of cretin could possibly believe that nonsense?

Well if you follow that particular line of utter fucking stupidity, it means that a teacher can't confiscate a laser pointer and put it in her desk, either.

Ah, the utterly fucking ridiculous Pinchaloaf weighs in.

The reason laser pointers are taken away from kids is because they can potentially be used to blind folks.

Is Maosy Tongue arguing that Mexican Flags are a danger to the vision of the nation's youth?

"You'll poke yer eye out!" sez Mao.

Wot a pusstard.

Still wearing yer "I Voted Fer Hillary/Operation Chaos" badge proudly there ya cheatin' sack of shit?

Be Well.

Pinche,
TFD was responding to the post that said the teacher SHOULD take away the Mexican flag AND put it in the trash. What he did, right or wrong, was much more than simply confiscating something that a student shouldn't have; to pretend otherwise is intellectual dishonesty, whether you agree with the teacher or not.

"Again, what are the benefits (to citizens of the United States) of having the permanent presence of such a population?"

Well Johnson, there are an estimate 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. That's about 4 of the total population. What has been the benefits to the citizens of the US of the Irish immigration from the 1800's? How did that benefit cities where many Irish settled such as New York, Chicago, Boston and St. Louis? How has it benefited the US that many of the Irish immigrants to this day have held on to much of their heritage?

How about the Italian, Asian or African immigration?

You ever hear of the melting pot? Our current culture is the product of acculturation over many groups. And during that process many people's feelings have been identical to yours. Eventually the cultures adopt aspects of each others and We The People become stronger.

Actually, I was responding to a post that said that the teacher had the right to throw the flag in the trash.
That fact was available to Mao if he had bothered to raise his eyes 1/2 in. to read my whole post. I suppose that's too much effort to actually have a clue to what you are talking about.

TFD-
You're right re: the right to vs. should. Nice, careful reading. Either way, Mao clearly had his head up his ass.

The reason laser pointers are taken away from kids is because they can potentially be used to blind folks

And the reason Meskin flags are taken away from kids is because they can potentially be used as an excuse to beat some smart-ass, unassimilated spic teenager to a bloody pulp.

Kinda makes you wish Coach had let him keep it.

I've known some of those Snake River tractor jockeys.

You don't wanna fuck with them.

"I said, 'What's the problem?'" Camelo, speaking in Spanish, told The Times-News of Twin Falls. "He said, 'The problem is that we are in the United States and not in Mexico.' He grabbed it from me. He threw the flag in the garbage can."

Question: If you believe in freedom so much why shouldn't the teacher have the freedom to put the stupid Mexican flag in the garbage where it belongs.

Answer: Um, because it doesn't belong to him.

That's fairly cut and dried---and I'm fairly certain I'm not missing any "context".

The most pressing problem in America right now is not alternative sources of energy.

It is coming up with new and innovative advances in mechanized agriculture.

That will solve alot of the horsehit we're discussing in this thread.

so here is a question....what was the kid doing with it in gym class........stick down those stupid looking shorts?
or was he holding it while trying to climb THAT STUPID ROPE>>>>>>>

So teachers should have the right to throw everything they confiscate in the garbage where it belongs? As a teacher, I must say that sometimes I really wish that was true, but alas, it just isn't.

Johnson -- you know, in a lot of places in the world, bilingualism is quite natural and a trait to be admired. I would guess that if the kid felt his culture was being trashed, he may be pushed to identify more, not less, with his culture, language included.

Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2008-05-08 12:04 AM

Well Johnson, there are an estimate 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. That's about 4 of the total population.

What has been the benefits to the citizens of the US of the Irish immigration from the 1800's? How did that benefit cities where many Irish settled such as New York, Chicago, Boston and St. Louis? How has it benefited the US that many of the Irish immigrants to this day have held on to much of their heritage?

You ever hear of the melting pot?

Our current culture is the product of acculturation over many groups. And during that process many people's feelings have been identical to yours. Eventually the cultures adopt aspects of each others and We The People become stronger.

Camelo said he then took the undamaged flag out of the garbage. He said he's been contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union and is considering a lawsuit against Straatman.



This kid should spend his time improving his english speaking skills, and...oh, I dunno...studying for school.

Even IF the teacher said something off color, who gives a shit? Not like he called the kid a "fucking spic". ACLU is wasting it's time if they actually called this kid. The teacher took a disruptive item from outside the school and removed it before it led to any physical violence.(and it probably would have)

This article is not impressing me in the least.

JOHNSON,

Thanks for bringing up the larger issue.

