Mexifornia

[Gorgon]

Didn't the US grab LA from Mexico back in the day. I mean if anyone doesn't 'belong' wouldn't that be the Yanks.

[Hurlshort]

Didn't the US grab LA from Mexico back in the day. I mean if anyone doesn't 'belong' wouldn't that be the Yanks.

 

The whole of California was claimed by the US after the Mexican-American War and made a state in 1850. The main thing is that the US and Mexico are culturally tied together, and they should be able to celebrate one another rather than being antagonistic.

[Thorton_AP]

Do the kids usually wear patriotic colors to school?

[Hurlshort]

Do the kids usually wear patriotic colors to school?

 

Probably not in unison.

[Tigranes]

Idiot students do stupid crap to provocate people. Sensible people get rid of them. Media goes OMG OUR COUNTRY IN DANGER. The end.

 

WoD life is not a Battle of Ideologies and an Arena of Symbols, all you're doing is tramping all over context and common sense.

[Hurlshort]

I do think the administrator handled this fairly poorly. It was an educational moment, not a time for threats of suspension. I can think of half a dozen better solutions to this problem.

[Calax]

It is pretty odd how Cinco de Mayo became a huge holiday in the US. Half of my family is living in Mexico, and it's practically a non-event there.

Probably more of a counterpoint to the Fourth of July. I suppose in theory the reasoning behind it is that white americans would celebrate the 4th and talk down to the minorities. So different minorities started to make their own holidays with cinco de mayo etc starting to be celebrated.

 

IIRC Cinco De Mayo is celebrating the ability of the Mexican Army beating the bejesus out of a spanish invasion fleet.

 

Honestly this whole situation sounds almost like a group of kids at a catholic school decided to walk in wearing the star of david and talking in yiddish.

[Thorton_AP]

I think this would be like going and practicing a religion in front of an institution that practices another. (i.e. go in front of a Christian church and start preaching paganism or some heathen religion). It'd be in bad taste.

 

 

EDIT: HAHA, I didn't see Calax's post when I posted

Edited May 6, 2010 by Thorton_AP

[GreasyDogMeat]

This school is a few blocks from my house.

 

One oddity in this story is that the School District has taken the opposite side of the administrators at the school site. Usually they back the administrators or at least hedge, but they said straight up they disagree with the decision.

 

I'm against political statements in K-12 schools period. If the shirts were causing a disruption, then the students should not wear them. This can go for any T-shirt.

 

And you know what, it's in bad taste to wear a US flag on Mexican Heritage Day on purpose. If it was accidental, then that's fine, the students would probably not make an issue of changing. I personally would have been embarrassed if I had shown up with my US flag shirt on Cinco de Mayo, because it's a stupid thing to do. It's like going to a baseball game wearing a hockey jersey. You aren't expected to wear a baseball jersey, but you don't need to embarrass yourself.

What a load. Would this happen if students wore shirts with the American flag on St. Patrick's Day? I don't think so.

[Calax]

This school is a few blocks from my house.

 

One oddity in this story is that the School District has taken the opposite side of the administrators at the school site. Usually they back the administrators or at least hedge, but they said straight up they disagree with the decision.

 

I'm against political statements in K-12 schools period. If the shirts were causing a disruption, then the students should not wear them. This can go for any T-shirt.

 

And you know what, it's in bad taste to wear a US flag on Mexican Heritage Day on purpose. If it was accidental, then that's fine, the students would probably not make an issue of changing. I personally would have been embarrassed if I had shown up with my US flag shirt on Cinco de Mayo, because it's a stupid thing to do. It's like going to a baseball game wearing a hockey jersey. You aren't expected to wear a baseball jersey, but you don't need to embarrass yourself.

What a load. Would this happen if students wore shirts with the American flag on St. Patrick's Day? I don't think so.

Because the irish have better things to fight about... *rimshot*

 

...

 

 

Sorry.

[Thorton_AP]

If you were to take an insular group of Irish people at the bar celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and you came around wearing American flags and came into that bar, I could see some raised eyebrows. If it was a situation where there was known tension, it could escalate.

 

Since it was mentioned earlier, this reminds me of people getting upset because there is a "Black History Month" and state "Why isn't there a White History Month."

 

I'm skeptical that the kids wore it to not be confrontational. I remember being a kid and I could see myself doing something similar just to stir **** up. Especially if I come from a family that is particularly outspoken against Mexicans.

[Oblarg]

It is pretty odd how Cinco de Mayo became a huge holiday in the US. Half of my family is living in Mexico, and it's practically a non-event there.

Probably more of a counterpoint to the Fourth of July. I suppose in theory the reasoning behind it is that white americans would celebrate the 4th and talk down to the minorities. So different minorities started to make their own holidays with cinco de mayo etc starting to be celebrated.

 

IIRC Cinco De Mayo is celebrating the ability of the Mexican Army beating the bejesus out of a spanish invasion fleet.

 

Honestly this whole situation sounds almost like a group of kids at a catholic school decided to walk in wearing the star of david and talking in yiddish.

 

No, because that's implying that the norm at the school is for an American flag to be offensive. I still don't see how it's that offensive even in the context of a Mexican holiday, though. They're not really doing anything to ruin your celebration. I see no reason why any reasonable person would be offended.

[GreasyDogMeat]

If you were to take an insular group of Irish people at the bar celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and you came around wearing American flags and came into that bar, I could see some raised eyebrows. If it was a situation where there was known tension, it could escalate.

 

Since it was mentioned earlier, this reminds me of people getting upset because there is a "Black History Month" and state "Why isn't there a White History Month."

