Yesterday, Fox News posted an online survey questioning whether people believe that the American Flag should be banned in the United States. The question spurred over five million votes, with a whopping 84.11% stating their disapproval agreeing that “This is a lame decision. Teach the kids what the flag means, instead of banning it.” Only 11.69% believed that the flag should be banned considering the safety of students, while 0.19% were not sure. The other 4.01% chose to comment about the decision.
The survey stems from recent incidents occurring in elementary and high schools.
Take last year, for example, when a group of students were sent home from school for wearing shirts that exhibited the American flag on them.
Five students from Live Oak High School, located in Morgan Hill, California, wore American flag bandannas and t-shirts to school on Cinco de Mayo, a holiday celebrating the Mexican victory over the French at The Battle of Puebla.
While others carrying American flags had them taken away, the five boys were faced with an alternative, “turn their T-shirts inside-out or be sent home,” Fox News notes. The students, however, felt that doing so was disrespectful to their country, and therefore, had to leave.
The school noted that since the students wore the American flag symbols on Cinco de Mayo day, it could potentially lead to arguments among Mexican-American students, and therefore, prohibited students from wearing it just for that day. One student, for example, painted a Mexican flag on her body and said that this was “the only day Mexican-American students can show their national pride,” Fox News continued.
Parents of the students who were sent home had different views on the matter, believing that the school owed an apology and explained that in the past, conflict did not arise from wearing the shirts.
Now for a more current example, this time occurring in a younger age range.
It happened last month at Butterfield Elementary School in Orange, MA. While a group of 11-year-olds were drawing pictures to hang in their classroom, young Frankie decided to honor his older siblings who were currently serving in the military by drawing the American flag, conservativetrumpet.com notes.
Frankie's drawing
The teacher, however, would not let the boy hang his drawing up with the others, believing that it would offend another classmate who refused to pledge the flag every morning.
Frankie’s father, on the other hand, believes that his child was the one offended, spurring comments from the public such as, “Why should un-American rights be more important than our own Constitutional rights to express pride and patriotism for those who serve and protect us?” “If you are offended by the American flag, then just leave. Go to that place where you are not offended” and “People come to America to live and are offended at OUR Flag? Send them back to those ‘wonderful’ countries they left due to poverty and oppression. But don’t come here and oppress us!” (http://conservativetrumpet.com/2011/05/13/fear-of-offending-boys-american-flag-sketch-banned-in-ma-school/).
These are just two of many incidents that have erupted over usage of the American flag in classrooms throughout the United States.
Road Scholar wants to know what your feelings are on this topic. Do you think that the American flag should be forbidden in the United States?
Tags: American Flag, Butterfield Elementary School in Orange, california, Cinco de Mayo, elementary school, forbidden, Fox News, french, high school, Live Oak High School, MA, Mexican, Morgan Hill, road scholar transport, The Battle of Puebla, United States