I'd like your source stating that there are 12 million illegal immigrants in LA. No offense, but to say that they're illegal immigrants simply because they speak Spanish in the home is a pretty weak argument.

And to think that all immigrants in US history wanted to adapt American culture also seems ignorant. My great-grandmother despised the English language (she was German). All four of my grandparents, all born in this country, spoke German fluently, some in towns where church was conducted only in German, as well as regular town affairs. I know of a town in Wisconsin where its still common to hear Norweigen spoken in the grocery store. My point is that, putting the serious problems we face today aside, immigration has never been the simple story of assimilation you're implying it was.

Let's conduct a little exercise in "self-loathing liberal blogger" self-exploration.

It'll be fun.

I want you to imagine a story coming over the AP wire.

*Posted 10 minutes ago*

The story is about the snot-nosed child of an American contractor living and working in Pakistan (or some equivalent shithole).

The snot-nosed child attends a Pakistani school.

The snot-nosed child brings an American flag to school and flaunts it to his fellow Pakistani students and faculty.

A member of the faculty confiscates the flag and disposes of it in the trash because it's disruptive, he says---although the reader of the story might also infer there's a little jingoism involved.

Rogers Cadenhead pulls this story from the wire and posts it on his blogosphere equivalent of a bathroom wall at an interstate truck-stop.

He lets the urchins weigh in on it.

How might the theme of that proposed thread differ from this one?

Think about it.

And then remember to go fuck yourself the next time you feel yourself bristling with resentment when you're referred to as "self-loathing" or
"anti-American".

Well, Pinche, I would say that minus the immigration issues, the themes of the thread would probably be pretty similar.

The teacher had every right to take the flag away if it was causing a disruption.

The teacher had no right to throw the flag in the trash.

Pinche- Gotta say I'm in agreement with you tonight on this story being bullshit thusfar.

But If I thought this blog was a truckstop bathroom wall I wouldn't post here. Why would you?

But If I thought this blog was a truckstop bathroom wall I wouldn't post here. Why would you?

I had to piss.

And I saw your fucking number on the paper towel dispenser.

So don't lie.

And I saw your fucking number on the paper towel dispenser.

So don't lie.

Posted by Pinche_Mao at 2008-05-08 12:52 AM | Reply | Flag:


Call me for a good time, "big boy".

Dylanfan- The PE teacher probably shouldn't have thrown the flag away. Hell, I got some of my "after school" stuff tossed.

But the ACLU didn't call me about it. The price for bringing in disruptive material is the possibility of it being taken away for good. Tough titty!

I love the nightly episodes of the "Pinche and Alexandrite Show." LOL and never any re-runs either.

CC- I'm being nice tonight...so put the popcorn away.

I'll agree calling in the ACLU was probably a bit overboard (or them calling the kid, rather, if I remember correctly). But the PE teacher was still an ass. ;-)

I've lived, worked, eaten, and slept with Meskins my entire life, and have never encountered one named "Froylan".

Where the fuck did that come from?

Is there some social program in Twin Falls that donates Tolkien books to the gente hoe-hands?

I hope He does sue and wins. You may not like mexico(Not You specifically OohRah) But they have a right to be proud of their heritage just like talians the irish etc etc etc do. What that PE teacher did was BULLSHIT.

Larry Mohr

Posted by LarryMohr

Wow, so you're arguing for the confederate flag in southern states??? Heritage is heritage, or do you differentiate between heritages *you* like and others you do not?

There goes Pedro's vote in that High School

The snot-nosed child brings an American flag to school and flaunts it to his fellow Pakistani students and faculty.

Hate to admit it, but Pinche has a solid point. I'll take it a step further with a question.. If you were to move to another country (any country). would you cruise around flying the American flag? You would if you were stupid and wanted your ass kicked, or killed! While Americans tend to be obnoxious tourists, we are typically respectful expats..

My problem with the Mexican invasion is 3-fold:

1) Our government doesn't let enough of them in legally.
2) The rest that come in illegally, act like they are invading us with their culture and flags. They show a contempt, disrespect, and entitlement that Americans typically do not when migrating elsewhere.
3) Because we do not let enough in legally, the rest do not pay taxes or contribute meaningfully to society except when it come to protesting their "persecution".

"
Idaho is fairly racist and gym teachers as a rule are either dicks or pedophiles. Mexicans do most of the hard work here in Idaho--the white "natives" are lazy and stupid. Lately a lot of muslim central asian refugees have settled here which should shift some of the hate. Flushing the koran is probably next.

