Seriously?

[Dragonfighter]

Not to change the subject but I am listening to Michael Berry and he had a local story from Klein ISD where some sophomore got suspended from school for taking down a Mexican flag that was flying higher that the American flag at his school. Has anyone heard this?

Now that IS codified.

U.S. Code Title 36, Chapter 10, Section 175:

(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

Anyone flying the flag subordinate to another nation's needs censure. That school administration needs to be reamed.

[Quahog]

Anyone flying the flag subordinate to another nation's needs censure. That school administration needs to be reamed.

I totally agree...

[Purplehood]

I submit that US Law should state that no citizen or legal resident of the USA should be penalized, ostracized or made an example of for displaying a US Flag that is not defaced in any manner.
I would let the lawyers come up with the appropriate wording.

[handog]

Two words, la reconquista. I'm from that area and can tell you that the Mexican flag is shoved in your face all year long (including July 4th.) Not just on cinco de mayo. Nothing wrong with celebrating cinco de mayo but other than that raising a foreign flag in the US is a declaration of war.
There are a growing number of sanctuary cities in the US and no real pressure for the immigrants to acclimate. Press one for English for example.

I think the kids with wearing the red white and blue were just reminding the red white and green that this is still America. Good for them.

[Kythas]

Here's the thing that gets me about this story:

Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican holiday.

This is merely the commemoration of the Battle of Pueblo where the Mexican army defeated a French invasion (yeah, I know, the French invaded?) of Mexico. The Mexican army was outmanned by a 2-1 margin and ended up victorious. It is mainly commemorated in the Mexican state of Pueblo where the battle took place, but generally nowhere else in Mexico.

No schools are closed, no offices are closed, no government buildings are closed in Mexico on May 5. Many people mistake this celebration as Mexican Independence Day, but that day is Sept 16.

Cinco de Mayo was created by Corona beer as a marketing campaign to sell beer in the United States. It is now observed primarily in the United States much as St Paddy's Day is - an excuse to drink alcohol. I'd say it was one very successful marketing campaign.

So I'm left wondering why American students were sent home for wearing an American flag in an American school because Hispanic students were offended on a day that isn't a Mexican holiday.

[handog]

So I'm left wondering why American students were sent home for wearing an American flag in an American school because Hispanic students were offended on a day that isn't a Mexican holiday.

This has much to do with the new Arizona law that just passed rather than a Holliday. May 5th was an opportunity for the Hispanic community to push back. There has been little resistance to the invasion from Mexico until now. We are in a bust economy and the US no longer has deep pockets to support illegal aliens so there is growing pressure to deport them. The principal who gave the order to cover the American flag is Miguel Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez clearly still has one foot in Mexico.


"There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”—Theodore Roosevelt, 1907








.

[joe817]

This has much to do with the new Arizona law that just passed rather than a Holliday. May 5th was an opportunity for the Hispanic community to push back. There has been little resistance to the invasion from Mexico until now. We are in a bust economy and the US no longer has deep pockets to support illegal aliens so there is growing pressure to deport them. The principal who gave the order to cover the American flag is Miguel Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez clearly still has one foot in Mexico.

"There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”—Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

Thanks for posting handog!

I think the quote by Teddy Roosevelt should be posted in every school in the United States. Every elementary, junior high, high school and college. Both public and private.....

JUST to remind people that this is The United States......NOT some other country....which some people obviously think it is.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I do not agree with wearing the clothing as it is against the flag code...but then again the flag code is simply that a code it is not law.

I agree with the above I cannot discuss my true feelings on this matter w/o breaking the forum rules.

Last I checked this was still America NOT Mexico. This completely disgusts me.

Only draping or wearing of the flag, not images or emblematic graphics of it, are disallowed.

USC Title 36, Chapter 10 Sec.176:

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

I beg to differ...http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/faq.htm#q031" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dragonfighter]

<SNIP>
I beg to differ...http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/faq.htm#q031" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting, the blog you cited took the quotation of the code out of context to make their point and THEN link directly to the section cited.

