Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees

Source: MSNBC

On any other day at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Daniel Galli and his four friends would not even be noticed for wearing T-shirts with the American flag. But Cinco de Mayo is not any typical day especially on a campus with a large Mexican American student population.

Galli says he and his friends were sitting at a table during brunch break when the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal's office.

"They said we could wear it on any other day," Daniel Galli said, "but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today."

The boys said the administrators called their T-shirts "incendiary" that would lead to fights on campus.

"They said if we tried to go back to class with our shirts not taken off, they said it was defiance and we would get suspended," Dominic Maciel, Galli's friend, said.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36981179/ns/local_news-san_francisco_bay_area_ca/

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Unless there is more to this story like the kids were being blatantly racist and in the face of the Mexican American students IMHO this was idiocy by the school administration.

And another talking point for the RW and Tea Bag bunch to rail on.

Oh definitely these kids were making a statement but I think best to just ignore them instead of fueling the fire. So now it is a national incident. Prepare to get inudated with hate email & phone calls Live Oak HS.

Doesn't take much to coax some idiocy out of school administrators. :silly:

Unfortunately, a lot of people confuse what they can do with what they should do.

I come from a spanish speaking household (Still speak spanish here) and don't understand the bigotry in this country ttowards people that display thr us flag. If people were burning it that would be OK.

1) It's patently obvious to all but the most obtuse observer that these kids were all wearing these clothes in tandem on Cinco de Mayo to be deliberately provocative. Hence, yes, they were being assholes.


2) If you're so into proper reverence for the U.S. flag, maybe you should take a while to contemplate U.S. Code Title 4, Chapter 1, Sec. 8d: "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. ..."

Now, given that, I ask you: How dare these kids disrespect the flag by wearing it on their shirts?! I am shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

If not then what you posted is irrelevent, it does not apply to images based on the flag.

Again, cinci de mayo is not a holiday here, and besides that both groups can wear whatever flag they choose. I thinkl people against the freedom of speech are assholes, does that bother you? It's a freedom of speech issue. Should people be kicked out for wearing obama shirts? I'm sure that would offend some.

Ah, those halcyon days of Bush. God, they were weird.

Anyway, again, as I wrote downthread, I think it's crazy that these kids were booted from campus for what they were wearing. At the same time, I think the act of wearing it was a dickish, deliberately provocative move on their part. I don't believe there's a "right" side in this story.

On edit: And, obviously, the bit about the U.S. Code was meant as a joke, and only a tangentially relevant one at that.

Even that wearing anti anything t shirts is more prevocative than a flag of the country they are in. I don't see wearing a flag t shirt even remotely provacative, of any country, unless we are at war with them or something.....even then it should not be illegal but it would be provocative.

"I don't see wearing a flag t shirt even remotely provacative, of any country, unless we are at war with them or something.....even then it should not be illegal but it would be provocative."

I agree with the bit after the ellipses, of course. But on Cinco de Mayo, the day that the vast majority of Americans regard as most closely associated with Mexican culture -- and given the recent news regarding immigration in Arizona -- I see a group of students all coordinating their outfits to feature American flags as being deliberately anti-immigrant and, therefore, provocative.

Again, I do not agree that these students should have been kicked off campus. I just don't believe for a second that this was not a bullying, dickish move on the part of the students.

(And, as I stated elsewhere, I'm aware of Cinco de Mayo's relative insignificance in Mexico. But rightly or wrongly -- mostly wrongly -- this is the day most Americans associate with Mexico.)

Especially the 4th? We will absolutely disagree. Unless you are saying that the US flag has certain days it should not be worn and the mexican flag is ok year round.

What you're suggesting doesn't necessarily follow from what I said.

So what if the kids were trying to be provocative? They probably considered the students wearing the Mexican flag provocative.

The boys also worse the shirts the next day to school, after Cinco de Mayo. So it wasn't just on that one day. As far as the second point they weren't wearing the flag as clothing. It was merely a picture of the flag, embossed onto a t-shirt.

And I never understand people who respect the flag more than they respect the Constitution.

Burning the flag is speech. The SCOTUS has said so. The Ccnstitution IS the United States of America. Apart from that, the U.S. is just a great deal of lovely real estate.

The same is not true of the flag. If we change the design or decide to go flagless, America will still be America, as long as we insist on the Constitution being respected and enforced.

So, yeah, little Mr. Socal has a Constitutional right to wear the U.S. flag to school on Cinco de Mayo, to make a point, no matter how shitty his point is. But yeah, by doing so, he was being an asshole.

We have a house here and mexico and we celebrate the 4th here and the grita de independencia there. Cinco de mayo is not even a big holiday there. The 15th of september is the grita.

I was raised here and my wife in mexico, she speaks no english, she can't believe those kids got kicked out for wearing the us flag here.

that neither your Reply #33 nor my response to your Reply #33 raised? And which has nothing to do with the price of tea in China anyway. You asked why wearing the flag makes you an asshole and I said the reason you wear the flag bears on whether you are being patriotic or being an asshole. What the hell does whether Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday or not have to do with that exchange?

Also irrelevant to this thread: the language spoken, by what you and your wife or your respective families. Hola, senor, do you really think speaking Spanish gives you greater insight into whether American kids are trying to be mean or not?

As far as not being able to believe the kids were suspended for wearing the flag, that is a separate issue. Most people on this thread, including the OP and me, have said the kids had a Constitutional right to wear their little matching shirt and bandana outfits, even if their motives were to be nasty.

Seems like you're the one not getting it.

is totally irrevevant. Wearing a flag t shirt is either legal or illegal, period. It's not up to simpletons like you to decide what offends someone as only blank shirts would be allowed as pretty much everything offends someone. Try to man up and not be a wimp, either its allowed or its not. Who appointed you to read someones mind LONG DISTANCE to decide why they wore a certain shirt. Jeez, unbelievable.

So you saying that as someone that was born in mexico but raised, has a house in mexico and my kids attend school in mexico city has no type of insite into an issue pertaining to mexican heritage, cinco de mayo,the mexican flag and people growing up in this country from mexico? Great thinking there einstein. I have it now, the people in haiti had no insight into the devestation of the earthquake. Hmmmm, do you think much?