Posted by badgerwest
"

Stfu badger. The majority of those "white natives" spend most of their days and nights moving sprinkling systems, ensuring their crops are being irrigated properly, and harvesting their feilds when they're ready. Granted, most of that time is spent during the growing season, but I guarentee you do alot less work.

And saying people from Idaho are all racists is just plain ignorant and shows you know nothing of the state, asshat.

And the throwing away of a flag does not constitute one as Racist, maybe Nationalist, which is in now way shape or form something to frowned at.

I hope He does sue and wins. You may not like mexico(Not You specifically OohRah) But they have a right to be proud of their heritage just like talians the irish etc etc etc do. What that PE teacher did was BULLSHIT.

Larry Mohr

Posted by LarryMohr


I'm in my 30th year of teaching, and this teacher is an asshole. He should get a note in his jacket and a reprimand, but that's it. No harm was done.

Jesus people - are we becoming a country of crybabies or what?

Then why do we Americans celebrate St Patty's day?? Isn't that an Irish Holiday??



St. Patrick's Day? Chinese New Year?


Are you both trying to stump my by saying I celebrate something else? Fuck you both.

Who in their right fucking mind celebrates chinese new year other than the chinese?

I'm Irish, but I don't even celebrate St. Patrick's Day either. American's like to take shit that doesn't belong to them and call it "A day off from work." When I want a day off, I tell the boss "I'm taking thursday off." I don't need some contrived holiday to not show up to work.

Speaking of all of this. There was a kid back when I was in high school who was suspended from school for refusing to take off his shirt that had the confederate flag on it. There were no words on the shirt, apparently. Just the symbol on the front.

I don't seem to remember the ACLU running to his rescue. Must have been busy that day. The only thing Mexico and the Confederacy have in common, of course, is that they lost the war they were fighting and the land no longer belongs to them.


Here's a clue for you since you desperately need one. The ACLU believes that people in this country should be allowed to express their opinion; whether it's displaying an American flag, burning an American flag, displaying a Mexican flag or letting horseshit spill out of their mouth like you do.
This kid was expressing his opinion by waving a Mexican flag. Mr. Gym Teacher decided that the kid shouldn't be allowed to express his opinion and threw the flag in the trash, then lied about it like a weasel.


But the gym teacher was expressing his opinion about the Mexican flag. He thinks it belongs in the garbage. I don't necessarily agree with him, but he is entitled to his own opinion, no matter how poorly formed it might be.


You know it's funny. I was always under the impression that Country stood for Freedom. If that is the case what is wrong with the kid waving the Mexican Flag on Cinco De Mayo day?? That is part of the kids Heritage is it not?? You can be 100% American and still cherish Your ancestrial homelands. Does anyone bitch about say the Chinese Flag being waved n Chinatown?? Does anyone bitch about the Italian Flag being waved in say a Italian Restaurant?? Or the Irish Flag during St Patty's day?? Why then is Mexico being singled out?? Bigotry perhaps??


Have any Chinese, Italians or Irish removed the American flag flying at a post office and replaced it with their own flag lately?

Wow, so you're arguing for the confederate flag in southern states??? Heritage is heritage, or do you differentiate between heritages *you* like and others you do not?


Of course he's not.

First of all, I disagree that the confederate flag points back to a positive view of southern heritage. Not because it was a battle flag used in a war, but because we allowed groups like the Neo-Nazis and the KKK to use said symbol as a banner to unite their hate of brown people. It doesn't belong on top of my state house. It doesn't belong in front of my statehouse either.

There is a confederate museum in south carolina where the flag belongs. Fly it on top. Fly it in front. Put them all around it for all I care. When you put it on top of the state house or in front of it, you end up sending a message that you might not want to send, or might not mean at all. Your message could really be a remembrance of the past, but those who have suffered because of that banner get a different meaning from the action.

Jesus people - are we becoming a country of crybabies or what?

In a word: Yes

Or maybe the present perfect tense is more appropriate: We have become a country of crybabies.

I want you to imagine a story coming over the AP wire.

*Posted 10 minutes ago*

The story is about the snot-nosed child of an American contractor living and working in Pakistan (or some equivalent shithole).

The snot-nosed child attends a Pakistani school.

The snot-nosed child brings an American flag to school and flaunts it to his fellow Pakistani students and faculty.

A member of the faculty confiscates the flag and disposes of it in the trash because it's disruptive, he says---although the reader of the story might also infer there's a little jingoism involved.

