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Students Sent Home For Wearing Patriotic Clothes

I could not believe my eyes when I saw this story last night, “Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees; Freedom of expression or cultural disrespect on Cinco de Mayo?.” Now, there are times kids might need to change their t-shirts, or turn them inside out, or what have you, for inappropriate messages, but this was most definitely NOT one of those times:


I’m sorry, did this young man just say they were not allowed to wear American flags because it was the Mexicans’ holiday? Evidently:
On any other day at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Daniel Galli and his four friends would not even be noticed for wearing T-shirts with the American flag. But Cinco de Mayo is not any typical day especially on a campus with a large Mexican American student population.

Galli says he and his friends were sitting at a table during brunch break when the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal’s office.

“They said we could wear it on any other day,” Daniel Galli said, “but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it’s supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today.”

The boys said the administrators called their T-shirts “incendiary” that would lead to fights on campus.

“They said if we tried to go back to class with our shirts not taken off, they said it was defiance and we would get suspended,” Dominic Maciel, Galli’s friend, said.

The American flag is “INCENDIARY”?? Are you freaking kidding me? Maybe in, I don’t know, IRAN, but in the United States, it is our flag! For these boys to be sent home is absurd:

The boys really had no choice, and went home to avoid suspension. They say they’re angry they were not allowed to express their American pride. Their parents are just as upset, calling what happened to their children, “total nonsense.”

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Julie Fagerstrom, Maciel’s mom, said. “All they were doing was displaying their patriotic nature. They’re expressing their individuality.”

But to many Mexican-American students at Live Oak, this was a big deal. They say they were offended by the five boys and others for wearing American colors on a Mexican holiday.

“I think they should apologize cause it is a Mexican Heritage Day,” Annicia Nunez, a Live Oak High student, said. “We don’t deserve to be get disrespected like that. We wouldn’t do that on Fourth of July.”

As for an apology, the boys and their families say, ‘fat chance.’

Well, evidently, they are not teaching Logic in that school. There is no comparison between an immigrant wanting to acknowledge the country of their birth, and the day the country in which they live celebrates its independence. The holidays of other countries are not federal nor mandatory holidays for the US, nor should they be. We are not required to observe them, and if we do, like Cinco de Mayo, it is out of generosity of spirit on our part, and is not a requirement.

And I’m with the boys – they have zero about which to apologize:

“I’m not going to apologize. I did nothing wrong,” Galli said. “I went along with my normal day. I might have worn an American flag, but I’m an American and I’m proud to be an American.”

The five boys and their families met with a Morgan Hill Unified School District official Wednesday night. The district and the school do not see eye-to-eye on the incident and released the following statement:

The district does not concur with the Live Oak High School administration’s interpretation of either board or district policy related to these actions.

The boys will not be suspended and were allowed to return to school Thursday. We spotted one of them when he got to campus — and, yes, he was sporting an American flag T-shirt.

Wow. What in the sam hill is going on here? Like Brian Kilmey said this morning, on St. Patrick’s Day, no one gets angry if you aren’t wearing green. No kidding. No kids are sent home from school for it, either. No other group demands that their holiday be observed here or else. Nor should they. I have zero problems with Mexicans and Mexico in general, but I have a huge problem with this sense of entitlement that seems pervasive among our youth today, and in this case, encouraged by someone in power. That is beyond the pale.

And while I am talking about Mexico, a new poll is out regarding our borders. The way Obama and the Democrats are talking about the new Arizona law, the results may surprise you. Or maybe not, if you know they are big liars. Anyway, the headline tells the story, Fox News Poll: Arizona Was Right to Take Action on Immigration. No doubt detractors will say, “Well, it’s Fox News, what do you expect?” Bet you didn’t expect this:

Polling was conducted by telephone May 4-5, 2010, in the evenings. The total sample is 900 registered voters nationwide with a margin of sampling error of 3 percentage points.

Results are of registered voters, unless otherwise noted. LV = likely voters
Democrats n=366, ±5; Republicans n=331, ±5; Independents n=159, ±8
Questions 1-

You can view the full results here, but these are the highlights:

Most American voters think Arizona was right to pass its own immigration law, and think the Obama administration should wait and see how the new law works rather than try to stop it, according to a Fox News poll released Friday.

The new poll finds 61 percent of voters nationally think Arizona was right to take action instead of waiting for the federal government to do something on immigration. That’s more than twice as many as the 27 percent who think securing the border is a federal responsibility and Arizona should have waited for Washington to act.

Most Republicans (77 percent) and independents (72 percent) support Arizona taking action. Democrats are divided: 43 percent think the state was right, while 41 percent think Arizona should have let the federal government take the lead.

Considering Arizona has asked the Federal government repeatedly for help, I think that ship has sailed, but thanks for playing. As for the Arizona law itself:

Significantly more voters think the Obama administration should wait and see how the new law works (64 percent) than think the administration should try to stop it (15 percent).

To varying degrees, majorities of Democrats (52 percent), Republicans (77 percent) and independents (68 percent) think the White House should see how the law works.

Nearly half of voters — 45 percent — say they don’t know enough about the new law to offer an opinion on it. Thirty-four percent favor it, and 21 percent oppose it.

Who’s responsible for illegal immigration? By a 60-17 percent margin, voters think the Mexican government is the one that deserves to be targeted by protests for creating the conditions that make so many of its citizens want to leave, instead of protesting the U.S. government for having tough immigration laws.

What a concept – wait and watch to see how the law works out. Huh. Apparently, most people in government haven’t considered that option. And since it mirrors federal law, you would think the president would support it, not threaten Arizona with the Justice Department. But that just wouldn’t be Obama, would it?

And then there is the question of how to prevent illegal immigration:

Stopping Illegal Immigration

Asked how to deal with illegal immigration, the poll shows large numbers favor using National Guard troops to help border patrol agents (79 percent), and imposing fines and criminal charges against employers who hire illegal aliens (79 percent).