As for the rest of your post, I said speaking Spanish does not give you special insight into whether an American kid intended to be mean. Try refuting what I actually say for a change, instead of pretending that I said something else entirely.

This is an issue of a school official deciding that a group of students were intent on being disruptive, requesting them to reverse the disruptive element and then suspending them when they did not follow directions. It's not about any sort of legality.

No different than the posts here that get removed. You have a legal right to say whatever you want that does not infringe on the rights of others, but the mods can and will remove posts deemed disruptive. The students were requested to remove their posts, when they refused, they got a temporary tombstone.

The 2 are NOT analogous. Moreover, I have seen no evidence that the shirts actually caused a disruption.

They are not interchangeable. If they were exactly the same, there would be no need for an analogy as they would be identical. Most people who are not stuck in a Black and White conservative mind set realize that analogies do not have to be perfect to iilustrate a point.

The T-shirts do not have to be disruptive, just perceived as disruptive. In my opinion, this probably did not rate the demand to reverse the shirts, but I wasn't there and I don't think any one here was present either. So I'm inclined to go with the opinion of the school official, who decided that the intent WAS to be disruptive, made the request and suspended the students. FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST. Not for wearing a shirt or a bandana, for refusing to follow the instruction of a school official.

Lots of room in thise for chest beating and wailing about how unpatriotic the request was. None of which have squat to do with the reason that the students were suspended.

Because the law says that there has to be an actual disruption.

Most people that have an understanding of logic know that analogies need to have significant similarities to work. That you don't understand the significant differences between public and private explains why you don't understand why the analogy fails in this case.

Maybe you could cite this law that you seem to think exists? Probably not, a school's policy for suspending students has no intersection with legal code.

Once again for those slow on the uptake, the students were suspended for failing to comply with directions, not for wearing t-shirts.

School district has come out and said that

My assertion was and is: if the school official deems a situation poses a danger to students, they are required to attempt to defuse it. In my day, being a disruptive asshole could result in getting said ass kicked. Students can't be touched these days, but they can be removed from the school.

called on it by the students. Happens more often than one thinks. Seen the same with teachers. Its kind of scary the capriciousness that they get away with.

In an event I was involved with the teacher was going to send the student to detention for talking back. The "back talk" was reminding the teacher about the approved support plan the student had for and ADA covered condition.

When a school staff member gets stupid or does illegal things they should be called on. If a student calls them on it, its treated as being disrespectful. If a parent does it, its hovering. They are not going to call themselves out and they school staff back each other up better than NYPD. What should be done?

I was at a staff meeting when an issue came up about a "problem" parent who was threatening ADA action against a school for multiple and repeated violations. The dept chair said "who the hell do they think they are to raise those issues?" No consideration was given to addressing the ADA violations. I continue to see that attitude in secondary education. When our daughters were finishing high school, we were at times terrors to certain members of the staff, our crime was holding them to the rules and not allowing them to make it up as they go.

Back in the day, I was approached by the Vice Principle, tapped on the shoulder and told that I could not have my arm around my girlfriend. I calmly looked at my arm leaning against the bank of lockers, the open 5 foot tall locker door and the 2 and half feet between my girlfriend and myself and politely told him that I would keep it in mind. He blinked, realizing that his perspective was incorrect as he approached from behind me, muttered something and walked away. No harm, no foul.

Now I could have called him on his mistake, been an asshole, and told him off, and probably have been suspended. Every situation is different, and usually ends in one person's word versus another's. There can be bad educators and bad students. People's emmotions often shape their attitudes towards situations they hear about.

Being able to objectively consider a situation is not a common trait. It tends to be rare in the case of conservative mindsets, uncomfortable with variability and intent on Black/White, Right/Wrong conclusions. It tends to lead to hypocrisy as they struggle to shape everything into totally right or totally wrong answers.

Personally, I prefer to err on the side of caution. It is easy enough for a school to apologize to a student, rather than to have to explain why nothing was done to provent violence. If the world were a perfect place, it wouldn't be necessary. If it were slightly less perfect, neither schools nor students would ever lie to cover their mistakes. But the world is real, mistakes are made and people have to live with them. In order to let poeple live with mistakes, I prefer mistakes that result in hurt feelings rather than hurt people.

Given the amount of self protection normally found in the ed biz, that is a fairly strong statement that he screwed up. Its also a way to mitigate any potential damages if this goes to court. If the furor continues, the next step is for the assistant principal to take a hit for this as an example to others of the consequences of not thinking and violating student rights. We shall see

Oh yeah,

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

"Because the law says that there has to be an actual disruption. "

Once again for those EXTREMELY SLOW on the uptake, the students were not suspended for attempting to exercise their rights, they were suspended for failing to comply with the directions of a school official. I do agree that the directions to reverse the shirts was probably overeaction, but since none of us were there I'm going to go with the assessment of the person who was there and knew the students. I'll trust that over the blowhard opinions of people that refuse to recognize the realities of the situation.

"smash you fist into another student's face" and the student refused, would you still stand by the same logic?

School administrators are not all-powerful, and don't have to be blindly obeyed.

No school official has demanded that a student punch someone. In fact, a school official is required to ensure the saftey of the students. If, in their opinion, something could lead to a situation endangering a student, they have to attempt to mitigate it.

Consider this: The Second Ammendment affords the right to bear arms. In how many schools are students allowed to exercise their Second Ammendment rights? Also bears no relevance to this situation, other than to point out that the necessities of providing a safe environment for education CAN trump rights established by the Constitution.

Speech that is not in and of itself a threat to another student, does not impede the educational curriculum, does not advocate illegal activity.. it doesn't.

You can't just say 'because a teacher said so' and leave it at that.

Sorry that I overestimated your knowledge level. You should read the majority opinion in Tinker v. Des Moines.

Your understanding of the First Amendment is twisted and sad. Under your rules, if a police officer tells me to put away my sign at a protest and I refuse, he is in the right to arrest me for failure to comply. After all a police officer has the duty to protect the peace, right? As I said earlier, thank goodness the law doesn't depend on your opinion.

