get jumped. from title

wow this is america "Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American
Flag Tees" What bullfluff if your on the other side of this debate tell me why cuz i dont get it?

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/...s-Sent-Home-92945969.html

The school was worried about a fight breaking out. These are high school kids and well...they act like high school kids. I'm not sure what's wrong with boys getting beat up in school, but that was the fear and motivation here.

that's some BS - who the fluff's gonna be pissed off if they don't celebrate someone else's holiday?

I'd have a lawyer on retainer right about now if I were them.

there should be a long line of lawyers willing to take this. but unfortunatly to fight against this today in mainstream america, you would be labled as a biggot or racist. its just a major sign the US is going to hell in a handbasket. you will see alot of decent people snap as this trend continues.

Let's be honest. The whole Mexico/America thing is highly charged right now due to the immigration stuff. These boys wore these shirts in this political climate for the express purpose of making a statement. Free speech? Perhaps. Potentially trouble making on a school campus with many Mexican-Americans? Absolutely.

The school was justified in its action. And if the tables were turned, I'm sure they would do the same thing. The administrators have a responsibility on behalf of all the students.

Better outcome of this situation on campus:

1) students are asked to remove their shirts or leave campus

2) students get into a brawl with other students

all the things i can find/read online

say that #1 there was no one messing with anyone at any point in the day thus no cause to believe there would be a fight

#2 Freedom of assembly

#3 why are only white people targeted i demand equal rules for all make the kids in mexican stuff go home and change.

#4 atleast one of the boys is half white half mexican some sites said 2

#5 "A California high school principal has apologized for telling five students they couldn't wear U.S. flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo, the local superintendent said Friday."
http://www.foxnews.com/...g-shirts-mexican-holiday/

that didn't happen just there, it happened in little ole' Chamberlain South Dakota there too. 6 Students were sent home. 2 changed shirts and came back, 4 didn't.

The first responsibility for the school administrators is to ensure the safety of the kids at the school. It's easy to sit here and chant USA! USA!, when reality is more difficult than that. A group of students purposefully wore specific clothing in order to create a scene. They didn't randomly choose a day to show their "patriotism", they specifically chose a date that, at least in the US, that has come to symbolize Hispanic pride.

The school administrators, the folks actually on the ground, felt it imperiled the safety of the kids at the school. Right or wrong about the situation on the ground, it was their call to make.

It's a high school campus. "Rights" only extend so far when you're under 18. If you do something to purposefully disrupt things on campus, you can't really complain when you're asked to quit doing that thing.

The first amendment only protects so far. You can't yell out fire in a crowded theater, it is a danger to public safety. Same thing here, things can escalate fast when you have a group of pissed off teens.

I'm a US born citizen, I've served in the military, I've put my life on the line for this country, and I proudly have the US flag hanging in front of my home as we speak.

I also don't appreciate being called retarded just because I have a differing opinion than you.

See, this is a pretty offensive statement right there.

You know...I'm more surprised people own american flag t-shirts or bandannas (of any color). I'm also a bit confused about how the shirts would really upset anyone...get a few remarks or a few cross looks, sure. Really upset someone? That said Rico is right. The school felt there could be problems and they acted on it. I think we need to stop babying everyone and stop trying to shelter people from the world they live in, but that's a separate issue. If you become responsible for 1,000 kid's safety see how quickly your morals go away to keep from listening to 100 nut job parents in a PTA meeting blowing their top.

This wouldn't be an issue if they wore school uniforms.

i read a news article that a kid got in trouble at school for wearin a shirt with the us flag on it durin cinco de mayo :(

People under the age of majority have no rights.

But Illegal immigrants do???

http://www.foxnews.com/...ican-flag-banned-america/

Fox news trolled

"As a former flag industry insider, I can tell you that the flaggots will stop at nothing to see their flags put into every classroom, every public ground, every citizen's yard. This is a multi-million dollar industry pushing high patriotism on you fools. The flag industry helped get us into Iraq and Afghanistan knowing that flag sales would skyrocket and every coffin coming home would have a crisp american flag draped over it. Behind every flag there is a puppet of the ill's profiting off your patriotism, your demise! Don't wait until it's too late, until brave Glenn Beck is explaining the flaggists' pro-flag agenda on his chalkboard and its connection to the globalist scum! Don't let them continue to infiltrate our public schools!"

