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It’s happened again. This time a school in California has asked for 13-year-old Cody Alicea to remove the American flag on the back of his bike because they fear the American flag aggravates the racial tensions escalating at the middle school where he attends. Cody says he’s had the flag on the back of his bike for 2 months now and does this to be patriotic and to honor veterans, like his own grandfather, Robert Alicea.
“In this country we’re supposed to be free,” said Cody. “And I should be able to wave my flag wherever I want to. And they’re telling me I can’t.”
Stand tall Cody.
So, Denair Middle School…what the heck is your problem? How about if you concern yourself with your purpose which is teaching kids, preparing them to be competitive in a free market society? And those racial tensions? Remove the agitators from the school and leave patriots alone.
If you’d like to call Denair Middle School with your concerns, the phone number for the school is (209) 632-2510. Please be direct but polite even though they may not be. Videos below.
Cynthia says: You’ve completely missed the point. There were racial tensions at the school. Do you want this kid beat up or gang violence to rule the school? It was a preventative measure to protect this child or someone else’s. You all really push this “Don’t Tread On Me” mantra too far without looking at these kinds of unintended consequences.
Colleen says: Superintendent Edward Parraz said, “Our Hispanic, you know, kids will, you know, bring their Mexican flags and they’ll display it, and then of course the kids would do the American flag situation, and it does cause kind of a racial tension which we don’t really want,” Parraz said. “We want them to appreciate the cultures.”
http://www.kcra.com/r/25754519/detail.html
Okay first…: The USA is a conglomeration of many cultures, who have chosen to live together under the banner of Freedom and Individual Liberty. Our Flag represents those ideals, as I’m sure you all know. These kids do NOT live in Mexico, and for them to get upset over the flag of the country they live in being displayed is flat out WRONG. I’d be saying the same thing if Portuguese kids started pulling this crap, and I’m almost half Portuguese. 😐
Listen. I am ALL for being proud of ones heritage, but trumping the display of the American Flag at an American public school, because one particular group *might* take offense to seeing is really starting to get old. American tax dollars pay for those kids schooling, after all.
Ken says: “Do you want this kid beat up or gang violence to rule the school? It was a preventative measure to protect this child or someone else’s.”
If that’s the case than this school has far more problems than a kid bringing a flag to school. The flag is not racist. The flag is not divisive. The flag is not violent. If certain people react violently to seeing the flag then those people need to be dealt with.
Tell me, Cynthia, if kids were offended by other kids with red hair and started beating them up, would you expect them to dye their hair to keep from getting beat up?
Try living in reality.
Walt says: This isn’t about some kid being made to take the flag off his bike. This is about America’s school systems, where employees who should be teaching professionals are more likely to be political activists.
Micky says: Oh, but they can run around with their boxers down to their knees, plumbers crack, wearing shirts with pentagrams and che on em.
“Dont celebrate being American, its offensive”
Whats even worse is that the morons making these decisions get paid by what that flag stands for.
Griggs says: Who could possibly be proud of the American flag anymore? It’s a symbol of corruption and taxation, a symbol of entitlements and gay rights, a symbol of war and invasion, a symbol of bloody occupation, of torture and rendition. The American flag is a symbol of Godlessness, abortion and tyranny. In fact, the flag now stands for everything America used to be against.
Ken says: “Who could possibly be proud of the American flag anymore?”
Me. And millions more Americans as well.
And thankfully the school saw reason after the story went international. They are now focused on the students who complained and Cody is flying his American Flag again.
Reason finally prevailed – at least this time.
David says: WooHOO!
lisa says: the school actually asked the boy to put the flag away, and the boy agreed.
he was not suspended or anything.
now ok, i grant you, the flag should in theory be able to be flown by any 13 year old anywhere in the usa
but …
if the school had not said anything and the boy was hurt they would have been liable. if there were threats they had the responsibility to tell the boy and to suggest that he not bring the flag.
not that long ago a boy, a boy with “issues”, wanted to wear a kilt to school. i told the parents not to let the boy wear a kilt — because it is just a skirt and he would have been mercilessly taunted.
now, did he have the right to wear a kilt? yes.
however, would i have been able to protect him from bullying had he worn the kilt? no.
WinterSnow says: Remember those hippies & college radicals in the ’60s, well they are now school teachers & administrators so maybe this will help answer your question. Good article.
David says: Interesting example, but…
ONE item here has to do with what MOST AMERICAN HUMANS feel is appropriate and, yes, even expected from a 13 year old American male – to be proud of his grandfather and other family members who served and to fly the flag.
THE OTHER item has to do with the “wearing of a skirt”. That flies in the face of what MOST AMERICAN HUMANS would feel is appropriate and, yes, even expected from a male. (Yes, I know it was/would-have-been a kilt and that is worn by MEN (or was) in the highlands of Scotland, back in the day. And I have no problem with that.)
But you can see that there is a difference here, yes?
David says: P.S. Check out this awesome video regarding this story:
http://www.bluegrasspundit.com/2010/11/feel-good-story-boy-whose-school-forced.html
“It’s a symbol of corruption and taxation, a symbol of entitlements and gay rights, a symbol of war and invasion, a symbol of bloody occupation, of torture and rendition. The American flag is a symbol of Godlessness, abortion and tyranny. In fact, the flag now stands for everything America used to be against.”
To an unAmerican, yes. To an American, no.
“…And to the Republic, for which it stands…”
lisa says: “But you can see that there is a difference here, yes?”
not in the result, both could get hurt
Micky says: Griggs.
Had you said that about a countrys flag that truly represents the crap you spewed, say… N. Korea ? You’d be dead.
David says: Lisa,
Well… no on said that we’re guaranteed not to be (emotionally) “hurt” or that our feelings will never be hurt.
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