A police officer is not a school official and the setting is not a public school. Many people have been arrested at protests, mostly for failing to comply with orders, not for the actual protesting.

Student's rights inside a public school can and in cases, must be more restricted that your rights on a public sidewalk. If one refuses to acknowledge that, it must be deliberate obtuseness.

Fortunately, schools do not have to abide by your misguided notions. By your logic, each and every student is allowed to carry firearms into the classroom. The Constitution explicitly allows it, must be a good idea, right? First compared to Second Ammendment in the exact same setting. Your choice, support weapons in the classroom, be a hypocrit or admit that Constitutional Rights can be and are limited in some settings.

By the way, you still have not supported your assertion that actual disruption must occur. Still waiting on that cite...

You may also want to consider that in the last 41 years, the courts have narrowed Tinker and ruled that schools may ban attire that is disruptive. Tyler Chase Harper was unable to get the Supreme Court to hear that his anti-gay messages on his T-shirt were protected speech. Paul Palmer was unable to get the high court to aggree that his school's ban of non-school related written messages abbridged his freedom of speech. Morse v. Frederick supported a school's right to restrict student's speech is certain cases.

Of course, the definition of disruptive is going to be open to interpretation. In this recent California case the administrator probably over reacted. That does not change the fact that the Supreme Court has supported that schools may ban attire deemed disruptive.

In terms of reality and relative risk, might I ask that in what way were the students substantially harmed? I would much prefer a school official that suspends, then has to apologize to a student to a school official that does nothing, then has to mop blood from the floor.

You have been maintaining that it is not possible for the school to ban attire. Students have been suspended for attire AND the Supreme Court has upheld it by refusing to take up the lawsuit. Your desire to live in a perfect world leaves you wrong.

So, you didn't pick your choice... What are you, Guns in class, hypocrit, or admitting that I'm right?

beer companies and Mexican restaurants. I have yet to meet an actual Mexican immigrant who celebrates Cinco de Mayo.

diez y SEIS de septimbre, not the quince

in an effort to stick it to Mexican-Americans is douchey, yes.

The administrators do not have to sit back and let some bullcrap develop and then get criticized for not stopping it.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

neither of us believe the administrators of the school have any right to tell these kids what to wear, period. If they want to all show up wrapped in the red, white and blue on the one day of the year that Americans most associate with Mexico and Mexican culture (misguided as that view may be; Cinco de Mayo isn't exactly a big deal south of the border.), that's fine.

The only point on which we disagree is whether that's a dick move. I think it is, and he thinks you shouldn't denigrate folks for wearing the American flag.

I don't know what I'm trying to say, except that I'm always surprised by how little daylight there often is between two people who vociferously disagree.

wear any flag they choose. The guy that called me s racist is a moron. I have a house in mexico, my kidsa are in school there. Calling someone a racist based on disagreeing on one item is the sign with the brains of a person that is incapable of a coherent thought.

I just think they were being jerks for doing it. Doesn't mean they aren't allowed to do it, or shouldn't be allowed to do it.

As for the rest of it, I'm going to make like Switzerland and declare my neutrality viz-viz who's a moron and who's a racist. I do my damnedest not to slag anybody on DU, regardless of my disagreements with them.

not you. Usually it's "freeper" if you post something that is disliked.

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people never want to hear from you again.

....racist at worst. They knew that wearing that type of apparel would cause trouble and they got it. Why do it otherwise? Should they have been sent home? Yes as they were creating an intolerant and hateful atmosphere.

And why is it "insensitive"? I could care less if someone was wearing a Mexican flag t-shirt on Independence Day, how is this any different?

And on what days should we ban T-shirts depicting our flag because it might be "intolerant" and "hateful"?

....say it was racist but at worst it was. What other reason to pick that day to be 'patriotic'? And is was insensitive and provocative. They said as much.

It was an "in your face" to Mexicans. hese boys planned with each other to wear American flag T shirts and American flag bandanas to school on Cinco de Mayo. If they wore that outfit every day or most days, I doubt the school would have made an issue of it.

And, whether the school was right or wrong to tell them they could wear that combo any other day, that was not good enough for them. It had to be Cinco de Mayo. Unless you are trying to send a message to Mexicans, why would that one day matter so much.

I don't think we should ban the shirts and bandanas on any day, but being disingenuous about the motives of these boys is well, disingenous.

Should students be kicked out of a public school for doing so? Who gets to decide what is insensitive. Sorry, but there is NO excuse for this slippery slope.

US kids wearing US shirts at a US school lose their right to freedom expression to the whims of Mexican kids in US school. Seems to me that you have this confused with a country that doesn't have freedom of expression.
And if the Mexican kids were to start violence over it, it would be THEIR fault, and not the fault of the US kids. Who throws the first punch? That's the one that should get the blame. Unless you want to blame the victim of the assault for the whole thing. Because he or she was asking for it?
Freedom of expression needs to be vigorously defended.

Further, should we allow the PC police to stop us from expressing patriotic pride? I'm sure there is some group of people that have some independence day or national day of pride whatever nearly every day of the year. Should we be forced to cater to every single one of them? Can't wear that shirt on the second Sunday in May. It's the State flag and Emblem day. Don't want to seem intolerant or racist.

When atheists go around on Christmas Day and play signs on building that read, "There is no GOD." Is is insensitive when towns remove any reference to the word Christmas on decorations and signs, and replace that with 'Holiday Season." Atheist can pick any day out of the year to put those kind of signs up, but many groups only do it on Christmas. Why? Like Cinco de Mayo, Christmas is only one day. Why not be more respectful of those people who believe in the story of Jesus Christ. But yet every year on DU these groups are applauded for putting these signs up and sending out this message. I personally believe that people need to understand how to ignore those elements in society that are insensitive to their personal beliefs or celebrations.

There are always going to be people that are going to challenge your beliefs, your celebrations, your holidays and fables. The school could have used this as a "teachable moment" to bring about open discourse on how many different groups of people can celebrate, or actually, believe in two different set of principals, while not being insensitive but rather being respectful to others while not sacrificing what they believe in. Unfortunately that didn't happen in this case.