<3 Glenn Beck's crazy chalkboard

"If someone takes offense at the sight of our flag they should not be in this country period. "

Anyone who feels like THAT is unquestionably NOT an american or at least anti america guess where you're born could still be here. This is about as offensive as anything I've ever read. I'd of course willingly die to protect your right to say it because unlike you I love america!

The school did something stupid. It wasn't anti american or pro immigration. It was a principle acting out of fear, something Amercan's have a truly sick habit of doing lately. This is the same fear that makes people accept countless real attacks on our freedom in the name of safety.

"This is not a scientific poll."

god i love foxnews

i hate when people say you can or cant do some things to the flag. like when someone paints it on his truck. there actually is a flag code against that. to that individual on his truck thats his patriotism. to the people with the code book thats only a place where itll get dirty and theyll try to sue him.

your own version of patriotism aint enough anymore. now you gotta live by rules someone else has set forth.

It's american where you're entitled to your own opinion, even if it makes me sick to my stomach and I find it beyond reprehensible. As long as you're not committing a crime, you have the RIGHT to think and say what ever you like and you should expect EVERYONE no matter what they feel to stand up for your right to express that opinion. If you disagree that's your right, but it makes you a bad american and well frankly a bad human being.

Please stay and express your sick opinions! It's your right as an american to have them. Even if they stand against everything this country stands for.

BTW this is why we need some kind of test or something before people can vote. I mean really if you haven't either memorized or read over the constitution in the last year...should really be allowed to vote?

It'd be stupid to argue that it's a day that Mexican-Americans celebrate, so you shouldn't wear an American flag. It stands for the integration (I'm aware of the segregation issues) of everyone. I'm not one to tout how the American flag is top fluff, but this kind of goes against the very meaning.

To be honest earth watcher I think putting the flag on anything but a flag is a bit weird at best and rather offensive at worst. I mean really on a t-shirt? The flag deserves better than to be plastered across some redneck high schooler's chest. Though I'm completely fine with it being burned in protest.

This school thing isn't about the flag so I'm not sure why we're still talking about it. It's about the irrational fear of safety in the American society. It's about how we shelter our children and prevent them from learning from their mistakes. The flag was simply a catalyst to get this into the media, but it's FAR from the real issue here.

An aside dealing with wearing the American flag:

Flags are worn on many American Military uniforms, though most are patches and are sewn or velcroed on the shoulder. Some are not even the traditional coloration (ie: subdued grays or browns), though those are rarely worn outside of combat theaters.

Those kids deserved it. Like Dibs and the other trolls on AT, those kids were just trying to stir fluff up. Although they should be able to wear those shirts whenever they want, it is the school's job to ensure safety, and those kids were asking to get their asses beat. The school sent them home and made sure that no one would get hurt.

So you fools want to sue the school for being responsible and stopping fights before they happen? You think the principal has eyes in every corner of the school and can appear magically in order to prevent fights?

Good job, school.

If we have come to a point where we are concerned about the safety of kids wearing the American Flag, we have much more pressing matters.

Its about freedom. What if others found it offensive for people to gather around the flag and pray on the national day of prayer, would we send the kids home? Or what if wearing green shoes was offensive to some group or another and the ones wearing the shoes we sent home? The examples could go on, but it is not the examples that matter.

They have freedoms. Wearing the American Flag on a t-shirt falls well within those freedoms. If a problem arises, those that started the problem should be punished, not those that are exercising their freedoms.

Americans are also entitled to hate speech. However, that becomes illegal when it could promote violence. This is the same case. I'm not equating wearing the American flag with hate speech, but in this PARTICULAR context and situation to encouraging violence.

I would agree, if, they were actively trying to cause trouble. If they were walking around, going "AMERICA! fluff YEAH! LOOKIT MY SHIRT HOOOOEEE!" then yeah, I'd probably punch them myself. But if they were just minding their own business, then...I guess there wouldn't really be an issue in the first place.

well that is the problem here, the Mexicans made a mountain out of a mole hill. a handful of dorks were sent home for wearing a us flag shirt only because a bunch or rowdy gang banging dip fluffs threaten violence. in southern California where pop culture for kids now days gets you to be involved with drugs, gangs, institutions and death. with that being said alot of Americans are sick of the filth that is forced over here (US) from Mexico where everything is corrupted by cartels which are involved with human trafficking and drugs. the Mexican military escorts people across the border to USA by force ignoring our immigration laws. Unfortunatly Mexico is a really fluffty place to live and earn a living so crime is out of control.