Sixty percent favor using the U.S. military to stop illegal immigrants at the border. Support for using the military is up slightly from 55 percent in 2006, although it’s down from a high of 79 percent in 2002,when memories of the 9/11 attacks were more top of mind.

Just over half of voters — 53 percent — favor building a wall or fence along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop illegal immigration.

The new poll finds the biggest concern about illegal immigration is the overburdening of government programs. Forty-four percent cite the strain on government services — far outdistancing all other concerns. About one in five (19 percent) says their biggest concern is illegal immigrants taking jobs away from U.S. citizens, while smaller numbers mention an increase in crime (6 percent) and terrorism (6 percent).

By a 7 percentage point margin, more voters say they think Republicans (42 percent) would do a better job than Democrats (35 percent) handling immigration issues. And by a much wider 20 point margin, voters think Republicans (48 percent) would do a better job than Democrats (28 percent) on border security.

The issue of immigration falls far behind other top issues on voters’ minds. The economy remains the priority — in fact, the poll finds nearly 10 times as many voters cite the economy (47 percent) as immigration (5 percent) as being the most important issue facing the country today.

These are not the things we are hearing from Washington. Now Obama wants to push Immigration Reform during a week when Unemployment reaches almost 10% in this country. He wants the Congress to focus on an issue that is way down on the majority of American’s radar. Our president seems to have his priorities skewed, to put it mildly. Is it really just for votes that he, Reid, and other Democrats are wanting to shift onto this now? Really? When our Unemployment is so high? I’m guessing there will be a lot of votes, but they most likely won’t be going the way Reid and Obama want them to go.

Students being thrown out of school for wearing the American Flag. American citizens begging for the border to be patrolled by the National Guard. The President siding not with the US citizens, but with the illegal immigrants. This is some kind of upside down world in which we find ourselves. How out of touch can this president, and this Congress be? I shudder to think we may find out…

  • Guest

    Except that none of them have any business wearing clothing to make a political statement at all.

    They need to have their heads in their books, politics aside except in government class.

    Just put them in cheap uniforms.

  • felizarte

    Political discourse is as American as apple pie.  But all non-Americans who visit the U.S.A. should remember that they are GUESTS and as guests should be more respectful of their host country.  Why this is not pointed more often is beyond me. Americans should be concerned about disrespect of their own country.  I am amazed that there is no outcry on the part of Americans against this sort of thing.  The Latin culture, is big on delicadeza–sensetivity to acceptable mores and traditions.  But it seems that it is largely forgotten in this country.  When this happens, they should be called out.    

  • AbigailAdams

    Why do educators always seem to miss the opportunity to explore what’s going on–what’s on the kids’ minds.  If it was a statement, then let them make it.  It was a “teachable moment” and they blew it (again).  It was an opportunity for everyone to actually talk and listen to each other.  What happened instead?  If anyone has made political hay of this situation, it was the so-called adults and it doesn’t sound like it was handled well at all.  Was this a public school?

  • carol haka

    The Flag of the United States of America in the United States of America is not a political statement.  We have nothing to prove.  Anyone who doesn’t like it can get the hell out sooner than later.

    Now, for more trouble Obama has caused:

    http://www.napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_2d3e00dc-597d-11df-98bb-001cc4c002e0.html

    He has turned this country upside down on it’s head.

    >:o

  • carol haka

    Yes, it was a United States of America public school.

    The person who issued the demand was a Hispanic VP.

    He should be suspended after he apologizes to the entire nation.

    >:o

  • AnnieCarmel

    We can only hope that as more of these blatant anti-American incidents take place, (and they will) it will bring a flat out demand to secure the border.  No dialogue is worth a hill of beans until that happens. It makes me sick to see the Mexican flag put in our face…La Raza has been telling these kids since Kindergarten that this is land stolen from Mexico and that they have a responsibiity to take it back…that’s one reason flying their flag is so offensive…that and all the lawbreakers they send here.

    After the borders are secure, we can talk about an organized, orderly plan for guest/seasonal workers.  Deportation definitely should be a part of the plan as well for people who have come in illegally with no education or any skills needed in the country or any criminal record whatsoever. 

    I don’t see illegals paying $1,000 for a green card plus all the other legal fees and requirements to become a legal resident since they’ve been enjoying all the job benefits for free. 

  • lorac

    Maybe they should check the vice principal’s papers.  His allegiances seem a little suspect…..  

  • lorac
  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Excellent point, Felizarte.  A number of Mexican American students protested today at the high school, too – you know, for freedom of speech.  Ahem.  I have already noted that Logic isn’t their strong suit.  To demonstrate for freedom of speech when wanting to curtail someone else’s freedom of speech, especially when that speech is to wear an American flag in America…

    Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of a battle won,  Can you imagine if people freaked out if someone had on Italian colors or something on Bunker Hill Day, for heaven’s sake? 

    It really is a sad commentary on what is going on in this nation, I think…

  • susiepuma

    What was even worse than listening to the hispanic girl talking about disrespect – ugh – is that the cincodemayo big frickin’ mexican holiday is not even celebrated in Mexico – one little puebla celebrates it and I believe it is the place where the Mexicans defeated the French – big whoop on that (& I have French ancestry) – don’t know why it is celebrated here in the US – has nothing to do with this country – same thing with the kwanza thing – has nothing to do with the US – I refuse to honor such stupid shit -

    This is the United States of America and if you or yours do not want to observe or respect OUR laws and customs – get the hell out -

    The kids were threatened too by the Mexican gangs – where the hell is ICE when you need them – are they ignoring our laws too along with the stupid POS sitting in the WH who hasn’t evidently read our laws….

    just sayin

  • lorac

    There definitely seems to be a backlash forming (or maybe it’s just people finally standing up for something that has been bothering them for awhile), but I don’t see the Mexican demanders seeming to notice it.  Maybe they’ve gotten a lot of concessions for so long, they think they’re invincible?  I don’t know, but it smacks of balkanization to me, and if they don’t start playing in the melting pot as previous immigrants did, then there’s probably lots more friction to come….