Cinco de Mayo is an event celebrating the victory by 4000 Mexican soldiers over a much larger French force.
An important event in American history because it was the French who, through Mexico, were supplying the South in our Civil War. The French had desires on controlling Mexico and these plans ended with the Cinco de Mayo event. Also ended was the supply train to the South and eventually the victory of the North.
Americans who celebrate our Unity as a Nation owe a debt of thanks to the Mexican soldiers and we need to join in the celebration as it helped to hold our nation together.

those cretins who don't like anything non-Aryan.

I guess those types really do take the pro-slavery side.

nor did it end French/Hapsburg sympathies with the South. Indeed, the war between Mexican nationalists and the Hapsburg-controlled Mexican Empire didn't come to an end until two years after the end of the Civil War. An interesting footnote to both wars is that a number of unrepentant rebels fled the U.S. to fight for the French after the South surrendered. Of course, they were just as successful in Mexico as they were in the United States -- which is to say, not at all.

You're talking about the rulers of Austro-Hungary right? The guys who started the Franco-Prussian war which ultimately led to all subsequent world wars...

How did they get entrenched in N America?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_I_of_Mexico


It is a truly bizarro story -- greed, hubris, royalty, war, a tragic ending for the misguided protagonist. It's got all the makings of a Greek tragedy.

that part! Shame on me. Thank you for enlightening us on that bit of important history.

I read some blurb yesterday that said the day was celebrated in the US and the state of Puebla in Mexico but didn't read further.

<snip>

"The Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo"

"In 1862, the United States was in the middle of a civil war. All the South needed was a strong exterior ally and its strengthened cause might have permanently split the United States. A possible exterior ally was closer than Abraham Lincoln liked, as the French Army under Gen. Laurencez was making its way through Mexico.

The French Army was considered the greatest military force on the globe. For nearly 50 years—since the defeat of Napoleon I’s army at the hands of allied forces at Waterloo, Belgium in 1815—it had not known defeat and had recently won victories in Europe and Asia. In 1862, the French landed in Veracruz along with forces from Queen Isabella II of Spain and Queen Victoria of Great Britain. They had come to collect the debt owed to them by Mexico—debts that Mexican President Benito Juarez had officially suspended because the country was essentially bankrupt.

Refusing Juarez’ proposed compromise to repay the debts two years later, the collaboration of the three countries’ militaries seized the custom house at Veracruz. They intended to intercept the customs payments in exchange for their debt. After some time, the diplomats for Spain and Great Britain reached an agreement with Juarez and the armies from those two countries departed from Mexico. The French, on the other hand, stayed and headed for Mexico City.

France had significant interest in halting the growth of the United States. The North American country’s rate of expansion and power was threatening to the other world powers. If Napoleon was successful in conquering Mexico, the possibility of marching north to aid the Confederates in dividing the United States into two less powerful and less threatening countries was real."

<more>
http://www.pbs.org/kpbs/theborder/history/timeline/10.html

Never too late to learn..gotta love the internet & DU:)

a conflict from 1862 to 1867, the battle of puebla did not end it:

The actual Cinco de Mayo battle was a part of a longer conflict called the French Intervention, which lasted from 1862 to 1867. The French military occupied Mexico and fought the republican government of President Benito Juarez.

The school administration feared disruption in the school because a bunch of boys agreed to give an "in your face, Mexicans" message to their Mexican schoolmates.

Either the concern about disruption was in good faith or it wasn't. I tend to think it was because the boys were told they could wear their little matching outfits any other day of the school year, so the intent was obviously not to stifle any "I love the U.S. flag" message.

Either the Constitution, as interpreted to date by the SCOTUS, allows the school administrators to do that or it doesn't. In my view, it probably doesn't.

The history of Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with any of that, nor is there any reason to assume the administrators were ignorant of the history.

This T-shirt incident is not playing well in the media. Haven't school administrators got better things to do than police legal things that students are wearing? Maybe like educating these kids?

Maybe it used to, but certainly not any more, at least not in the United States. That may be the history behind it, but today Cinco de Mayo is far more of an excuse to drink Mexican beer, eat Mexican food, dance to chunty music, and generally have a good time with family and friends. More relevant than the history behind is the intention of participants today: celebrating all of the wonderful influences Mexico and Mexicans have had on American culture.

The example I always use with my anglo students who say "Who cares about the French in Mexico 200 years ago?" is that, really, nobody cares anymore. It's like St. Patrick's day, except for Mexicans. Nobody in America is really celebrating Saint Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland; it's just an excellent excuse to drink green beer, eat weird cabbage-based foods, parade through downtown, and generally have fun while celebrating part of this nation's collective cultural heritage. There are literally thousands of Latino students at my high school, virtually all of whom wear green that day, and that's okay.

It's not that the history isn't important to me, it's that trying to put some kind of Important Context or Historical Relevance on Cinco de Mayo in order to justify/rationalize it sort of cheapens it.

is celebrated, and says her Mexican grandparents and cousins don't celebrate it. So, this whole t-shirt thing is completely disproportionate.

Other than to drink, have cookouts, watch fireworks......So it all evens out......

the 4th, in mexico they don't celebrate cinco de mayo. I am mexican born but raised here and we have never celebrated it. My wife rew up there, does not speak english, and says nobody celebrates it and does not understand the commotion. September 15th is celebrated big time. She also hates when people put the image of the mexican flag on clothing, it's not done in mexico it's considered the same as desecrating the flag itself.

But if, as we all know this was done to spit in the face of those celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the (temporary) banning is appropriate to prevent violence in the school.

Unfortunately, children do not have free speech rights in school.

Is there some kind of crystal ball DU uses in cases like this, or are you just ASSuming?

take a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows.

No crystal ball needed in this case. Just a brain and the ability to connect A (attire) to B (bigotry).

Perhaps if they were sprouting racist comments or being confrontational you and the school board would have a case, but as of now, this is absolutely ridiculous and deeply offensive.

I think I'll wear my Captain America t-shirt today, and anyone who finds that "intolerant" or "hateful" is more than welcome to kiss my ass.