You are most certainly equating hate speech with the American Flag. They did nothing that would bring violence. Freedom of speech and expression must be protected. What if I felt offended at anyone at my college that wore a Barack Obama t-shirt? Or what if I felt offended by anyone that wore a t-shirt promoting free-choice for abortions? Should the other person be liable for me producing violence? Absolutely not!

Now as someone stated earlier, if it was the American flag pissing on the Mexican flag...maybe you could call that out because it is denigrating Mexico. However elevating yourself or something you believe in cannot possibly be equated or even compared to hate speech.

I'm not equating it at all, in the sense that they are on equal footing. What I am saying is that in THIS SITUATION, being obtuse assholes walking around a bunch of Mexicans on their national holiday with an american flag on your shirt to basically make a statement of "gtfo" is promoting violence.

What I am saying is that the principal did a good job of diffusing the situation before someone got hurt. It is the school's job to avoid conflict. That could have led to conflict.

I am not making a comment as to whether violence would be justified, or whether we all have an inalienable right to free speech or whatever. The issue is whether that situation could have resorted to violence, and it is the principal's duty to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

He did the right thing by sending them home and turning what could have been a violent situation into nothing.

Tan, why not just let the kids get beat up? That was the correct choice...clearly it wouldn't go over so well with our current overly protective culture. That said if kids are going to try to get a rise out of someone...let them get beat up. Builds character!

No TAN he made a personal decision to encroach on the kids rights. It matters not whether someone is offended by the American flag because by that logic, one day someone may find it offensive to peaceably assemble, or to vote etc etc. If the kids did nothing but wear those shirts, they are well within their rights. As such is it not legal to send them home for that reason.

I'm torn on this issue. If there's no dress code prohibiting students from wearing shirts with a decent/acceptable design on it...then the school administrators were in the wrong for telling these kids that they couldn't wear them.

On the other hand...These students used poor judgment in wearing these shirts on this particular holiday...They were making a statement basically saying, "F*** Mexico"...Intolerance was shown on both sides.

I live in south Texas and the schools in our district do enforce a dress code NOT allowing students to wear any shirt with a design on it...They must be solid colored shirts only. After this incident...I tend to agree with the policy. School is a place for learning academics..not to make a fashion/political/racial/etc statement.

CK, you are misunderstanding me.

This has nothing to do with their rights. Yes, they have that right. There is no disagreement on their right to wear whatever they want.

The issue here is whether it would have precipitated violence. It is the principal's job to prevent that. He acted accordingly within his judgment. It is better to be overprotective than not protective at all.

He still acted to encroach on their rights. If another takes offense to the shirts and will act in violence, that person is the one that should be sent home, not the ones wearing a shirt.

Kess has the right idea. If the school rule prohibits all shirts of a certain kind, then it is ok for the school to act. Such as all shirts with a national flag on them etc etc. To act against the American flag and not act against the Mexican flag is not legal. Send them all home, or none. Sending only one side is not right and the kids have a legal case against the school if they chose to act.

Im not going to defend the choice of the students, but they were well within their rights.

agreed CK..

What right does a high school student have in regard to what they wear to school? Really, unless you KNOW there are court cases backing this up do tell, other wise I question that students have ANY rights on what the wear. All schools I've ever been to had it built into a dress code that they could ban anything if they deemed it necessary. Some had strict dress codes and others there might as well have not been a code.

From what I read they were asked to remove the shirts because it would create an unsafe environment within the school. They have received gang threats because of this already.

I completely agree with having free speech, but I think this is more of a safety issue. Why would you wear American flag shirts on the one day that they celebrate something? Think about it like this, how many Americans celebrate it too? It is basically a holiday for binge drinking.

CK, were there students that were wearing the Mexican flag? I didn't see if that was the case or not. If so, they should have been sent home as well, and I completely agree.

When I see cars on the street that have a Mexican flag on their car, I get upset. I've seen cars that have the American flag and the Mexican flag on the radio antenna, but most of the time the American flag was on the top. I've seen the Mexican flag on the top once, and I wanted to hit them with my car. If they love Mexico so much, they can go back there and do some more Donkey shows.

I am all for PROPER immigration (green card, citizenship, paying taxes, etc.) but not what is going on now.

Madjsp...You completely agree with free speech yet if someone sports a Mexican flag on their vehicle you want to hit it and send those ppl back to Mexico?