    Seems to me that if Americans were to move to another country, and then get in everyone’s faces on 4th of July and expect everyone else to “honor” it, it would be a very low class and thoroughly insensitive move.

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Holy freakin’ cow, lorac – that is an unbelievable story.  Just unbelievable.  I am in shock!!!  WTH???

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    That is exactly right -  it is celebrated more here than there.  It is NOT “Mexican Heritage Day,” and even if it WAS, this is not Mexico!!!  Still, it isn’t like these high school boys were trying to squash THEIR free speech, so why was THEIR’S squashed?

    And I still do not understand how in he;; wearing an American flag on or as apparel is considered “Incendiary.”  That is very telling indeed…

  • HARP

    Hey Obama…….no one is laughing idiot.

  • Mark

    “I could not believe my eyes when I saw this story last night”

    This is only the tip of the iceberg unless the people in this country decide they want to change the country back to what it was pre-Obama.  Obama said he would change this country that he hates so much and he has been doing it.  All of the moronic libs keep following behind just like the idiots did who followed Jim Jones.

    Just a few years ago people would have laughed had someone predicted that kids would be kicked out of school for wearing an American flag.  Who would have predicted just a few years ago that a president of the US would go around the world and bad mouth the US or bad mouth a state for wanting to enforce a law concerning people invading this country illegally. 

    More changes are in store for the future and they are not pretty.  The American flag itself will be trashed and a new flag will replace it.    The Constitution will be trashed and re-written, and so on.  And it is not a difficult prediction based on the direction this country is going.  Since Obama has come on the scene there has been pervasive and elevated hatred and racism toward white people. 

    Libs of all colors will push to eliminate the US flag since it was developed by white people and now the libs say the country has changed and all non-white people are offended by it.  The same goes for the Constitution, it was developed by all white people and that is unfair to all non-white people who had no input. 

    Christmas and Easter will no longer be holidays.  These are Christian holidays and the libs say that offends non-christians so they must go also. 

    People can either sit on their ass and watch this country become just another low level country like Mexico or get off their ass and send a message to the libs by giving them a massive defeat and rejecting what they are shoving down our throats.

  • guest

    i just wonder how often these 4 boys all wear american flag clothing on the same day.  i think they were just trying to be confrontational.

  • Buzzlatte

    If you wiki cinco de mayo it says that it is almost purely an invented holiday from California.

    And where are the kids and administrators having trouble with American flags???  California.

  • carol haka

    Sharia Law 101

    >:o

  • Mark

    “Just put them in cheap uniforms.”

    Just like the Communist Chinese use to do.

  • carol haka

    You betcha!

    They are going down in droves in November.  The sleeping giant has awakened with a vengence.

    >:o

  • guest

    and THAT is what they were sent home for!

  • guest

    just like MANY school districts.  it’s hard enough being a teenager.  even harder when you can’t afford nice clothing and accessories that other’s girls your age wear. 

  • carol haka

    2 of the Mothers were on this afternoon.  Yes, they decided to wear the t’s to show “American pride”.

    Guess what, that’s legal.

    No one asked the illegals or the Hispanics to remove their clothes.

    Pride in one thing doesn’t have to negate pride in something else.

    >:o

  • felizarte

    A Poster back in the 60′s reads:  ”America! Love it or Leave it!

  • guest

    i just feel like they were being intentionally confrontational.  you don’t see american flag floats in a st. patty’s day parade.

  • ~~Justme~~

    The where showing their American Spirit. Regardless guest this is America if they want to make such a hoopla about it let them go to Mexico and celebrate.

  • ~~Justme~~

    “They”

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    “Maybe they’ve gotten a lot of concessions for so long, they think they’re invincible?”

    There is a big truth in that statement.

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    100% agreement Annie.

  • ~~Justme~~

    I can assure you it’s more than $1000 plus all the medical tests, shots, photos and fingerprints needed it gets up into the thousands. Especially when they are moving 3-4 children here too I expect. This is what riles up people who have done it the correct way. Not only that the running around backwards and forwards to immigration whenever asked to show up for whatever reason it’s not plain sailing when applying for a green card the correct way and neither should it be. First they need a work visa before they can work then the green card process comes after. It’s not move here and get green card within 2 weeks. I expect you know this though just having a rant here!!!

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    WTF is my response.

    Because the procedure is so dispicable in other countries, the AAP wants to allow it to be done here to save the travel expense.

    I think a better use of the AAP’s time would be to examine the brian of whoever came up with that idea. The world could use a study on the brain defects of potential Joseph Mengele and Klaus Barbies.

  • ~~Justme~~

    In other words many would not be able to move here doing it the correct way and why should there be any form of fast track for mexicans to move here?

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    The kids said it was not the first time they wore the flag. They wore it on many days prior to May 5th.

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    Guest you should really check befor you make these stupid ass statements.

    I grew up an Irish American in New York and I can tell you for a fact that there are ALWAYS American Flags in the Parade.

    Check out this picture of the Parade posted on HUFPO.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/17/nyc-st-patricks-day-parad_n_502909.html#s74489

  • felizarte

    Guest, I don’t think I heard you say anything when Obama told his “troops” to “get in their faces.”  Wearing a particular clothing does not even come close to being “confrontational” as when SEIU members become confrontational.

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    Guest – go crawl back to shithole cave from where you came. And take all the other America Haters with you.

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    Never underestimate the stupidity of the far left Californian. They are a breed apart.

