Thursday, May 06, 2010

CA students sent home for wearing red, white, & blue on Cinco de Mayo

This story coming out of California should be a huge red flag for those who have ignored the other red flags concerning American-Mexican relations. How can five American students in an American high school wearing American red, white, and blue colors be sent home for wearing those colors in America?

On the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, American students in America, not Mexico, were told by American school officials to turn their shirts inside out or go home:
Four of the five students who wore American flags or patriotic colors on campus walked into a meeting with the superintendent of the Morgan Hill unified school district Wednesday night.

They were facing unexcused absences because they chose to go home early rather than take off what they were wearing.
...
Student Anthony Caravalho was also sent home for not turning his shirt inside out.

“They said we had to wear our t-shirts inside out and then we could go back to class and we said no,” said Caravalho. “It would be disrespectful to the flag by hiding it.”
One student commented:
“It's just kinda disrespectful that they would do that on this day,” said student Victoria Wright. “I mean, we don't go around on 4th of July wearing red white and green and saying ‘Viva Mexico,’ because that's disrespectful.”
Does Ms. Wright not understand that she is not in Mexico for the Mexican holiday but that Americans are in America for the 4th of July holiday?

A student of Mexican descent was proud to wear red, white, and blue ... the colors of the country where he lives:
Dominic Maciel said his father is of Mexican descent.

“I have no problem with them wearing their Mexican stuff, their Mexican flags,” said Maciel. “I just thought I'd show my pride. American pride.”
Would students wearing American colors on St. Patrick's Day be sent home for not wearing green?

Wake up, America!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I'm beginning to wonder what country we live in. This isn't the end of this story. There are going to all kinds of fireworks. If I were one of those kids moms, I would already be starting the fight, legally.