Am I the only one that sees those two statements as hypocritical..?

madjsp, it was cinco de mayo...of course there were people wearing mexican stuff.

hoop, is it in the dress code that they cannot wear clothing with American Flags on it? Of course that wasn't in the dress code. Therefore, the school had no rights on the matter. They cannot simply ban anything on a moments notice because they deem it necessary. We are a country of laws, not men.

It comes down to selective punishment really. Schools can make rules and execute them, but first of all the rule must be in place and second the rule must be executed without discrimination. The rule was not in place and even if it was, they executed it on one side and not the other creating a legal case for the punished students.

Hustler, this is a high school. These aren't "laws" or anything like that. It's always where I've been at the discretion of the administration as to what is and isn't acceptable. The kids weren't in trouble...they were asked to turn the shirt inside out or go home and change. High schools are places of learning, not a place to express your free speech.

The school cannot have rules that cover every possible scenario. These are minors. They most likely can't walk outside after certain hours. They can be arrested for not being in school during the day. So really give me a break.

What they did is wrong. It wasn't wrong because they violated free speech. It's wrong because we shouldn't need to coddle our children. You'd have done the same thing if you felt you could lose your job over a violent fight breaking out.

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Most of you guys seem so lost. Is it likely these kids wanted this type of reaction? Yes. However, they did nothing wrong whatsoever in this situation. Unless flags were specifically against the school's dress code then they were executing their rights, which don't just disappear (for the most part) on a certain "holiday." These kids don't have to recognize Cinco de Mayo. It doesn't sound like these kids were going around shouting "Go back to Mexico" so any opinion derived from these shirts is totally protected by your right to have an opinion about something. However, if upon creating an opinion you decide to retaliate with violence then you are a threat to our public schools and should be kicked out. Bottom line.

I understand administration was only considering the students' well beings but they denied these kids their rights out of fear violence would erupt. Discipline those who deserve to be disciplined, not those who actually comprehend the constitution. These 4-5 kids are probably some of the most involved in their social studies classes since they have a brain and it doesn't seem like they created a problem, but everyone else made it one.

Why don't we discuss how students and people today are so enveloped in the system they can't comprehend basic freedoms? Society sucks. Any student walking out of class to protest something should be dropped from school. We're already wasting enough tax money as it is.

So your saying the majority of students wearing Mexican oriented clothing aren't expressing any sort of speech? These double standards are making half the mess with all this immigration stuff.

God, I hate living in Arizona. Can't wait to get away from all this.

Dress codes are established as an easy way to prevent disorderly conduct, whether it comes from differing political views (as in this case and the case at my school where they had someone turn their Che Guevara T-Shirt inside out), sexual tension (length of shorts, no bare mid-riffs, et al), or whatever. I guarantee the dress code was written in such a way to give teachers and administrators the wiggle room they need to counteract whatever the next great fad is if it becomes disruptive to the learning environment.

Therefore, if there were indeed threats being made, and those threats were in direct response to their garments of choice, it would be against the dress code.

To clarify, its easy to incorporate a catch-all as the last clause that would empower teachers and administrators to use their own judgement.

"So your saying the majority of students wearing Mexican oriented clothing aren't expressing any sort of speech? These double standards are making half the mess with all this immigration stuff.

God, I hate living in Arizona. Can't wait to get away from all this. "

It wasn't believed by the administration to be something that would incite violence. There is no double standard there. Think before you say stupid things, please.

Look a college does something like this, get upset. These are CHILDREN. They are not adults, they are not afforded the same rights as adults. Most of them more than likely have bed times too!

Sporting an American flag is something that would incite violence but wearing a Mexican one incites positive multiculturalism? Non-hispanic kids are expected to peacefully accept students wearing a mexican shirt but Mexican students are expected to respond with violence to white kids wearing an American shirt? No double standard? Okay... whatever you say.

I don't disagree with the uniforms, you're right, this really shouldn't even be an issue. Yes, it should be a place of learning. Yes, within school grounds they have diminished rights. The problem here is the fact politics have influenced the decision by school staff and they encroached on the rights of certain students while allowing the majority to get away with using the threat/risk of violence as a form to get their victory.

Speaker that scenario would only be applicable on the 4th of July and school isn't open that day...so I'm not sure how you can possibly compare or pass judgment.

Speaker, lets say that this did turn into an ugly fight and someone got seriously hurt. What then? I mean if the kid ends up fine it's a valuable lesson, but what if he doesn't? Why risk it if you're the person responsible for protecting the kids?