  • lorac

    Making a statement isn’t  necessarily confrontational.  By the way, did you see the video today from Cinco de mayo of the Mexican kids (I don’t know their citizenship, but I’m a little uncomfortable calling them American based on their behavior) who were harassing a white guy in a wheelhair? They kept literally slapping their Mexican flag in his face.  Now THAT I would call confrontational.

  • lorac

    Culture always supercedes women’s rights.  Drives me nuts.  A culture is just a thing – not even, as it’s not even tangible – but women are human beings.  Humans should always supercede things – especially since cultures are manmade and usually made to make things easier on men and oppressive on women.

  • felizarte

    Demanding respect but unwilling to show respect for the country whose system  sustains them daily.  That is just incredible!

  • AbigailAdams

    So essentially what some, including the person “guest” here,is saying is something’s wrong with displaying your patriotism and that if you’re an American and proud of that, then you don’t have a right to free speech.  There is nothing offensive about the American flag, unless America offends you. 

    I have a hunch that those who would uglify America and Americans haven’t been abroad much or else they swear allegiance elsewhere.  I’d just like to see them say some of the things they’ve said here and get away with it in countries like China or even Korea and places in the EU.  I’d like to see how free they are with their opinions with an AK47 shoved in their face.  As a former member of the U.S. military, these people really make me ill.  I really don’t know what on earth they could be thinking.  Is there a word that is an order-of-magnitude for “stupid”?

  • carol haka

    Obamacrat?

    Yes, I do believe that would be the word.

    :-D

  • felizarte

    Oh they know how it is even in the countries they left.  It is whining American left that should try living elsewhere to get an education.  Perhaps they’ll have a better appreciation of the U.S. 

  • Peggy Sue

    I don’t know what St. Patty’s Day parade you’re talking about.  But everyone I’ve attended, the red, white and blue is displayed proudly. 

    Try again.

  • jwrjr

    About this incident I am not in shock.  Disgusted, yes.

  • jwrjr

    But it should be spelled “ObamacRat”.

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    Or Obamacrud.

  • EllenD

    I agree with the comments on another thread.
    Cinco de Mayo is an American corporate creation to sell Mexican beer. The Ad Agencies dredged it up and promoted the hell out of lt like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
    It is not universally celkebrated in Mexico where their day of Independence is clearly more important.

  • barry bums a ciggie

    This story pisses me off!  As an Asian American, should I get offended if I see someone wear an American flag t-shirt on Chinese New Year?! NEVER! The whole point of Cinco Di Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, Chinese New Year, etc. is to show our diversity as a country.  Since when do these holidays warrant Americans to wave exclusively the flags of Mexico, Ireland, and China? If my kids ever get sent home for wearing the American flag t-shirt, I will make sure someone gets fired for it!

  • EllenD

    So this commercial holiday in honor of drinking more Mexican Beer is now supposed to be worth curtailing showing the American flag?

  • EllenD

    FGC is illegal and subject to criminal
    prosecution in several countries, including
    Sweden, Norway, Australia, and the
    United Kingdom. In the United States,
    federal legislation in 1996 criminalized
    the performance of FGC by practitioners
    on female infants and children or adolescents
    younger than 18 years and mandated
    development of educational programs
    at the community level and for
    physicians about the harmful consequences
    of the practice.

    This came from the report PDF on the AAP site. What part of “illegal” don’t they understand?

  • Cindy

    Rev. Amy—Oh dear God in heaven…I am speechless- I am without speech.
    These politically correct people have moved from Kool Aid to the truly hard stuff. Their actions make the bizarre look normal.
    I really do feel as though I am living a Salvador Dali painting.
    God help us all…..and SOON.
    Thank you for posting this story…. and please keep it alive, Rev. Amy!

  • Yttik

    Kids used to burn the flag in protest. Today they get kicked out of school for tring to show some patriotism. What a turn of events.

    I remember my grandparents complaining about flag burning in the 60′s. They said if those people didn’t start valuing their country, they wouldn’t have a country to protest in. Those words have stuck with me all these years.

  • EllenD

    Justme you probably have fresher knowledge than me.

    In 1979 my husband and I came over on H1 visas. (H1B technology visa hadn’t been invented and wouldn’t have fit us anyway). We only had to apply for my husband because that automatically gave the whole family the right to live and work in the U.S.
    It took a year to get a green card (Two years for me because the spelled my name wrong n the first one.

    Now I have a Korean friend who has been waiting for 4 years and told that it could be another 5 years. This seems really cruel.

    And every time I used a lawyer, the immigration offices scoffed and said I could have done it myself and saved money.

    Our lawyer said he was handling all Canadians and Iranians (it was after the Iranian Revolution and this was  L.A,)

  • Buzzlatte

    It is not political NOR is it confrontational.  How ever the kids fighting with the man in the wheelchair over a Mexican flag IS confrontational as it would be with any other flag.

    Enough with the whiny PC crap, CA.

  • Buzzlatte

    Yeah, my home state is WA and the St Patrick’s Parades I grew up with always had the American red, white, and blue.

    Sheesh, what a stupid statement, Guest.

  • EllenD

    They might as well. St Paddy’s Day celebrations started in the U.S. just like Cinco de Mayo.

  • Buzzlatte

    Gee guest, do you understand that the VP of the HS violated their rights to free speech by making an issue of their clothes with the flag on them.?

  • Peggy Sue

    I just read the article, lorac.  As Uppity states at the end: What’s next?  A “safer” way to perform honor killings?

    Completely crazed.  And a “little nick down there” is not an acceptable way to garner trust.  It’s simply a polite pass to a barbaric act. 

  • helenk

    I used to have a shirt that I wore every St Patrick’s day, It had the American Flag and underneath it said This is my Country, It had the flag of Ireland and underneath it said This is my Hertiage. Showing respect for both countries.
    Today very little respect is taught for this country. A country that has taken people from all over the world and given them a better life. We have immigrants that do not want to be part of the American way of life. My feeling is if your old way of life was so good , why are you here?

    WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

    PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE

  • ~~Justme~~

    I used a lawyer too seemed easier that way. I had to take a driving test within so many weeks of arriving in CA and they then sent me an SS# number which stated on it not for work. I had to wait around 8 months for an authorization to work card. My driving license took forever to arrive they kept telling me they were checking with INS to make sure I was legal. UGH!! I had to carry my passport around with me for identification. My green card took around 15 months to come through. In the mean time to travel out of the country I had to have a stamp in my passport until that had been added I was unable to travel.  It’s different from State to state my brother moved to IN he was sponsored he married an American he was told when he could work it was well over a year plus every year he had to have his finger prints taken. They were not allowed to get married until immigration told them they could. Of course they do background checks etc and make sure it’s not a marriage of convenience. I have heard since 911 it is taking a lot longer to go through the process on green cards and it seems to depend which country you’re coming from.

  • AnnieCarmel

    Yes, I have a relative who is still in the process…even though she won’t be employed for a long time…speaks excellent English but needs to read and write up to speed on a business level.  She’s educated and has lived in oher countries as well but her goal is to be an American.  She came in with the proper Visa, has followed all the rules and it’ll still be a long process.  She has to pay for a green card even though she won’t be using it.  Whatever it takes.

  • AnnieCarmel

    I feel as if they don’t like the free education they get here and find so much insulting around them, they can always go back to the beloved homeland.

  • AnnieCarmel

    St Paddy’s Day…St Patrick may be their patron Saint but Catholics everywhere celebrate Saint’s days.

  • AnnieCarmel

    As usual, the disrespect starts at the top.  Younger people feel entitled to mimic Obama.

  • arabella trefoil

    Guest, where do you live? I live in Metro NY where we have parades/celebrations for many cultures. People always fly the stars and stripes along with the Irish flag, the Italian flag, the French flag, etc. I drive past many homes where people display flags from other countries and most of them display the US flag.

    In fact, I’ve seen more American flags at St. Patrick’s Day parades and Italian festas than I’ve seen just about anywhere else. My mom and her family are from Lithuania. My relatives fly both flags. They even know proper flag etiquette, something many native born Americans do not know about. My Lithuanian ancestors and my Irish ancestors worked very hard to get here legally. They will be the first to tell you that they are Americans first.

    In fact, it was a mark of honor for my Lithuanian relatives to speak English exclusively, to teach their kids to be good citizens and to serve in the Armed Services.

    The PC police and it’s ilk would have puzzled my grand-parents and great grand-parents to no end.

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Apparently, these young men OFTEN wear patriotic clothing.  But still – it is THEIR right to free speech that was taken away.  It is NOT a requirement to wear clothing honoring Mexico on Cinco de Mayo.

  • creeper

    This is beyond outrageous.  Instead of mutilating females a lot we’ll mutilate them just a little.

    There are simply no words…

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Thanks, Cindy – I appreciate that!

    Even as a leftie, I always thouught there were limits to “PC-ness.”  At some point, someone has to say, No.  No, that doesn’t fly.

    This would be one of those times.  This is the United States, dammit, and if those boys wanted to wear flag t-shirts, shorts, shoes, and drape the flag around their shoulders, they have that right.  Unless it violates a school dress code, there is no reason int he world for them to have been sent home.  Sheesh!

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    You said it, Annie.  That is it precisely.

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  • Jan, NC

    My grandparents were from Italy and came to this country through Ellis Island, my uncles and many of my cousins have served in the military.  We are all proud of our Italian heritage but are also proud to be Americans first.

    Here’s an interesting move to spread around.  The left is intent on pushing the aspect of free for illegals, people can have a way of turning their agenda on them. 

    http://hillbuzz.org/2010/05/08/interesting-idea-on-may-11th-everyone-demand-free-admittance-and-free-food-at-the-arizona-suns-game/

  • Ferd Berfle

    …La Raza has been telling these kids since Kindergarten that this is land stolen from Mexico and that they have a responsibiity to take it back…
    =====================
    Wow, Annie, I didn’t know that. I’m sure, though, that the native Americans would take umbrage with that silly-ass statement. The only group of people who have a valid gripe are the Native Americans.

  • elizabethrc

    Each time there is a ‘heritage’ parade through the streets of New York City, it costs the city millions in police presence and monumental cleanup afterwards.  The trash on the streets in unbelievable and that’s not even counting the lost revenues from businesses effected by street closures, etc.  Wouldn’t it be nice if common sense prevailed for once, and while the city has such a huge deficit, lay off having parades!  If parades must continue, there should be
    only one celebrating America the Beautiful!  Anyone who is offended by this should just go back to their own country, and stop trying to change the culture of America.  It’s inevitable that there is going to be big trouble for these people in the backlash I expect is coming.  Problem is, they have no fear of consequences because our government is willing to sacrifice too much of what we are to be politically correct.  Do they not understand the consequences for America.  Do they not understand the growing dislike of foreign demonstrators and demonstrations?

  • Breeze

    -
     
    Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare.      
         
    This is some of what the flood of immigration is doing to our country, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security reports:      

         
    •95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.      

    •83% of warrants for murder in Phoenix are for illegal aliens.      

    •86% of warrants for murder in Albuquerque are for illegal aliens.      

    •75% of those on the most wanted list in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Albuquerque are illegal aliens.      

    •24.9% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally      
         
    •40.1% of all inmates in Arizona detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally      
         
    •48.2% of all inmates in New Mexico detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally      
         
    •29% (630,000) convicted illegal alien felons fill our state and federal prisons at a cost of $1.6 billion annually      
         
    •53% plus of all investigated burglaries reported in California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Texas are perpetrated by illegal aliens.      

    •50% plus of all gang members in Los Angeles are illegal aliens from south of the border.      
         
    •71% plus of all apprehended cars stolen in 2005 in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California were stolen by Illegal aliens or “transport coyotes”.      
         
