If the intent is to say, "I will never conform to this society. I will always be part of whichever country..." then yes. It makes me mad, and this is pathetic, when immigrants attend soccer games where the US is playing someone other than their native country, and they root against the US. It happened in Washington D.C. when I went to watch the US play Brazil. That made me mad. Why be here if you don't want to be here?

 

I used to love the stories of Mexico fans during those games at the Rose Bowl wearing a Mexico shirt to games then having a USA shirt on underneath.

I live in a community that is composed primarily of Asians and I don't see the kind of animosity toward them that is directed at illegal aliens from Mexico. Maybe it's because nearly all of them are here legally and they have no groups like "La Raza" (translates to "The Race" in American English) or Mecha (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) lobbying our government to ignore the U.S. laws broken by more than 11 million Mexicans.

 

The Asians among whom I live are eager to learn our language (English) and customs, while preserving their native cultures. Our Thanksgiving potluck dinners at the office consist of a unusual but tasty fusion of American classics like turkey and dressing and Indian favorites like curries and biryanis.

 

OTOH, many Mexicans in this area refuse to learn English or, if they know English will act like they don't understand it. Hispanics from other Latin American countries do not seem to share the hatred of this country that the La Raza disciples have. And before anybody accuses me of painting with a broad brush, let me say that I understand that there are many Mexicans who are here legally and who have become proud English-speaking American citizens.

 

Those who came to this country through the proper channels, regardless of their origin, tend to have as much respect for our flag, our laws, and our culture as any other group of Americans. In fact recent legal immigrants to this country often have a deeper appreciation of just how lucky all of us are to live in this country than American citizens whose ancestors came here centuries ago...

 

While I think we have veered off the original path of whether or not it was appropriate for the school to allow the student to wear the American Flag shirt on Cinco de Mayo, I will address you comment.

 

I will say, I agree with you to an extent. While I tend to support expanding the process to naturalize Mexican immigrants, it does sometimes frustrate me in how in many cases, the Mexican community does seem to resist assimilating into America. You mentioned resistance to learning or speaking the English language. I don't disagree with you there.

 

Secondly, how often the Mexican flag is displayed instead of the American flag. Case in point, there was a March for expanding naturalization for immigrants. You would assume the Mexicans marching were wanting to become Americans but they were marching carrying the Mexican flag, isn't that somewhat contrary? Shouldn't they have been carrying the American Flag or carry both the Mexican and American Flag? Where I live in Louisville, there are several Mexican families living around me and therefore, there are also several Mexican shops around. Each one of those shops proudly displays the Mexican Flag. I wish they would display both the Mexican and American flag as a symbolic gesture.

 

And as mentioned in by a few others, when Mexicans attend soccer games and the US is playing a Central/South American country other than Mexico and they are cheering for the other country, it does make you want to go up to them and ask, "Do you really want to be in this country? If so, act like it."

 

So like I said, this sort of gets off the point of the original topic but I will say, I do agree with you that it does seem like Mexicans in some ways to try to distance themselves from American society. Great, now Elmer is going to call me a Bigot since I agreed with you LOL.

Shortly after 9-11 is not was not uncommon for Muslims across the country to go to their mosques for worship and to find "true Americans" to be at the entrance with American flags. It was pretty obvious to what their intent was, ie were Americans, you are not. I would say it is safe to say they felt threatened maybe not be the flag but certainly by those oh so proud to wave it.

 

Similar with this case but certainly in a less heated/emotional state. Basically Mexicans being made known they are lesser of Americans.

 

 

Saying this, if these kids were these American flag shirts on a normal basis and it just happened to be a coincidence that they all wore them on May 5th, I take all that back.

 

Those people were morons. If you are an American you should wave the flag back and make those people out to be the morons they are. It just doesn't sit well with me, that for any reason the Flag should be banned.

I agree. On the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Presidents Day, etc., I think it is a day for all of us to put aside our individual nationalities which are fine to be proud of and to celebrate this country. But on the flip side, on Cinco De Mayo, I do find it rude and inappropriate to pull out a rarely worn American Flag shirt to purposely arouse tension. I see it as this goes both ways.

 

I just don't buy that at anytime wearing an American flag should be considered any of the above? Yes I know the intent of those kids but it only works if you allow it. If you are a proud American citizen the American flag should be more important than Cinco De Mayo.

I just don't get it, how the US flag is appropriate and shows pride in your nation, well all but one or two days of the year. What about a thing called FREEDOM? I don't care about the intent of some of the kids wearing the US flag, to me it doesn't matter. As someone else mentioned, it's only an issue if you allow it to be.

If you are a proud American citizen the American flag should be more important than Cinco De Mayo.

 

Cinco de Mayo happens one day a year, St. Patrick's Day, one day a year, etc.. I don't think many people who celebrate Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick's Day would say those days are more important, they are just taking one day and celebrating their heritage. I would say those who wear the flag that day and by in large that day only are using the flag as a tool, not as a sign of pride which in my opinion is a misuse of the flag.

 

How someone wears/displays the flag means a lot, maybe not as much as the flag itself but still means a lot. As an example, it sickens me when the Klan uses the flag and try to assert that is represents WASP America and the rest of us can just take our non WASP arses back to where we done come from cause we dang well ain't what America was founded for. That is an example of tarnishing the flag and what it stands for in my opinion. Do they have the right, of course. Does that mean it is right, of course not.

Cinco de Mayo happens one day a year, St. Patrick's Day, one day a year, etc.. I don't think many people who celebrate Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick's Day would say those days are more important, they are just taking one day and celebrating their heritage. I would say those who wear the flag that day and by in large that day only are using the flag as a tool, not as a sign of pride which in my opinion is a misuse of the flag.

 

How someone wears/displays the flag means a lot, maybe not as much as the flag itself but still means a lot. As an example, it sickens me when the Klan uses the flag and try to assert that is represents WASP America and the rest of us can just take our non WASP arses back to where we done come from cause we dang well ain't what America was founded for. That is an example of tarnishing the flag and what it stands for in my opinion. Do they have the right, of course. Does that mean it is right, of course not.

 

I still wouldn't be offended by the flag, I would probably laugh at them for not understanding the true meaning of the flag, but I wouldn't be offended.