Rogers Cadenhead pulls this story from the wire and posts it on his blogosphere equivalent of a bathroom wall at an interstate truck-stop.

He lets the urchins weigh in on it.

How might the theme of that proposed thread differ from this one?

JJ,

A snot nose American child would not be stupid enough to do such an idiotic act and if the snot nose did the child would receive far more abuse from us at home than in pakistan or what ever country the snot nose did it in.

Either be patriotic towards ones own country and show respect to the country one is a visitor in or face the ire of those patriots of that country.

I'm in my 30th year of teaching, and this teacher is an asshole. He should get a note in his jacket and a reprimand, but that's it. No harm was done.

Jesus people - are we becoming a country of crybabies or what?

Posted by midiman


Im with you on this one and the rest of you should listen to two teachers who probably learned the hard way how to handle things like this....or midi might have just been born with the knowledge and I had to learn the hard way.....you dont throw it into the trash, you put it away and return it after school or you get principals involved....its what THEY Are ther for.........and you try and teach the student WHY its inappropriate and maybe WHY it incites people this way today.....BUT REMEMBER we are talking PE here and those lessons may not be appropriate or even a part of that lesson.....so with that in mind.....THE STUDENT bears responsibility for having it in gym class......

ah but there might be other factors as well....like why is the school the place for this 'demonstration'......

I must be the voice of reason here because nobody EVER argues against me..

Im with you on this one and the rest of you should listen to two teachers who probably learned the hard way how to handle things like this....or midi might have just been born with the knowledge and I had to learn the hard way.....you dont throw it into the trash, you put it away and return it after school or you get principals involved....its what THEY Are ther for.........and you try and teach the student WHY its inappropriate and maybe WHY it incites people this way today.....BUT REMEMBER we are talking PE here and those lessons may not be appropriate or even a part of that lesson.....so with that in mind.....THE STUDENT bears responsibility for having it in gym class......


ah but there might be other factors as well....like why is the school the place for this 'demonstration'......

Posted by bushlovertwo



100% agreement, just this once! :-)

"I must be the voice of reason here because nobody EVER argues against me.." JSP

:^)

I used to think the same thing of myself. Then I realized no one gives a crap about what I say. Just like Rodney Dangerfield...

Good answer, MW and I agree with you.


BLT -

you dont throw it into the trash, you put it away and return it after school or you get principals involved

Yes! That is where I feel this teacher got out-of-line.

Having the child remove it was a judgement call.

Throwing it in the trash was bad judgement.

I used to think the same thing of myself. Then I realized no one gives a crap about what I say. Just like Rodney Dangerfield...

You get more than enough attention because you have kooky thoughts..

You get more than enough attention because you have kooky thoughts..

sprague getss a FF.

Just kidding you, JSP.

Funny i thought the aclu defended the teacher who burnt the American flag. Interesting, the side have changed, now we can sit back and watch the opinions reverse.

Posted by salamandagator


That is why you will never understand what the ACLU stands for. When you figure that out, it will make sense. Until that day, you will revile them like the rest of the rightwingbots.

Having the child remove it was a judgement call.

Throwing it in the trash was bad judgement.

Posted by JeffJ


And then taunting him about his heritage was horrendous judgement.

And then taunting him about his heritage was horrendous judgement.

Posted by 726

Agreed.

Just kidding you, JSP.

Thanks Moneywar.. My first FF.. Unfortunately, our paths will cross soon enough.. Thx again!

You know it's funny. I was always under the impression that Country stood for Freedom. If that is the case what is wrong with the kid waving the Mexican Flag on Cinco De Mayo day??

Not when it comes to outward displays of patriotism.

Freedom of speech means that every citizen has the right to speak freely and openly even if you disagree with vehemently with the message.

Sadly to many people in this nation freedom of speech in their little minds means only speaking what is accepted by the majority.

My family has fought for the right for anyone to say what they want. My family has fought for the flag of the United States of America. We hold it near and dear to our hearts, but if someone wants to burn it in protest, well then that is their right. A right my family has put their lives on the line for and I will be goddamned if anyone is going to stop it.

If this kid wants to display the flag of his heritage, good for him. It is important to remember where you have come from. I have the flag of my ancestral homeland and I display it proudly on our national holidays.

Illegal immigrants are paying taxes to Uncle Sam, experts agree. Just how much they pay is hard to determine because the federal government doesn't fully tally it.

Did you miss this part of your post? Do you think our dipshit government has any idea how much in taxes AREN'T being paid as the result of illegal immigration? Hunt that number down Sherlock and then we'll talk..