    •47% of cited/stopped drivers in California have no license, no insurance and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 47%, 92% are illegal aliens.  
        
    •63% of cited/stopped drivers in Arizona have no license, no insurance and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 63%, 97% are illegal aliens      
         
    •66% of cited/stopped drivers in New Mexico have no license, no insurance and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 66% 98% are illegal aliens.      
         
    •380,000 plus “anchor babies” were born in the US to illegal alien parents in just one year.

  • Breeze

    -

    Two People Who Deserve to be Fired
     
    Wall Street Journal,
    by Gordon Deal   
    Original Article
     5/7/2010

    There are two people who should be out of work for their poor decisions lately. One, the school official at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California who sent home two students who wore t-shirts with American flags.Apparently, showing your American patriotism is not welcome in America during celebrations of Cinco de Mayo. The Vice Principal thought the t-shirts were “incendiary.” See this report from NBC Bay Area. Here’s a cure. If we all had a little more American pride, maybe there wouldn’t be such efforts to kill patriotism. Members of Congress, try this: Make English the official language …..

  • Ani

    I’ll bet no one would have sent them home for wearing an Obama t-shirt and that’s political clothing.  I have a family member who is a teacher and has to see Obama posters all over the place at school — even while he was a candidate.  That’s not prosletyzing?

  • Ani

    Someone pointed out on a radio show yesterday that the only country that really celebrates Cinqo de Mayo is this one.  So, yeah,  let’s protest the country that celebrates your holiday in the first place.  Makes sense.

  • Tricia

    It all seems silly (and actually is form arm’s length), but as one who lives a few miles from Morgan Hill things are getting tense here.  Best not to upset anyone.  I blame the school and then the press for making a big deal out of it.

  • felizarte

    Mutilated brains would think about such an atrocity; mutilated souls would actually inflict it. Dear God! Help!

  • felizarte

    How and when did Political Correctness replace morally, ethically, correct?  It is a concept that simply means “STFU” because you will cause one group to vote for or against a particular issue or person.  Political Correctness is a concept that goes against the principles behind the Bill of Rights and the entire Constitution.  If someone is not telling the truth, just come right out and say he is LYING.  If we think of one another as a human being, then it should be easy to demand humane behavior from others no matter what their pigmentation, country of origin, religion, etc. etc.  I cannot and will not subscribe to this Political Correctness thing.  I believe in that age old Americanism of “calling a spade, a spade.”

  • felizarte

    Unfortunately, many are too stupid to know the difference between national heritage and Team America; that one can be proud of their heritage (as all Americans should be since we are all immigrants from somewhere) and be an American that subscribes to the Constitution.  I think that this is where the educational system has failed.  There should be a re-focus on the origins and founding of this republic; the American revolution, the founding fathers.  

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Excellent point, Ani.

    I understand the school is now making some apologetic sounds, but honestly – if this hadn’t gone national, I doubt they would have thought twice abt what they had done, especially the VP. 

    It is just ridiculous that, in the United States of America, kids are sent home for wearing clothing that depicts the flag of the USA.  I don’t care WHAT holiday it might be.  Something is seriously wrong in this country when that is seen as an affront.

  • Diana L. C.

    I am so sick of the way public schools have become the dumping ground of every social engineering attempt people can come up with.  Parents keep on thinking that schools are the same as they were when THEY attended.  They are not.  Each generation of students has beeen subject to more and more illogical social engineering attempt that comes out of an increasingly socialistic “correctness” from the education departments.  Each year, more and more young teachers are hired who have NO intention of taking another class in their subject matter but instead earn easy recertification from “education” courses–online or night classes–that enable them to use all the current educationese mumbo jumbo.  Each year, they are evaluated on things like that:  can they spout the current theories and not really on whether they know the subjects they are supposed to be teaching.

    I say it over and over:  Schools should concentrate on ACADEMICS.  But every time there is a social issue, I hear the cry that we schould make the schools address whatever is the current “hot” issue: suicide prevention, cutting prevention, drugs and alcohol programs, anti-gang programs, cultural diversity and sensitivity training, rape and abuse programs, and on and on.

    My own kids suffered, for instance,  when the dumb DARE program became big in their elementary school.  I totally resented that the program had NOT been proved effective.  And many decades later it has pretty much been proved ineffective.  Year after year, hours of TEACHING time that could have been spent on reading, writing, math, science, etc., was wasted on that program.  The kids got to feel superior in their little DARE shirts and lord it over kids whose parents (like me) opted out so their kids could have extra tutoring.  They got to have their little Krytalnacht style programs where certain kids were left out under the assumption that they would some day be druggies because they didn’t attend DARE programs.

    Often the kids who were hot shots in that program grew up to be some of the biggest drinkers on college campuses.  Think about it.  Teaching group think, which if you read the DARE materials is really what is happening, the heavy reliance on “peer pressure,” means that when group think is that it’s cool to be in DARE, you’re in DARE.  Then when it’s cool to attend total drunken orgies in college, you do that, no matter what you spouted years before when you were a fourth grader. 

    Then they tried an anti-gang program for a small town 60 miles away from the closest city with any gang activity.  That’s when some of us uncool perents finally got our backs up and said “NOT AGAIN,” especially after the yearly drinking and driving death of some teenagers in town.

    This is the same thing–it was so cool for many teachers to think they were teaching cultural sensitivity, that they went totally overboard.  It has gotten out of hand completely. 

    Keep social issues, political issues, anything that can be argued from different points of view, out of the schools.  Teachers and administrators should ALWAYS be neutral on these issues.  They can stop racial name calling, they can stop the wearing of alcolhol or drug or sexually explicit shirts, etc, but these decisions should always be based on LAW.  It is not unlawful to wear t-shirts that carry American themes. 