By your reasoning wearing a mexican flag shirt on the 4th of July should be the equivalent of wearing a sign that says beat me senseless.

a small sign on her door that said "peace." She thought that was highly unfair. Yet, she also thought that Mexicans should not be able to fly the Mexican flag in the U.S. And, while she may not have been the most liberal Democrat in the country, she wasn't the most conservative Democrat in the country either.

So, maybe in some circles, wearing a Mexican flag shirt on July 4, while protected against government action, would indeed result in a beating from some of the less tolerant citizens of the U.S.

I'll tell you this: Even as a "native born American" with awfully white skin, I would be afraid to wear the Mexican flag to the annual July 4 concert in Boston, Massachusetts, let alone in Southern California. Just saying.

We go and I would not consider it.

Back to the point though, your lilly white self would have a different meaning than my light brown "born in mexico" self when it comes to wearing a mexican flag on the 4th. I fly the american flag here and the mexican flag at our house in mexico though.

you go down to Mexico and wear a US flag in a public school on July 4th. Most likely, no one will give a crap about your right to honor the US on July 4th down there.
The kids that were wearing the American flag did not do anything do dampen the holiday for the kids observing Cinco de Mayo. There were no protests. There was no jeering (otherwise, the administrators would point to that as part of their justification for depriving the kids of their right to an education for the day), no racist comments. They just wore their shirts. Seems that if the kids celebrating Cinco de Mayo had a problem with the American flag shirts, they were the ones being intolerant. It's ok not to participate in celebrating someone else's culture. It'd have to be. Otherwise, the world would be put on hold with every holiday or festival or observance world wide.

The kids wear uniforms there so its hard to wear flags to school, but you will get nowhere with the 4th there.

what you are saying is that Mexico does not embrace American culture? That the school officials there are intolerant of people from the US? <gasp!>
I think Mexican kids are given more than a fair shake here. Not everyone is going to embrace their culture, and some people might even have a problem with celebrating a national holiday from another country. You can't force them to be. Not in this country anyway. I hope the school officials that kicked the American kids out of their own school for wearing the US flag get sued.

Judging by the ACLU's statements they may take the case.

They are far less tolerant of other cultures there, no doubt about that. Mexico city is more toleratn than most other places, then again most places in mexico is less tolerant of Mexico city and the people there. Up north there's a saying, “Haz patria, mata a un chilango” which means "be patriotic and kill someone from mexico city". Mexico city is the only place where abortions can be done and gay rights are being recognized and most of mexico hates them.

I got off track though, they are much less accepting of other cultures there.

They are totally intolerant of us. You try to go to Mexico and demand citizenship or Spanish as a second language class. We are VERY tolerant of all cultures, of which I am glad. It fits into our reputation as the melting pot. But I don't think we should totally bend over backwards for people like self censoring ourselves to please other cultures. You want to show pride in Mexico, that's great. But understand that we are just as proud of our country and it's symbols as you are.

Obvious attempt to be spiteful towards the Hispanic culture. And the principal knows those kids, the individual kids. DU does not.

It doesn't change the fact that in a public school at least you have a fundamental human right to be a party pooper if you want to be. What other position can you take? Dissent not allowed, correct opinions are mandatory?

EDIT: Students don't have First Amendment rights? BULLSHIT! Tinker v. Des Moines is still good law!

People (including kids) have no right not to be offended. If something as simple as wearing the flag of the country that you are a citizen of is enough to provoke violence, that's a problem that goes way beyond wearing a tee shirt.

She's an expert on fashion choices that cause criminal behavior.

Yappy terrier twit.

We (as a nation) have become so thin skinned. *sigh*

kids to be even worse.

All Mexicans carry switchblades or machete's and they will cut you!

or

If Mexican students wear a Mexican flag or it's colors on the 4th of July they should have the stuffing beat out them. Because that's just how it is.

If the Mexican kids can't handle seeing an American flag in America without resorting to violence. I really can't think of a better reason to send them to prison before sending them back to Mexico.

...on this matter. Neither do I.

It's entirely possible this was a justified move by the administrators. More likely not, but there it is.

The call is theirs to make to keep the environment safe for the students to learn. Show me this did that and I'll support it. Show me otherwise and I won't.

But "send the kids to prison and back to Mexico" is kneejerk nonsense.

Because everyone knows that all the Mexicans here in America are here illegally.

Are you listening to yourself?

There should NEVER be any apprehension about flying an American flag in America. ANYONE that has a problem with the American Flag flying in America needs to leave immediately if not sooner. I don't care where they come from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1voj6H8CHY&feature=related">Time to set their flag on fire.

From Tinker v. Des Moine:

"The District Court concluded that the action of the school authorities was reasonable because it was based upon their fear of a disturbance from the wearing of the armbands. But, in our system, undifferentiated fear or apprehension of disturbance is not enough to overcome the right to freedom of expression. Any departure from absolute regimentation may cause trouble. Any variation from the majority's opinion may inspire fear. Any word spoken, in class, in the lunchroom, or on the campus, that deviates from the views of another person may start an argument or cause a disturbance. But our Constitution says we must take this risk, Terminiello v. Chicago, 337 U.S. 1 (1949); and our history says that it is this sort of hazardous freedom--this kind of openness--that is <509> the basis of our national strength and of the independence and vigor of Americans who grow up and live in this relatively permissive, often disputatious, society.

In order for the State in the person of school officials to justify prohibition of a particular expression of opinion, it must be able to show that its action was caused by something more than a mere desire to avoid the discomfort and unpleasantness that always accompany an unpopular viewpoint. Certainly where there is no finding and no showing that engaging in the forbidden conduct would "materially and substantially interfere with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school," the prohibition cannot be sustained. Burnside v. Byars, supra, at 749."

Other countries don't have the absolute free speech rights that we enjoy. Even elsewhere in the anglosphere--Canada, the UK, Australia, etc.--the free speech right is curbed by hate speech laws.

We don't have hate speech laws here, and thank heavens.

These administrators need some training in basic rights. Perhaps the government or civics teachers could give them a lecture.

The Nazis, Klansmen and Communists all get to march here.

Our founders were right: expose controversial stuff to daylight. Don't let it fester in the dark.

