If what you say is true, how come all the Germany, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Itatian, etc, etc immigrants children learned to speak English? Not to mention people of Spanish heritage in previous generations.

 

Please note my use of the term "anymore" in my previous post.

 

Plus, many other countries mandate the teaching of English in their public schools.

Maybe he hated Germany?

 

Not likely. It was actually fairly common for the waves of immigrants that came over in the second half of the 19th Century and first half of the 20th for this scenario to play out. My grandfather came over on the boat from Germany in 1933, and his wife a year or so afterward. Neither my mom nor her sisters speak German. Those that came over during those periods were encouraged to learn English ASAP, and usually did.

I like the line in the movie Selena where her father says we're not American enough for the Americans and we're not Mexican enough for the Mexicans.

 

(I was watching it with my wife.)

 

Sure you were.

 

I once had a fairly heated argument with my father, a WWII vet, over flag burning. As much as I love the flag, I love the Constitution more. I believe we have to protect free speech at almost any cost. That would include the right to fly the U.S. flag below the Mexican flag, and even upside down. It would also include the right of any outraged citizen to call the students names, tell them to "go home", and denigrate them for the act. However, if it wasn't their flag and flagpole, then it could be considered criminal mischief (or the California equivalent), and should be prosecuted.

Your father was right.

That would include the right to fly the U.S. flag below the Mexican flag, and even upside down.

 

In the United States of America, the American flag should NOT be hung below ANY flag, and especially not upside down. If that is how they think about America, go back to Mexico....

Sure you were.

 

I once had a fairly heated argument with my father, a WWII vet, over flag burning. As much as I love the flag, I love the Constitution more. I believe we have to protect free speech at almost any cost. That would include the right to fly the U.S. flag below the Mexican flag, and even upside down. It would also include the right of any outraged citizen to call the students names, tell them to "go home", and denigrate them for the act. However, if it wasn't their flag and flagpole, then it could be considered criminal mischief (or the California equivalent), and should be prosecuted.

 

:thumb:

You all are forgetting....these are KIDS we are talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You all are forgetting....these are KIDS we are talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Maybe you forgot this is America we have a flag we don't need another one. We got people five years older than these kids getting shot out for our flag.

You all are forgetting....these are KIDS we are talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It all starts somewhere.

 

AMERICA .... Love it ....or LEAVE it.

It all starts somewhere.

 

AMERICA .... Love it ....or LEAVE it.

 

Maybe you forgot this is America we have a flag we don't need another one. We got people five years older than these kids getting shot out for our flag.

 

I didn't forget anything.

 

I have my father's flag that he flew in missions in Vietnam mounted above my mantle. I have his photo and that of my uncle that was in the Navy in Korea mounted above my flag in my classroom with the words "My reasons for saying the pledge" mounted with it, so that I look at them and appreciate their service EVERY day I say the pledge.

 

I walk down my hallway at school and see the flag of one of a soldier that one of my classes wrote letters to while he was in Iraq...and then came home and presented us with his flag.

 

I have photos of former students of mine that are serving our great country both home and abroad. One of them came to see me just last week. He made me realize that I made a positive impact on his life and he wanted to let me know that before he left for Iraq.

 

I go to two cemetaries every Veterans Day and Memorial day and put flags on the graves of those that have served our country proudly....some years students go with me to do this. I place a special wreath on the memorial of a sailor lost during the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. I have had two of his greatnephews in class. Inspired by his service, those boys and other students have researched the sinking as a project for my class.

 

I sponsor fundraisers at my school to collect funds not for my football team or the class or clubs I sponsor, but for the USO, the Paralyzed Veterans of American and the Disabled American Veterans.

 

None of you all are going to make me feel like I don't love my country or my flag with every ounce of being in my body. But two things I am also not going to forget. One is a result of being a teacher for many years. Teenagers do many things. You love them anyway. The second thing I will not forget, a lesson taught by my father and my uncle that served our country for so many years - people are people, regardless of where they are from or where they are at now. God loves us all and expects us to love each other...especially children.

We will just have to agree to disagree then, Your dad, other family members and your visitors from the Military would have kicked the hind ends of these kids if they seen this going on.

We will just have to agree to disagree then, Your dad, other family members and your visitors from the Military would have kicked the hind ends of these kids if they seen this going on.

 

You're absolutely wrong there. My father and I have had long talks over this type of thing. He would also understand one of the most important words in your statement that so many keep forgetting....KIDS.

Kids have to learn at some point or another. The longer you let that kind of behavior go on, the longer they will consider it acceptable, and it's not.

Kids have to learn at some point or another. The longer you let that kind of behavior go on, the longer they will consider it acceptable, and it's not.

 

I agree. That goes in all cases. However, it shocks me to hear people promoting violence against kids in this one. Particularly disgusted at the reference made that my father, a military man, would have taken part.

I agree. That goes in all cases. However, it shocks me to hear people promoting violence against kids in this one. Particularly disgusted at the reference made that my father, a military man, would have taken part.

 

I'm not promoting violence, but it wouldn't surprise me if a group of those students peers took that road.