    There are places where in the high schools kids can do this type of debate, but the teachers and administration should ALWAYS remain neutral and not allow it to spill over from the classrooms where that occurs.  The debates and arguments should always be conducted logically.

    I was totally po’d myself when I heard that Denver Public schools did their thing about banning travel to AZ.  I was totally po’d that they allowed the students in many schools out for the day to protest—in a dristrict that is struggling even to graduate Hispanic students.  What kind of silent ostracism was practiced on the parents and students who disagreed with the protests and the time away from classes?  Where were their rights?

    I say it over and over, I would not even think of allowing a child of mine to attend public school if I had to do it over again.  They are not even close to the academic institutions that I attended as a child.  They are basically brainwashing organizations for whatever unproved social theory the education departments have cooked up.  Just think of Billy Ayers, if you want to have some evidence.  That he is considered an expert in educational theory should make you shudder.

    Yes, RRRA, I am really angry about this issue.

  • Sassy

    I would say that things are tense across the country, and patience is wearing thin!
    This president, his allies, and his media groupies have exploited racial and cultural divisions at every turn!
    We were already confronting numerous security and fiscal issues, and now the very fabric of the country is being torn apart!
    I respect the flag and language of my country, but I don’t respect those who refuse to!

  • Cindy

    Just Me—I am so amazed with all you had to go through to be able to live here…and I’m very impressed and proud to know someone who appreciates America. If only all immigrants were like you!

  • Cindy

    Ellen—-did you come from Scotland, originally?

  • creeper

    Somebody ought to clue the WSJ in to how many students were sent home.  It was not two.  It was five.

  • creeper

    Out.  Standing.

  • EllenD

    No, Cindy, I came from Canada and was born in Canada.
    I was born into a Scottish-Canadian family, just like a lot of American families are Irish-American.
    During the Highland clearances the Scots had a choice of moving to Canada or being killed by the English. During the Irish famine, the Irish had a choice of moving to the US or starving under English rule.
    So Canada has Scottish institutions where the US has Irish. McGill vs Notre Dame. And the character of each country has assumed some of the founding ethnic character. Canada is cautious and evolutionary. The U.S. is impetuous and revolutionary.
    How’s that for sweeping generalizations?

  • EllenD

    Wheere are you from Justme? When I sat in for my swearing in to become a US citizen, there were literally thousands in this huge area being sworn in. The military got sworn in first, as well they should.
    There was a lovely older Chinese lady next to me who kept looking at me curiously. Then she said “Why are  you here? You are already an American?” I explained that I was Canadian, but then I noticed the terrific variety of people there but few northern European faces.

  • EllenD

    Annie, after a year of waiting I finally had a green card that had my first name (common english name) spelled wrong. I took it back and the immigration officer said “Oh that happens in about 10% of the cases. Most people change their name to match their  green cards.
    I said “Well I’m not most people and that isn’t my name!” Then it took another application and another year.

    Now I wonder about how this error level in transcribing names is hampering Homeland Security in keeping track of people. A lot have more complicated names than mine.

  • EllenD

    BTW – as a completely off-topic aside. The Scots and the Chinese have a terrific affinity that goes way back. Tai Pan was actually a  Scottish trading company. I feel the affinity myself when I visit China.

  • AnnieCarmel

    Ferd, my daughter works in the school system and in her district they do not have this problem.  However, her best friend from HS days was a kindergarten teacher in Salinas for a number of years and finally quit in disgust over this.  She said La Raza would come in on any Mexican holiday and speak only in Spanish (she speaks and understands Spanish) tellling the children that we stole the land from them and that it’s really theirs.  Aztlan is the name I believe that illegals give to the plan for re-annexation of the SouthWest…retake it through sheer numbers and births on US soil.

  • EllenD

    There are places where in the high schools kids can do this type of debate, but the teachers and administration should ALWAYS remain neutral and not allow it to spill over from the classrooms where that occurs.  The debates and arguments should always be conducted logically.

    Diana, I love your posts.

  • ~~JustMe~~

    I am originally from England EllenD. Funnily enough moving to the USA was pretty easy in a many ways for the British years ago when I came, which is going on 14yrs now. I do wonder if the feelings have changed recently with the way Brown was treated and the return of the Churchill bust etc. Plus the first place I lived when moving here was Morgan Hill how ironic.

  • helenk

    We have cheated our young out of an education that taught them how to think, read, write,count for many years now. No geography, No history. Is it any wonder that the standard of living has been decreasing. When a business is hiring the main reason to get hired is to be able to DO THE JOB. Too many kids have  been pushed through without the basic skills and told they were wonderful. When the real world hits them in the face they are lost
    I applaud parents who stand up and say ” cut the BS and teach my kid the basics and to be able to think and reason..

    WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

    PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE

  • Onofre’s arm

    Cinco de Mayo? What’s the big friggin deal? If people were to celebrate all of the anniversaries where France got it’s ass kicked in some battle, then they’d be celebrating 24/7/365, and once every four years on leap day. Sheesh!

  • Tex-Mex Soup

    This is so beyond the pale fucking stupid.  This is America and our flag is the Stars and Stripes.  What the problem is, that the media on both sides, English/Spanish has fueled such hateful propaganda that people on both sides are severly misinformed against each other.  And the MEDIA and the CURRENT administration want to incite race wars and the mexican government is right in on the bullshit.   Its just another form of control.

  • Mandelay

    Did anyone catch the votes (shown on C-Span last week) regarding Puerto Rico statehood?  One of the “amendments” called for making English the official language (P.R. has two official languages — English and Spanish).  That amendment was defeated.  I was wondering if the push to get P.R. to take another vote on their “status” was just another way to make Spanish one of the “official” languages of the U.S. That, of course, would impact any proposed immigration “reform” to come out of Congress.  The topic of P.R. statehood (which the island has voted against several times) seemed to come out of nowhere, but I was wondering if anyone else thinks it’s really all about the language.  My own personal opinion is that language is the only thing that ultimately unites us in this nation of immigrants.  

