Morgan Hill has become the center of a national controversy this week after four Live Oak High School students were sent home for wearing American flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo.
Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez sent Daniel Galli, Austin Carvalho, Matt Dariano and Dominic Maciel home from school yesterday after they refused to turn their shirts inside out.
The administrations reasoned that by donning the patriotic t-shirts, the teenagers were offending Live Oak’s Mexican-American student’s right to show pride on the May 5 holiday.
"They said we could wear it on any other day," Daniel Galli told San Jose's KNTV. "But today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday, so we were not allowed to wear it today."
After the students and their parents protested Rodriguez’s decision in the Morgan Hill Times, the story was picked up by the Associated Press and has since gone viral. Today the story was featured on the front of Yahoo News, and the controversy is getting significant coverage on Fox News and CNN.
There has been tense relations for years at Live Oak High School between the school’s growing Mexican-American population and caucasian students. In the past, fights have broken out on campus between Mexican-American identifying and American-identifying clubs during campus events like International Food Day.
Read more at:
http://www.morganhilltimes.com
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/06/california-students-sent-home-wearing-flags-cinco-mayo/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36981179/ns/local_news-san_francisco_bay_area_ca/
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- on 04/26/2011
i doubt it
- on 11/28/2010
My grandparents came to this country to escape tyranny and persecution in their home countries. My grandfather loved the flag, and for what it stood. He was so proud to be an American that my father's name was George Washington. You would think that the institution that TEACHES history, civics and government might actually READ and attempt to comprehend the Bill of Rights!
- on 09/21/2010
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- on 05/13/2010
I came to US as a legal immigrant because of better oppurtunity. Before the naturalization interview, I need to learn about my "new" country. I think people that act rashly are really ignorant of the real meaning of our flag. I would like you to read this in order to remind yourself why you are an american. America did not deny us about our heritage, but We ARE AMERICAN FIRST". try to examine yourself, where your loyalty lies? What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? ++ give up loyalty to other countries ++ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States ++ obey the laws of the United States ++ serve in the U.S. military (if needed) ++ serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed) ++ be loyal to the United States When the United States became an independent country, the Constitution gave Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. Congress made rules about how immigrants could become citizens. Many of these requirements are still valid today, such as the requirements to live in the United States for a specific period of time, to be of good moral character, and to understand and support the principles of the Constitution. After an immigrant fulfills all of the requirements to become a U.S. citizen, the final step is to take an Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. The Oath of Allegiance states, “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
- on 05/12/2010
I just had to note this, I thought it was funny....cougar came after bunny!
- on 05/10/2010
First of all--Cinco de Mayo is not a National Holiday same as St. Patricks etc. Irish American students do not feel offended when others wear the U.S. Flag. The U.S. flag is our national symbol and not any other flag of any other country. If you feel "disrespected" for Americans wearing the American flag, get over it or just plain go home. Our symbol will fly even when uneducated phlegmatic un-American zealots are no longer around. If you are here in America then you must assimilate into the culture for it must be better here in America or your family would never have migrated here. The prejudiced assistant principal should be removed immediately and write an apology to America.
- on 05/09/2010
And! I have worn a uniform for the United States Army for 25 years, several Peace Officer Uniforms, and am a member of the NRA. With that in mind, I do believe the Vice Principal and the Principal should be removed for their lack in judgment. I believe they should be made to offer a public apology for their actions, which will not stop any of the numerous law suits that are being filed. Unfortunately, those young men's faces have been put aired all over the media, I pray to God that some uneducated gang banger does not take matters into his or her own hands. For those who wonder about educated gang bangers....they do not exist or they would not be in gangs!
- on 05/09/2010
And, for the record, I contacted the Governor of Arizona and let her know that I not only support her, but I will contribute to the economy whenever I can! 100,000 people left Arizona when the bill was signed...hmmmm...where do you think they went? I can guarantee they did not go home!
- on 05/09/2010
HEY! The guys who raised the flag were in battle and treated each other better than you do! Those "Mexicans" are not the issue, it is ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS. My ancestors were forced to speak English and learn the Alien ways, Other wise you would telling your Shima and Shimasani ba atchini nidiijhago bit jilliigo hach'i yaadati' ten! Ignorance goes two ways, and you can not claim to be a christian and hate people based on their skin. You can however call people ignorant for not being educated while trying to give an educated opinion on a commentary. For the racist ones on here....you can not come to a battle without weapons, and in this case, in a battle of wits you are unarmed! Veteran and Original American
