Cinco De Mayo

If you are unfamiliar with this story please read it here: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Students-Wearing-American-Flag-Shirts-Sent-Home-92945969.html

This recent controversy has got me thinking. Most people commenting on the sites reporting this story are furious with the administration of the school, and say these boys' rights were being infringed upon. I disagree. I know it is rather "liberal minded" of me and a lot of you reading this are going to disagree, but hear me out.

I read hours of reports on this incident, and what some of them don't mention, is that the boys in question wore this attire with hurtful intention. There were reports of them yelling, "We live in America," to Mexican/American students who were celebrating in the cafeteria. It was after this incident that the administration escorted the boys to the office.

It seems to me that it was just as much the attitude of these boys that got them into trouble as it was the colors on their shirts. If they wore these clothes with deliberate intention to hurt other children by demeaning their race, then they DESERVE to be punished. I believe that the vice principal was serving the best interest of all the children because their actions might "incite a confrontation", and confrontations mean hurt kids.

Wouldn't these parents be just as mad if their child had to go the the ER because of a confrontation. Also, it is important to note, that these children weren't suspended or punished in any way. They were only sent home for the day to avoid any harmful encounter that might occur if the issue was left unresolved. I feel it would have been more unfair if the Mexican/American students celebrating Cinco De Mayo with out malice were sent home to avoid confrontation with the American flag students.

Wearing of the Confederate flag was banned in my middle school, not because of it's historical element in our country's past, but because the attitude of the people wearing it was HURTFUL, and I feel that this situation is no different. Had these boys worn their clothes without running their mouths, they would have finished out their school day peacefully, and there would be no controversy. If the school officials would have sent them home under these circumstances, that would have been a reason to get upset.

I feel that we, as Americans, have a pompous mentality. These boys were wearing the American Flag, so regardless of their actions, or attitude, they were right and all of the people wearing the Mexican flag were wrong.This thinking is SHAMEFUL. We need to remember that this country was founded by IMMIGRANTS, so we would do well to learn of few lessons of tolerance.


The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus

This is written on the pedastal at the base of the Statue of Liberty.

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