Below is the entire section with my emphasis to point out some detail that is key, IMHO.

United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag

§3. Use of flag for advertising purposes; mutilation of flag

Any person who, within the District of Columbia, in any manner, for exhibition or display, shall place or cause to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, or any advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America; or shall expose or cause to be exposed to public view any such flag, standard, colors, or ensign upon which shall have been printed, painted, or otherwise placed, or to which shall be attached, appended, affixed, or annexed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, or drawing, or any advertisement of any nature; or who, within the District of Columbia, shall manufacture, sell, expose for sale, or to public view, or give away or have in possession for sale, or to be given away or for use for any purpose, any article or substance being an article of merchandise, or a receptacle for merchandise or article or thing for carrying or transporting merchandise, upon which shall have been printed, painted, attached, or otherwise placed a representation of any such flag, standard, colors, or ensign, to advertise, call attention to, decorate, mark, or distinguish the article or substance on which so placed shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100 or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court. The words "flag, standard, colors, or ensign", as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

8. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

a.The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
b.The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
c.The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
d.The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.e.The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
f.The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
g.The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
h.The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
i.The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
j.No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
k.The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning

[KD5NRH]

This is merely the commemoration of the Battle of Pueblo where the Mexican army defeated a French invasion (yeah, I know, the French invaded?) of Mexico.

The Mexicans beat an unsupported, tired French force in that battle. The French later regrouped and won the war, making Mexico one of those rare countries to actually lose to France in the last few centuries.

IMO, they might as well make a Mexican holiday for the Alamo or Goliad.

[Dragonfighter]

8. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

<SNIP>

I don't think we disagree here. The question was the applicability of the link you posted about the image on shirts and what not, and it is a misdemeanor in Washington D.C.

From this section, which I posted as well we get a test of sorts, let's look at what you highlighted and compare it to clothing with the impression on it:

d.The flag should never be used as wearing apparel ...

Clearly this section is speaking of the flag, not images of the flag. A flag worn over the shoulders or made into a garment IOW. Screen printed shirts, ties and what not do not apply here, so let's look at the next area.

g.The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

Again we are talking about the flag being defaced. Not images of the flag. I don't think screen printed clothing apply here either.

i.The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

This one is multifaceted. The first test is whether the flag itself (and I am allowing for the inclusion of images here)was used for advertising purposes in the students' clothing. At least in the pictures I saw none were using the flag as advertisement but there clothes were decorated with elements and some images of the flag. The image should not be embroidered on cushions, handkerchiefs and the like because it would be disrespectful to sit, lay your head or blow your nose on the flag.

The paper napkins and boxes thing is explained in its wording and the hanging of any advertising from the same pole or halyard speaks to the opening of this section.

All that aside, I personally believe that if you wear "patriotic" elements on your clothing, they should be abstract enough that, while invocative of, do not portray the flag. I also do not agree with handing out, waving around and discarding those little paper flags. But I try to keep in mind the attitude of those that do.

I also am not going to spend my time splitting hairs on what image may be invocative of and which may be a proportional image of the flag. Consider this, I have a T-shirt from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. On the back in bold block lettering is the words "U.S. Navy" and "behind" that is the image of the museum with the U.S. Flag proudly waving in front, is this against the code? How about a souvenir shirt of the White House with its flag? You see, when we move from our personal convictions on this issue and start extrapolating the code to disavow others' use of the image, we are setting ourselves up as judges of what is proper and what the hearts of men hold. I don't believe the intent or even the wording of the code supports this.

Back on topic, we have a situation where American kids were suspended from an American school because they wanted to show their pride in this great country. And it was they, not the ones shouting in Spanish and waving Mexican flags that were considered antagonistic. That is unacceptable. But now, what do we do about it?

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

Section 3 states what is a flag.

The words "flag, standard, colors, or ensign", as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America

The whole thing about DC is that you can face a penalty there. Yet it clearly states what a flag is.

Im not saying that people that wear flag shirts or paper flags are bad. I completely agree that their hearts are in the right spot. Its just against the flag code. But that is why its just a code and not law.