In keeping with the current thread on this blog, I thought this story was interesting, and by interesting I mean disgusting...SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C. – On the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, students at one high school were not allowed to wear clothes with an American Flag.
Under a new school rule, students at Hobbton High School are not allowed to wear items with flags, from any country, including the United States.
The new rule stems from a controversy over students wearing shirts bearing flags of other countries.
Gayle Langston said her daughter, Jessica, was told to remove her stars and stripes t-shirt.
“Today she wanted to wear her shirt, and I had to tell her no,” said Langston. “She didn't like it at all because I knew it would get her in trouble. Of all days, 9/11, she could not wear her American Flag shirt.”
The superintendent of schools in Sampson County calls the situation unfortunate, but says educators didn’t want to be forced to pick and choose which flags should be permissible.
First, what's wrong with a student wearing the flag of any country in the world? I don't have a problem with that. And second, even if you ban all flags, an exception should certainly be made on specific national celebration or remembrance days for the American flag. I've said it before and I'll say it again, when a country starts denying it's own culture and sense of patriotism to avoid possibly offending someone from a different culture, then we have almost ceased being a country.
UPDATE: SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C – A North Carolina High School that came under national attention over their rule that prohibited students from wearing items with the American flag, or any flag from other countries, has lifted the ban.
Well kids, it looks like the magic of market pressure worked once again, swiftly and with precision, because the people applied the pressure and not the government.
17 comments:
I think the rule should be to ban wearing a flag from another country other than the United States. People came to U.S.A for a reason. And if that reason is anything other than because they want to be here, they shouldnt be here. Ban other flags, we aren't in those countries, we are in America. Kids should be allowed to show their patriotism, and you said it right Ed, when we don't allow our own children to show how proud they are of America, we cease being America.
The peoblem here is that the rule sgoverning the American flag have existed for a long time. The flag should not be worn as clothing. Now, wheteher a replic a of a flag on a Tshirt constitutes that or not, I don't know, but I wouldn't do it. Secondly, patches can be worn by certain people in certain occupations/roles (Military/police/fire/officials, etc.). If a lapel pin is worn, it is to be worn on the left breast over the heart.
It's to bad that the school system has fallen to this anyway. We continue to read and watch as our country and its culture are disolved. Christmas is gone as a holiday from schools, no more pledge of allegiance, no kore flags, whats next? I just do not understand how people that seem to be intelligent can sit idly by and watch as this happens. I would immediately get in touch with my school superintendent and try to correct this type of thing. I guess that NC'ers are to underwhelmed by the Edwards campaign to care anymore. Too Bad.
Kevin
Read again what Ed says; so speaks a man of education, reflection and common sense.
Your suggestion shows you're the opposite.
Capt. America
Please feel free to explain what you mean by this.
Right on Ed! Read Teddy Roosevelt's thoughts on this subject or Samuel Huntington's "The Clash of Civilizations". Multiculturalism is evil and I mean that in the harshest sense. Accepting (or understanding) other cultures is one thing; multiculturalism is quite different.
Did you see the recent statements made by Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard? I will forward them to you. I was so shocked by them I could not believe he (or any other politician) had the hairy, oblong orbs to say them. So, I verified the facts and DAMN, suddenly Australia look appealing. Contrast his comments with the Democratic "debate" on F%^&ing UNIVISION. I'm working on a rant about these two virtually overlooked events. They are both important for different reasons.
Have a great day and keep up the good work.
p.s. As far as wearing/displaying flags, any flags, I say giddy-up.
David, when your thoughts congeal, feel free to post them here if you like.
I also got your e-mails and I'll probably find a way to include them in a post at some point.
Thanks for the pics too.
Kevin
I'll just quote Ed: "what's wrong with a student wearing the flag of any country in the world?"
Banning flags - any flag - is anti-freedom.
The captain has a point. Only in very rare, specific instances is less freedom better than more freedom. And most, if not all, of those instances concern individual or public safety.
The obvious example would be the freedom to yell "FIRE!!!" in a crowded theater. Less freedom in that instance is better.
Yeah ok. What are we going to do when we go to war with a country, are we going to allow that flag to still be warn by people. They are our foe, and people wearing that flag could be considered traitors for wearing the flag of the opposition. I believe in the freedom thing, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. But I can't see any case where the American flag would banned.
Right you are Kevin. The tasteful display of the American flag should never be banned in any instance...especially where children are proudly embracing their patriotism.
In the situation in which we are at war with another country, say when we start bombing Iran in a few months, it would be treason only if a member of the armed services or other official representative of our government displayed the flag of our enemy. If a civilian citizen chose to display the Iranian flag, I'm not sure that would rise to the level of "giving aid and comfort" to the enemy. It would be very stupid and that person might risk getting beat up, but I'm not sure it would be treasonous.
David, help me out here. What are the standards of "treason" as a crime?
More on treason ASAP.
Asked and answered. It appears it is subject to much lattitude. No judge can even spell treason so our politicians and other malcontents are safe AND THEY KNOW IT.
USC 2381 TREASON
Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
giving them aid and comfort...
I would say wearing the flag of a belligerent country towards us would be comforting. I mean if its a comfortable shirt you are wearing it on.
But seriously wearing their flag could at least be seen as support, I can't really think of what else it would mean. In a loose sense its treason.
A well-reasoned point there k. I think what we're down to in this flag discussion is the difference between textbook, criminal, punishable treason and the civilian expression of hostility toward his government's policies. There may be a blurred line there and each case has to be considered individually and cannot be delineated in any legislation.
Are high-school students wearing the Iranian flag, for instance, while we're at war with Iran, guilty of treason in the text-book, punishable sense? I doubt it. Shameful and embarrassing? Certainly.
On the other hand, are high-school students who raise money on behalf of, and then send it to fund, Iranian resistance fighters who're trying to kill American soldiers in Iran, guilty of treason? I would have to answer yes to that one.
I think it comes down to the degree and directness of the aid and comfort...at least for me that's the case. For the media, it comes down to Party affiliation: democrats cannot commit treason no matter what, while republicans all deserve to be hung at sunrise.
Yeah I definitely agree with that last statement, or rather what I know you meant by it. And yes i do believe it should be punishable depending on the degree of it. But sadly enough, in the end people will only claim that its within their rights to wear it, and nothing can be done. Just look at Kucinich and what he is getting away with in Syria. In the end any and everybody gets their way in this country. The democrats have a long running agreement with those in need, "you scratch my back, ill scratch yours."
Gentlemen: I have sat back and watched this discussion as it has progressed. The American Flag, "Old Glory", should be honored and protected at all costs. Without regard to anything, the flag should be sacred to all of us. Most of us living in the country today have some relative that fought to defend our country and its way of life, at some time. It would be a slap in their face to allow a mockery to be made of the ultimate symbol of freedom. I watch regularly as "Americans" stand with hat on head as the national anthem is played; I stand amazed at the number of people that don't even try to sing; very few hands over hearts anymore; all showing a lack of respect. I understand that this country affords all people individual freedoms of expression, but to not honor the symbol of that freedom is, to me, a bit trite and hypocritical. I fought for our country! I understand the sacrifices made by many families as they have lost loved ones defending our way of life. Does every soldier agree with the reasons a war is waged - probably not, but every soldier does understand that the flag of our country is worth defending and that it should not be defiled, nor lumped in with other countries flags. I don't abdicate that we abuse or disrespect any country's flag, I just say that they should be kept, for the most part, on their own soil. If someone here wants to don the flag of another country and wear it proudly, I would hope that they are an emissary of that country, or an alien visitior from that country, not some smart-mouthed liberal kid trying to stir up crap.
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