No Room for Patriotism Anymore

While I never really meant to comment about anything vaguely political in this blog, I just can't help myself after reading an article on MSN.com about 5 teenagers who were sent home because they wore clothing decorated with the American flag. I actually reread the first line of the article because I couldn't believe that a public school in America would punish students for having the American flag displayed on their clothing. I mean seriously, what has the country come to? Students are being punished for patriotism! But the real kicker is the reason why the principal sent the boys home. The boys wore their American flag bandannas and t-shirts on May 5. Or as we've all come to know it, Cinco de Mayo. The principal felt that since it was a Mexican holiday the boys should be sensitive enough not to display the American flag in a school that has a large Mexican-American  population. According to the article the school's administrators called the clothes "incendiary" and said they would incite fights on school grounds.  The teens were given two choices: Turn the shirts inside out or get suspended. They went home to avoid suspension.  One Mexican-American student was quoted saying, "I think they should apologize because it is a Mexican Heritage Day. We don't deserve to get disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on the Fourth of July." Well for starters I find it offensive and disturbing that someone who lives in the United States is offended by the nation's flag. It shouldn't matter that these boys wore t-shirts decorated with the American flag on Cinco de Mayo. I don't know if the boys decided to wear these t-shirts on May 5th to make a point or to start something. That's besides the point.  As Americans they have right to wear the t-shirts whenever they want to. But their rights were stifled by extreme political correctness. There is nothing wrong with ethnic groups having their cultural days to celebrate here. That is the beauty of this country. Everyone is allowed to celebrate their cultures freely. The ugliness here lies in the fact that American patriotism was not allowed. To facilitate other ethnic groups and cultures, Americans have to be extra sensitive to the point where it crosses a line. It crosses the line of freedom of speech and expression. And let's not forget we are all Americans here anyway. No matter what country you came from if you are living here as a citizen you are an American. I am the child of immigrants and my parents strongly and proudly identify themselves as Americans. Partly because they came here to escape a country that was persecuting them and didn't allow for the opportunities that we have here. That's a huge reason why many people come to this country. Partaking in the American Dream should also involve having pride and patriotism for the country that has accepted you and has given you opportunities.  Patriotism and pride is what unifies everyone who lives here. If we don't have that unifying factor to unite us and give us common ground then what will happen to the strength of our country? It'll get weaker as I fear it already is. 
Even after reading the article a few times I still could not wrap my head around the reason why the boys' clothing was so offensive to the Mexican-Americans in the school. The statement from one girl comparing Cinco de Mayo to the Fourth of July also confused me. July 4th is Independence Day. It is the day that we celebrate our independence from Great Britain. So I did some research on what Cinco de Mayo celebrates. It commemorates the unlikely victory of the Mexican army over the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  So while it is a patriotic holiday for Mexicans and a day of celebration and pride it is not Mexico's day of Independence. That day is in September.  So no comparison could be made to the Fourth of July. And while I understand that Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated here and in some way has become a pop culture thing, it is still a Mexican national holiday. That being said, those boys should not have been punished for wearing the American flag on American soil. Now if they showed up wearing the French flag on their t-shirts I might understand why the Mexican-American students would get offended. 




Oh and while we're talking about political correctness here's another interesting tidbit. Comedy Central is working on a cartoon about Jesus that depicts him as "a regular guy" who moves to New York to "escape his father's enormous shadow." Funny that Comedy Central could possibly air a cartoon about Jesus that will probably ridicule him and offend many Christians but they can't air Muhammad in a bear suit. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?


Here's the link to the Comedy Central article.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxnZK5i67vuSLHEv_p8Db2L9mCAgD9FHICJO0