I just don't get it. And it doesn't matter what day they wear it. There should be no conflict between the American flag and Cinco de Mayo. Heck, the American flag is flown at a lot of Cinco de Mayo celebrations. And if someone wants to wear the Mexican flag or any other flag on the 4th of July, I'm fine with that too.

Mexican schoolmates a thumb to the nose? I think they had a Constitutional right to do that, unless there was a history in that particular school that we don't know about. But as many posters on this thread have said, having a Constitutional right to do something doesn't mean your motives in doing it are pure.

I don't think these kids planned with each other to wear a flag T shirt and a flag bandana on Cinco de Mayo because they love America or the flag. I think it was a message to their Mexican schoolmates, and not a message of love, either.

Why would wearing an American flag be a negative message to Mexican students? Why would Mexican students in this country object to the American flag? If they are here then it is their flag too.

But, I think that IS how these kids were using it. I've said why I think that. You've not said why you think the opposite.

Are you saying that no one who wears the flag can possibly don it with an intent to be mean or negative? Or, are you saying that these particular kids didn't have that motive?

I never said the Mexican students objected. The reaction of the Mexican students has nothing to do with the motives of the students who made a plan to wear matching flag bandana and flag shirt outfits to school on Cinco de Mayo, when that is not something they normally do. (I am assuming that because, if it were a frequent things with these kids, I don't think it would have attracted the attention of the administrators.)

"The American flag should not be a negative message to anyone..."


Nor should the phrase, "bless your heart", but quite often people take it as an insult.

I imagine it depends less on any absolute interpretations that are to be applied across the board regardless, and more on the context of the symbol in form, function and format.

rights are somewhat more limited because of the need of the school to maintain order, safety and an atmosphere otherwise conducive to learning. See Tinker v. Des Moines and cases following it.

Indeed, most of the freedom of religion in school cases brought relatively recently are not couched in terms of freedom of religion rights, but of free speech rights.

home over this appaling. We have a house here and mexico, try going to school there and complain about mexican flags on the 4th of July. This country is supposed to be based on freedom of speech, can't tell it by the "progressives" here. I'm glad I'm a liberal, not bigoted against anyone even this country.

Your illogic would support the idea that the Civil War was about states rights and not slavery.

How is that bigoted?

How can you be proud of something you had no control over? Unless I missed out on the superpower that allows you to choose which country you're born in.

flag? Unless you are a hypocrite you must believe this. Many, including veterans like, believe the flag represents the people. Get over it if you don't like it, but don't claim one group cannot be proud out one side of your mouth, while supporting the other group in doing so.

Not only can you choose your birthplace, you plucked a thought out of my mind that I didn't even know I was thinking!!!

I didn't notice that I was supporting the other group? Were they wearing Mexican flags and jeering at everyone on 4th of July?

Tell me, oh All Knowing One!

being treased, o mindless one, and I did not seer you mouth off about the kids wearing mexican flags. So you can take your attitude and shove it up your backside. When did the cinco de mayo become a holiday in the us?

I am just a person of mexican heritage, speak spanish here at home always have, with houses here and in mexico that hates bigotry. Even the self hate type that you have.

Thanks for the laugh. At least you didn't go with the standard "I'm not racist - my grandfather/grandmother/uncle/whatthefuckever is a Cherokee!

We have kids (3) in school in mexico city. Keep living in your fantasy world, put down the bon bon's, turn off the tv and actually get out and see the world. I can tell your family line are probably couch potatoes and d just as fucked in the head as you are.

I am not seeping in self loathing, but then again I am not white.

Typical.

I love myself honey - you should try it. It would prevent you from lashing out blindly against people who see right through you.

But many of us feel like we've helped build and improve the community and nation in which we live, and are rightfully proud of it. If that's not you, I'm sorry.

and improve the community and nation is because you're American?

I would think it was because you were a decent human being. Your nationality has nothing whatsoever to do with your humanity. Sorry, I don't drink Koolaid.

I hate nationalism. It's fucking dangerous - ask Germany.

When I hear the words American Pride, I picture some big haired hag with Lee Greenwood on the radio in the kitchen, her redneck mullet-headed husband in his recliner, Bud in hand, farting the Star Spangled Banner.

Ah'm proud to be an Amerikun, cuz at least ah know ah'm freeeeeeeeeeeeee

I'm proud of the community and nation I live in because I am a stakeholder. What it is and what it will be depend in a small part to my efforts. My experience is that people who have the most pride in their cars or homes are more likely to make improvements and keep them in good condition. It's human nature, and I think it scales up to things much bigger than cars or homes. Good night.

As T Wolf said, though, context does matter when you are trying figure out what message these kids intended to send.

Where it is not normally worn.

I'm not willing to weaken it so that a certain group won't be offended.

Many historians do see the causes of the Civil War as having at least a large states' rights component.

in the US on the day of a holiday not even recognized by the us be racist? Sometimes I am ashamed to be a liberal with the narrow minded clowns that claim to be on my side.

Allow all flags or none of them.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode04/usc_sec_04_00000008----000-.html


Such as by their forehead sweat or pit-stains.


I'd say they failed on several counts here.

Not a depiction of a flag. Common mistake.

An embroidered depiction of a flag is clearly mentioned.

first amendment rights when, where and how I want.

Use of "we" and "they" showing that ethnicity trumps all and the equating of 4th of July and Cinco De Mayo shows two distinct groups instead of one as Americans and that we are not a melting pot. This in addition to the US flag offending them. And then a US school told students to turn the US flag shirt inside out.

And this is for a holiday that isn't even that big deal a in Mexico. That's Sept 15th.

Which holiday really means more in Mexico is really beside the point. Easter means more than Christmas. Does that mean that the motives of a band of kids who come to school wearing Satanic symbols on Christmas Eve, but no other day, must therefore be pure?

We are a melting pot. A few high school students can't stop that.

They should just get into Cinco de Mayo, like they do St. Patrick's Day.

Which is probably what most do. These jerks are rare; that's why they made the news.

to start taking kids' right to freedom of expression in the form of American flag.

u.s. haters. Not all of us are US haters.

who was defending the little cretins' right to show "white pride". God, I hate racists, I really do.

If those were my children I'd probably drown them and have my uterus cauterized.