726,


Freedom of speech means that every citizen has the right to speak freely and openly even if you disagree with vehemently with the message.....If this kid wants to display the flag of his heritage, good for him


However, a school has the right to set certain standards for dress in order to ensure a proper learning environment. Just as an employer can require its employees to dress in a shirt and tie, or to forbid the wearing of tongue-rings while on the job.

Freedom of speech means that every citizen has the right to speak freely and openly even if you disagree with vehemently with the message.....If this kid wants to display the flag of his heritage, good for him

I agree, but this doesn't belong in the class room at the time of learning, regardless of what class it is in.

Although, if the teacher was of any quality the teacher would have shot from the hip and used this as an opportunity as an instruction and teaching aid.

It would have made a far better learning environment and a long lasting patriotic instillment for the students.

Some times teachers need to forego the daily plan for another teaching aid while trying to draw in the planned day.

I do see that this was PE and in todays "no child left behind" environment the PE doesn't get as much time with the students as should be, so the instructor will be less willing to forego daily plan.

Schedule and all.

"My family has fought"...

Fuck you. When you do something let us know.

Fuck the kid.
Sincerely,
dethpud
Posted by 101Chairborne at 2008-05-07 04:46 PM

Imo, you should be banned.

Wait, don't we get to burn and deface the American flag as free speech? What's the difference here?

Wait, don't we get to burn and deface the American flag as free speech? What's the difference here?
Posted by jonryker at 2008-05-08 11:08 AM

Clearly, you are too stupid to be answered.

I hope He does sue and wins. You may not like mexico(Not You specifically OohRah) But they have a right to be proud of their heritage just like talians the irish etc etc etc do. What that PE teacher did was BULLSHIT.

Posted by LarryMohr

It's my understanding that the flag was taken so the kid wouldn't get the crap beat out of him.

Some people just like to stir the shit so it keeps stinking.

It's my understanding that the flag was taken so the kid wouldn't get the crap beat out of him.
Some people just like to stir the shit so it keeps stinking.
Posted by Sniper at 2008-05-08 11:52 AM

You keep all your valuables in the garbage, thus too witless to understand this sarcasm.

I think that there are several interesting things going on with this article:

1. The article made sure to note that it was a physical education teacher that took away the flag. (Perhaps this is playing on the notion that many people have that P.E. teachers are just dumb brutes who like to play sports.)

2. The article mentions that the flag was taken away while the kid was changing into gym clothes.
(Some will argue that this is the reason why the teacher was specifically mentioned as being a P.E. teacher. However, the statement here already lets the reader know that since the kid was changing into gym shorts, that it would reasonably be a gym teacher that took away the flag. What is important to note here is that the act of changing clothes in no way requires someone to be in posession of any kind of flag.)

3. If the teacher did, in fact, make the comments that are alleged, then the teacher is wrong for that, not for throwing away the flag.

This case does not need the involvement of the ACLU. They are not the Political Correctness Police.

Que lastima pobre cita!

Porque no el estudiante la bandiera EEUU en su escuela? Porque tienen la bandiera Mexicana en escuela? Donde viven? En EEUU, o otro lugar? Si desean estudiar en escuela Mexicana, hay escuelas alli. Si desean abandonar su escuela, el puede revolver a Mexico.

Que lastima pobre cita!

Porque el estudiante no tiene la bandiera EEUU en su escuela? Porque tienen la bandiera Mexicana en escuela? Donde viven? En EEUU, o otro lugar? Si desean estudiar en escuela Mexicana, hay escuelas alli. Si desean abandonar su escuela, el puede revolver a Mexico.

Ok, ok, I get it. It was Cinco de Mayo -- and it rightfully was a special day to anyone of Mexican heritage; as much as Columbus Day is for Italian Americans, St. Patrick's Day for Irish Americans, and Pulaski Day for Polish Amricans.

El comportamiento del teached era inadecuado y debe ser castigado. (The behavior of the teacher was inappropriate and should eb punished.)

Lo siento a mis amigos Mexicanos. (Sincere apologies to my Mexican friends.)

Ok, ok, I get it. It was Cinco de Mayo -- and it rightfully was a special day to anyone of Mexican heritage; as much as Columbus Day is for Italian Americans, St. Patrick's Day for Irish Americans, and Pulaski Day for Polish Amricans.

El comportamiento del profesor era inadecuado y debe ser castigado. (The behavior of the teacher was inappropriate and should eb punished.)

Lo siento a mis amigos Mexicanos. (Sincere apologies to my Mexican friends.)