 

I'm skeptical that the kids wore it to not be confrontational. I remember being a kid and I could see myself doing something similar just to stir **** up. Especially if I come from a family that is particularly outspoken against Mexicans.

I find it disturbing that this was even an issue... that people even noticed it. When I first heard this story, I figured the news media was witholding information. That the shirts had something else on them besides just a flag... something like 'go home Mexicans' or something else inflamatory. No... just the flag. How offensive.

[Oblarg]

If you were to take an insular group of Irish people at the bar celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and you came around wearing American flags and came into that bar, I could see some raised eyebrows. If it was a situation where there was known tension, it could escalate.

 

Since it was mentioned earlier, this reminds me of people getting upset because there is a "Black History Month" and state "Why isn't there a White History Month."

 

I'm skeptical that the kids wore it to not be confrontational. I remember being a kid and I could see myself doing something similar just to stir **** up. Especially if I come from a family that is particularly outspoken against Mexicans.

 

Even if they wore it to be confrontational, if they weren't actively harassing Mexican students then there is no reason to do anything about it. It's an American flag. So what? People really are too easily offended.

[Wrath of Dagon]

What would the Mexicans say if I went to their country and told them not to wear the Mexican flag because it's the 4th of July?

[Guard Dog]

Also, most schools are not in session during the 4th of July, but if a group of students were wearing Mexican Flag bandana's on a Veteran's Day celebration, they would probably be told to remove them as well.

I HIGHLY doubt that. And anyone who did would be excoriated in the press. Showing contept, disrespect, hatred to the US and it's history and culture is cool and hip. Asking someone to not do it on a day of celebration is racist and intolerant. Or so they say.

[Guard Dog]

What the hell is Cinco de Mayo and why does it matter in the US in the first place?

It's a minor Mexican holiday celebrating a victory against a French army (I think) back in the 1860s. It has been heavily promoted in the U.S.-- mostly by companies that sell Mexican booze-- as a day for Mexican-style partying. Sort of like St. Patricks' day with tequila and Corona in place of Guinness and Jameson's.

Dead on the money. If not for Corona advertisements nobody would ever have heard of this. Including the politically motivated and utterly phoney "aggireved" latinos celebrating it as some faux representation of their culture.

[Wrath of Dagon]

Veteran's Day is not "hate Mexico day", so why couldn't they wear a Mexican flag? I see lots of people wearing Mexican flag shirts, no one notices or objects.

[Oblarg]

Also, most schools are not in session during the 4th of July, but if a group of students were wearing Mexican Flag bandana's on a Veteran's Day celebration, they would probably be told to remove them as well.

I HIGHLY doubt that. And anyone who did would be excoriated in the press. Showing contept, disrespect, hatred to the US and it's history and culture is cool and hip. Asking someone to not do it on a day of celebration is racist and intolerant. Or so they say.

 

Wearing a Mexican flag on Veteran's day isn't disrespecting the US. Nor is wearing an American flag on the 5th of May disrespecting Mexico. Grow up, people, this is (or should be) such a ****ing nonissue.

[Guard Dog]

What would the Mexicans say if I went to their country and told them not to wear the Mexican flag because it's the 4th of July?

Interesting point. We all know the answer to that. Other countries do not seem to be infested with this sick, limp-wristed, liberal self hate that so many Americans (partucularly politicians and other "public servants") seem stricken with.

[Guard Dog]

Also, most schools are not in session during the 4th of July, but if a group of students were wearing Mexican Flag bandana's on a Veteran's Day celebration, they would probably be told to remove them as well.

I HIGHLY doubt that. And anyone who did would be excoriated in the press. Showing contept, disrespect, hatred to the US and it's history and culture is cool and hip. Asking someone to not do it on a day of celebration is racist and intolerant. Or so they say.

 

Wearing a Mexican flag on Veteran's day isn't disrespecting the US. Nor is wearing an American flag on the 5th of May disrespecting Mexico. Grow up, people, this is (or should be) such a ****ing nonissue.

 

Oh I completely agree with you there. But that does not seem to be where we are these days.

[Thorton_AP]

Meh, I could see Americans (or any culture) taking notice if they were on the opposite end of the spectrum.

 

 

Put a group of Americans in a place where they're celebrating 4th of July in Mexico, and have a few Mexicans decide to wear their Mexican flags to the event, and I'd be surprised if no one said anything about it.

[Oblarg]

Meh, I could see Americans (or any culture) taking notice if they were on the opposite end of the spectrum.

 

 

Put a group of Americans in a place where they're celebrating 4th of July in Mexico, and have a few Mexicans decide to wear their Mexican flags to the event, and I'd be surprised if no one said anything about it.

 

This wasn't an exclusive Cinco de Mayo celebration, this was a school.

[RPGmasterBoo]

To be punished for wearing the flag of your country, in your country, is disgusting. Its an important symbol and if it can stand in the white house, why the hell can't it be on a kids t shirt? I see no logic for a minority to be offended by the flag of the country they're residing it. If it offends them, why are they in the US in the first place? Where does it say in the description of their holiday that a US flag Must Not Be Worn? To even insist on something like that is unacceptable.

 

Its not like they were wearing American flags and strolling through Hiroshima. Ridiculous.

 

Thank god this sort of bull**** would never pass in these parts.

[Hurlshort]

On a side note, if these kids had done the same thing a little down the road in Salinas, they would have probably been shot.

 

And how often do large groups act with reason and logic? Let's try to be a little realistic here. The five students have every right to make a statement on Cinco De Mayo by wearing US regalia, but it doesn't make it a good idea. And again, a school is a bad place for statements, distractions are supposed to be minimized.