One Mexican-American student, freshman Laura Ponce, had a Mexican flag painted on her face and chest, peaking out of her low-cut shirt. She did it because, "it's our day, the only day we can show our spirit." A school administrator took away the Mexican flag she was carrying as she was waiting to go home. Ponce said: "not cool."

"There was a lot of drama going on today," Ponce said. Some were saying "Mexico sucks" while Mexican-American students responded in their second language.

"Some were yelling Spanish to us," Maciel said, who is half-Hispanic. "I couldn't understand it, but it sounded bad."

Some Mexican-American students said that their flags were taken away or asked to be put away, but none were sent home for wearing red, white and green. Since Boden would not comment, it's uncertain if any other students were sent home for what they were wearing on Cinco de Mayo.

http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news/265402-five-morgan-hill-students-sent-home-for-wearing-american-flag-t-shirts

Teens forced to remove American T-shirts ignites national media attention

At 10:30 a.m. today, a group of Hispanic students walked out of Live Oak and about 45 minutes later, reports flooded in that scores of people had marched through the Morgan Hill downtown, disrupting traffic. It was not immediately clear whether the events were linked, why the students walked out, or what the march was about.

As of 11:15 a.m., reports indicated that the group was on Monterey Road between Dunne and Tennant avenues.

Four teens sent home for wearing red, white and blue on Cinco de Mayo are the focus of national media attention today as their story went viral after Live Oak High School officials asked the students to turn their American flag T-shirts inside-out to quell any confrontations.

At least four Bay Area TV news stations set up camp in front of Live Oak High School this morning following a firestorm of outrage from both sides. Mexican-American students felt the students were being disrespectful on the only day they celebrate their heritage while students sporting red, white and blue said it violated their First Amendment rights.

http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news/265416-updated-teens-forced-to-remove-american-t-shirts-ignites-national-media-attention

Hispanic students march through downtown Morgan Hill for respect

About 200 Hispanic teens are marching in Morgan Hill yelling "We want respect!" and "Si se peude!" in reaction to a controversy ignited when the Live Oak High School principal effectively sent four students home for wearing T-shirts with American flags on them during Cinco de Mayo.

Mexican-American students felt the students were being disrespectful on the only day they celebrate their heritage while students sporting red, white and blue said it violated their First Amendment rights.

Six police cars and a Morgan Hill motorcycle officer have been cruising alongside the large group as it marches.

The group - mostly high school students - walked out of school this morning after the story of four students who were sent home because they wore American flag T-shirts went viral on TV and online. Many wear red, white and green and two large Mexico flags can be seen at the front of the line.

-----

This morning, some students were seen wearing red, white and blue in support of the four students. Some teens spread the word on Facebook since Wednesday's incident encouraging Live Oak students to show their patriotism by wearing their colors.

-----

A parent of two Live Oak students, Teresa Casillas, said the American-flag wearing students were yelling "We live in America!" at the brunch break. She said her children were upset by their behavior at school, calling it disrespectful.

http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news/265420-hispanic-students-march-through-downtown-morgan-hill-for-respect


John Massina, a San Jose resident, drove to Live Oak Wednesday morning to protest. He said he was enraged that students were sent home for wearing red, white and blue on Cinco de Mayo.


Live Oak High School students from left, Daniel Galli, Austin Carvalho, Matt Dariano and Dominic Maciel were sent home from school Wednesday because they were wearing American flag t-shirts on Cinco de Mayo.

Wearing an american flag here should NEVER be a problem. The teacher that sent the kids home for wearing the flag of the country they are in should be fired, they only made things worse and tensions will only increase. This is from someone that comes from and lives n a spanish speaking home. I can't believe many people on this board are so bigoted that they call the wearing of the us flag racist, we are supposed to be the party of tolerance. I can't believe the left has changed this much, time to look at the green party. Bigotry against ones own country is no better than any kind of bigotry....especially from the party of acceptance ).*Sarcasm* (my party). It looks like there is no more party of acceptance.

Regardless of my ethnic heritage I am a disabled veteran that strongly believes in freedom of speech, and flying the flag, for everyone. Not just who some think deserves it.

Sometimes DU gets off on hatred of the US that is all out of proportion.

Sure, the US is not perfect but it's not all awful, either.

And, of course, thank you for your service. :patriot:

I'll be thinking of you on Memorial Day. And yes, anyone may wear any country's flag on that day, despite it's solemn and specifically US significance.

am on the right side. We have both us and Mexican flags and have plenty of respect for both. The US is not perfect, but of the many countries I have been to there are very few (if any) that provide the freedoms we have here. There is racism in all of them, most more than many here would admit to.

Anyway I do appreciate you Amanda, I am passionate about many things this is one)as you can see and your post is like a breath of fresh air on a board with people I am beginning to wonder if I have as much in common as I thought. In other words I am with by far most on the issues, but I am old (and old fashioned) I guess in that bigotry and hatred are never acceptable...even towards oneself.

I think that you and I are on the same wavelength.

My Dad and one of my uncles were in the Navy in WWII. They just loved that service.

When you serve during a conflice (or any time) the flag represents everything you left at home, thats why many veterans take the flag serious.

You've improved my understanding today.

Thank you again.

had left well enough alone, and let each group express itself peacefully.

Anyone starts, he or she goes home not for the content of their speech or expression, but because of his or her actions.

In fact, this incident could be a real teachable moment concerning free speech and the First Amendment.

The school administrators don't seem bright enough to see it, though.

be applied evenly.

And believe you me they will milk this for all it's worth. We don't need this.

Why would all these kids wear the American flag on Cinco de Mayo? Come on, it was a racist trying to fly under radar act.

Of course, I could see other racists, not having a problem with this.

mexicans are plenty racist against dark skin mexicans......just ask my wife who is dark skinned (I am light skinned). But stopping someone from wearing the flag of the country they are in in favor of a foreign flag is just plain stupid. I have both flags, I would not even consider waving the us flag in mexico while whining about people wearing the mexican flag....or vice versa.

Not so easy when it's speech you despise.

Yet the cost of having it for speech you agree with is the above.

Seems straightforward to me.

that doing this was stepping into the RW talking points trap.