  • Cindy

    EllenD–Thanks! That’s so interesting! My heritage is Welsh and possibly, Seminole (paternal) ——and Scots-Irish, Choctaw, French, Bavarian (maternal).

  • wodiej

    actually alot of Christians schools have a dress code such as khaki’s and polo shirts.  This would eliminate the distraction of tight fitting, revealing clothing, droopy drawers and other such nonsense.  School is for learning not fashion.  We need to get back to the basics and maybe those SAT scores would improve. 

    Although the boys in question say they were just showing their pride, and did not mind the attention given to a mexican “holiday”, common sense says they did not like the disrespect shown to the United States by all the hispanics displaying mexican colors and flagwear.  I don’t blame them-I would have been offended myself and probably would have done the same.  We don’t celebrate July 4th in school/workplace etc. because the majority of people get to celebrate it as a holiday.  There is no earthly reason why Cinco De Mayo should be any different.

  • wodiej

    I’m sure it is.  I don’t think it will work though.  They won’t have power long enough to make much of what they are doing stick.  The Dem’s are creating a Tsunami for mid terms and 2012.

  • Diana L. C.

    Thanks!

  • AnnieCarmel

    I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a French flag flying or being held on Bastille Day…except maybe outside a French restaurant as a marketing tool.

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Just Me, that would be interesting to find out. 

    This is so interesting, y’all – thanks so much for sharing from where y’all are, and what the process was like for you.  Fascinating!  And we’re glad  to have you!! :-D  

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    This certainly puts a major hole in the argument proffered recently by an Obot that crime was down in these states.  Maybe it is in some areas, but that the make-up of those committing these crimes are largely illegal, is appalling.  And the federal government is refusing to help these states WHY???  Good grief.  This is why Arizona is spending $4 billion a year, CA $10+ billion a year, and Texas close to $5 billion a year.

    How does Obama and Co. justify not doinbg their job on this issue?

  • AnnieCarmel

    DianaLC
    Agree 100%.  We have a number of elementary schools (Monterey, Salinas and Greenfield) with a majority of hispanic students that are failing state standards; mainly this is due to non-English speaking students and uninvolved parents.  Some of these schools may be closed down and now there’s a big hue and cry.  Too late.  You should have been studying along with your children and keeping them in school.   
     
    In the Carmel district we have 3 elementary schools.  I’m not sure  about the standing of the other two schools (pretty sure the Big Sur school does well…small school, commited teachers) but the one my daughter works in is in the top 5 in the state.  She told me today the district has 3 openings for the coming year…and 500 applications.  They will interview 10 of the 500.  
     
    In Monterey districts, they are transferring some of the effective teachers out of fairly decent HS’s over to Seaside (failing) and the students are up in arms; their take is “Thanks, now we can all fail.”  They have been writing letters to the editor of the local liberal rag saying that they can’t afford to have their teachers transferred…CA is a mess.  So have all the diversity you want but don’t count on an education.  On the other hand, Carmel High actually teaches history, civics, social studies, etc., along with the regular college entry curriculum.  You can’t always have 100% involvement of parents but they have a high%.  My daughter and son-in-law actually based planning their 2nd child around what they thought would be required for the 1st one when he was in HS.  There are 12 years between the boys and they were very involved with both all the way through school…no self esteem (or “diversity respect”) classes necessary.

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Exactly, lorac – that is exactly right.  Women always come up on the short end of the stick.  In this case, it is something being done to girls not if legal age to make their own decisions.  Appalling. 

    What happened to the Hippocratic Oath? 

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Diana, preach it, sister – nothing like the voice of experience.  Thank you for your passionate, insightful comment!

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    Well, it is a touchy situation in Puerto Rico, too.  Many do NOT want statehood there, but rather want independence.  Since taking over PR in 1989, the US has done some things to damage their economy to make them dependent on the US,  have damaged the environment (US companies didn’t have to uphold by the same environmental laws there as here), and more, so many people there do not want statehood.

    I am NOT surprised that they are pushing for statehood in our Congress now since Puerto Ricans cannot vote in our presidential elections (just the primaries).  So, they assume they will get an additional voting bloc if they can get them statehood.

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    Your point about peer pressure is right on. Kids need to learn self discipline, how to do what is right without pressure, and do what is right when no one is looking.

    We have two generations lacking in that regard and now they are all on Wall Street.

    Many colleges require taking an ethics class, especially for Business degrees. If you need an ethics class in college, it is already too late.

  • EllenD

    Justme, I related the story of my Scottish Canadian family but my mother scandalized them all. They thought that she was going to marry the black teacher she  was dating, but to their horror instead she fell in love with an ENGLISHMAN! BTW – this was the 1930′s.
    So, my father’s Woolwich birth certificate means I can move to the Old Country too.
    California is full of Canadians and British. A lot in Santa Monica. Nice to hasve you here.

  • ~~JustMe~~

    Oh wonderful EllenD, my mother is Scottish but moved to England years ago after meeting my father whilst he was in the Army! I have only met one other Brit since I moved here and we met when I first arrived. Strangely she had lived in Canada for 6 years and then moved down here she bought a house way over what they could afford and they sold up and moved to Washington State. I was sad to see her go, however it’s the way of life at times as you will know. Great to have you here too.

  • Cindy

    Annie—-well, they ain’t gettin’ the Alamo….again!
    They’ll have to pry it from our cold, dead gringo manos!

  • EllenD

    Since taking over PR in 1989
    In 1898, during the Spanish–American war, Puerto Rico was invaded and subsequently became a possession of the United States.

    Right numbers, wrong order.

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  • Bob Sakowski

    “The Flag of the United States of America in the United States of America is not a political statement. ”

    Neither should it be an advertisement for Old Navy.

  • creeper

    Hmmm…maybe the government should be charging royalties.

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