This is the thread. It seems that this issue is pretty divisive even among us progressives. If you try looking at the comments on any of the news sites reporting this ranging from the local media like San Jose Mercury News and Morgan Hill Times or even worse the conservative blogosphere it's a much bigger hellhole.

Well check it out. I went to the SJMN website and one of the boy's mothers spilled the beans a bit (no pun intended):



"Believe in legal immigration"...er that's sorta racial code language right there if you think about it; consider the group Americans for Legal Immigration.

And if you're wondering what the ACLU says about this, the Mercury News reported:

If they had thought it through they might've realized they would turn this into a media firestorm.

People that do not are just as bigoted as right wingers.

level or the federal Circuit Court of Appeals level, or so many free speech in school cases would not make it all the way to the Supreme Court. I don't think it reasonable to expect someone who is not a judge or a lawyer to have a perfect understanding.

I'd settle for giving the faculty and administrators some education about what is or is not permissible. I'd hate to see anyone fired these days. If he beat the kids, ok, but this is not that clear cut by any means.

It's a high school. Principals do not have to put up with bullshit in the name of free speech.

I will expect when Christmas Day roles around for all the atheist groups who post signs that read, :There is no GOD." to kindly refrain on that day. Because it is just one day on the calendar, and like Cinco de Mayor there is no reason to be insensitive to all those people who do celebrate something that you may not believe in or share the same enthusiasm for.

You don't have any control over your country of origin, you have full control over what religion you are.

in this thread, you have to take a drink.

Anyone dare?

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

in the US is a dupe on the gringos/as by beer companies and Mexican restaurants, it has very little significance to most Mexican immigrants..even school administrators don't realize this?

on DU do not. It's really nothing in mexico and I know of no first generation mexicans that celebrate it. As a side note people do not use the flag image on clothing there. Here the image is OK, using a flag is not. There even images on clothing is bad.

The "sensitivity" police are getting out of hand when they resort to punishing rather than convincing and counter-argument.

than I thought.

the IMAGE of a mexican flag on your clothing will net you big problems, it's considered the same as using the flag which is disrespectful. So wearing the mexican banner on clothing is not respectful to mexico, it's disrespectful by THEIR standards. Nobody can claim the wearing of the flag was done to be respectful to mexico/mexicans. I fully support anyones right to wear a flag image here of wherever they choose, but wearing mexican flags on their clothing here is considered disrespectful to the flag there and it's being done on a holiday mexicans really do not celebrate. So how are they doing out of respect for mexico and mexicans?

that says ATHEIST on it, during easter or xmas.

I do not find that an American Flag tee on Cinco de Mayo to be offensive, if it said something derogatory and racist with an American flag on it, then yes, by all means remove them. But just wearing an American flag tee is not offensive.

could suspend a student for holding a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" sign at an Olympic torch rally.

Telling students not to incite race hatred? . . . yeah, not so much.

but so many on here resort to hyperbole to prove their weak points.

Next someone will claim they were carrying uzi's.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_15030582?nclick_check=1

As for the uzis, shooting one's mouth off can be dangerous too.

as for the Border Patrol shirt, while definitely provacative, it's not necessarily racist or inciting race riots. Context is everything.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

Morgan Hill police stepped up their presence today at a high school catapulted into the national news spotlight over four football players who wore American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo.

Sgt. Jerry Neumayer said two officers are now patrolling the campus of Live Oak High School, instead of one. At lunch, he plans to send two more to campus. And he said "three or four" more officers are working overtime today, to be ready just in case there's trouble at school.

"We've heard rumors of possible protests or fights," he said. "The principal asked us to come."

All the brouhaha stems from Wednesday, when four teens wore red, white and blue garb on Cinco de Mayo, a day when many Latino students wore red, white and green to honor the defeat of the French military in Mexico in 1862.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_15039365?source=rss

---

This article also reports that one of the boys went on none other than FOX NEWS this morning! Ooh, I should go check Media Matters or Newshounds to see how they break down what they had to say, given that FNC is unethical enough to avoid bringing in a school admin for balance.

The admins originally made the boys change their clothes to avoid a fight on May 5. Sadly, the threat of racial tensions was instigated more because of the administrators' actions than the students'. :-(

moment at that school, it is now.

to try to calm things down.

I have zero tolerance for stupid nationalists using flags to offend other stupid nationalist in their even stupider nationalistic pissing contests. Jesus! Where are the adults? :patriot:

Nuff said

United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Section 176:

"(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. "

Pretty plain language; I see nothing in there about "except if you're some right-wing yahoo trying to make some type of political point".

Ignorant people always confuse symbols for the concepts they represent. They think they're the team colors or the corporate logo when in reality they're too often just the shrouds beneath which we bury our friends.

I do not have a high opinion of flags. Flags are just symbols, powerful symbols but nothing more. They don't laugh or cry or bleed for what they represent. People do that. If there are any differences between what an American and a Mexican flag stand for, they aren't worth so much as an unkind word, let alone a bloody nose or worse.

Are you claiming these kids made clothing out of actual flags? Using the flag image does not apply, only using real flags.

Wearing mexican flag images on clothing DOES apply, in mexico it applies to both flags and images. So complain at them for disrespecting Mexico.

What is said applies to flags themselves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo

"Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.<2><3> It is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla and in the United States.<4><5><6><7> While Cinco de Mayo sees limited significance and celebration nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed nationwide in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.<8> Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day,<9> the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico."
------------------------

But even that teensy little fact ignores the substance of this thread: FREEDOM OF SPEECH! We can wear any damn flag we want to on any damn day we want to. PERIOD!!!! What about the US Supreme Court do some of you not understand? This crappola was ruled on definitively in the late 60's or early 70's when it was tuled that even burning the flag(our flag) was protected speech. You wanna be Mexicans better go down and visit Mexico on the 5th of May and search for any parades or celebrations of Cinco de Mayo...you will find few or none...but go down on the 16th of September if you want to see celebrations!!!!!!!!11

is what america need more of.I am sure the little punks were up to no good trying to incite a confrontation between the Mexicans and their pals.Thats akin to screaming fire in a crowed theater.

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm
United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1
§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.
:redbox: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.