BAN THE AMERICAN FLAG FROM SCHOOLS!!!!

[kneedownnate]

You don't change honest innocent actions that've gone on forever just because a few people are too sensetive to deal with it anymore.  You ask those people to deal with it, leave, or keep their opinions to themselves until they have a valid one 

[46&2]

People that want to ban the American flag in schools should go to North Korea and try and ban the NK flag in NK and see how well it goes.

[chim]

I think we need to impeach and hang our president. Get a bush back in office. And kick out all the illegals, or just have open shooting range on them. What the hell is this country coming to when they want to ban the flag? If you don't like it then leave school and go kill your self your not worthy of living here. Whats next you can't pray in public places or have church's?

Hell with all that. I'm gonna start shooting people soon I feel it coming.

Sorry dude, but getting a Bush in office would not help.. as much as I liked Bush at the very beginning.. its only because of my own ignorance of the whole system of puppets ... want change... get Ron Paul in there.

[JanMarie13]

...such as 1) replacing worn/tattered US flags 2) US flags must be lit if flown at night and 3) US flags are not supposed to be left flying in the rain.

My Daddy was a Marine in Vietnam.  I remember when I was little, we had a flag post in our front yard and flew the flag all the time.  Didn't have a light to shine on it, so we took it down every night.  And I remember lots of times dashing out front to take it down when it was starting to rain! 


                                          

[GNasty 82]

... want change... get Ron Paul in there.

Amen to that brother!!!   

[BigMike]

want change... get Ron Paul in there.

Preach it brotha! Or convince Mark Levin to run for president

[BLACKDOG]

[66cobra]

why don't we just ban all of these ass wipes who come up with this b.s. instead

[Hammerhead]

Ridiculous....


...crap like that is why we homeschool.  Here's a pic of my house and our flag at half mast...

[1972TLC]

I'm all for melting pots but why does Our nation have to be IT?

If you -moved- to Saudi Arabia, would they allow you all the freedoms you had in the states? Would they allow you to fly your American flag high in your front lawn? Would you be able to fall on the civil rights of an American, in Saudi Arabia?

No.

Why? Because you're in THEIR country now and have to abide by THEIR laws, THEIR ways, THEIR RELIGION!, THEIR consequences and THEIR social acceptance.

Where did that go? Why do we now put the feelings and rights of illegal immigrants and new comers from around the world before our own? Since when does the United States of America no longer back it's own people first and other's second?

I love the fact that I live in the biggest, most free country of the world...what I do not like however, is the degree to which the United States is becoming less of it's own country and more of a giant cluster foowy of a melting pot. It is disouraging to the fullest.

[BigMike]

28.5% have voted for "Yes. The safety of students comes first."

SAFETY? WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT??

I just checked the results just for the hell of it, and it's now down to 25% for "Yes".     2,423,212 votes so far.

[Toymin8r]

28.5% have voted for "Yes. The safety of students comes first."

SAFETY? WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT??

This poll was created the day after the American students were sent home from school for wearing shirts with american flags on them on Cinco de Mayo.  The safety concern was that they thought they would be attacked by illegal aliens or children of illegals attending the school.  My thoughts were that they had a great opportunity for an illegal alien roundup and return.

[BigMike]

I remember that story but that's about as much of a safety concern as it is to eat left handed. First off, Cinco de Mayo isn't even a Mexican holiday, and yet the Hispanic kids here are upset because an American choose to wear his own colors in his own country. Regardless if the Hispanic kids are legal or not, regardless of what day or time or place it is, they have no business getting upset at an American for wearing American colors. Absolutely RETARDED and utterly RIDICULOUS.

Why don't we pass a National law that requires all schools to respect all Gang paraphernalia and prevent US flags from being displayed whenever a certain Gang member walks into the room. IT'S THE SAME THING because Gang paraphernalia has nothing to do with being a proud American, equally so as Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with being a proud American. Gang members are dangerous, so do we need to protect the "safety of the students" in this same regard!?!?!?!

For crying out loud America celebrates the Battle of Puebla more than Mexico does! HELLLLO?!?!?!

[1972TLC]

Hah...I like this guy's response to that poll.

Posted by: 175ranger

"So let me get this straight. We're asking if the American Flag should be banned from our schools out of fear that some kids will be incited to commit violence? That's called terrorism and really makes me wonder what the teachers are teaching kids in schools where this is a concern. California seems to teach exclusion and separation...so let them separate from the rest of us. If you are in a US school paid for by local taxpayers you can be taught respect for that flag and service to this country. If not, stack the furniture 'cuz the fight is on!"

[46&2]

Its funny you mention Saudi Arabia because I was born there. Even if you are born in Saudi Arabia, if you are a "foreigner", ie, non-Arab, they don't grant you citizenship. You assume the nationality of the parents. In my case, American. Even marrying a Saudi citizen doesn't grant citizenship. It pratically takes the King to grant a foreigner citizenship.

One of the most common assumptions people make about me being born in Saudi Arabia is dual citizenship. Most people automatically assume people around the world have the same freedoms and rights that we do here. Places like Saudi Arabia by the Pro-illegal immigrants standards, are the ultimate racists because if you aren't of their creed color or culture, you aren't allowed to become a citizen there. They don't want Mexican culture any more than they want White culture or Asian culture.

The point of America in my mind is to be a melting pot of people and culture that respect each others differences and are united under one flag, and one country. Banning the flag is dividing, not uniting. Just stupid.

[germ]

My neighbor just put in a "real" flagpole in his front yard. 3 different familes were present for the first raising of the flag on his new pole. We all put our right hand over our heart and said the Pledge of Allegiance. Kids and parents alike. We were proud to do it. We also say the pledge before every meeting of our 4WD club.

Anyone who thinks the flag should be banned can get the He** out of this country and go find someplace else to create problems. In fact, I just came back from a trip to Norway, and I was struck by the fact that almost every single house had a Norweigan flag hanging. Every boat had at least one, and many of the cars had flag stickers on them. Maybe we could learn a bit from the Norwiegans about national pride. Maybe if we all flew flags, we'd be a bit less devisive in this country, 'cause except for those who are here illegaly, we're all Americans. Lets be proud about it (but not obnoxious)

[1972TLC]

Its funny you mention Saudi Arabia because I was born there. Even if you are born in Saudi Arabia, if you are a "foreigner", ie, non-Arab, they don't grant you citizenship. You assume the nationality of the parents. In my case, American. Even marrying a Saudi citizen doesn't grant citizenship. It pratically takes the King to grant a foreigner citizenship.

One of the most common assumptions people make about me being born in Saudi Arabia is dual citizenship. Most people automatically assume people around the world have the same freedoms and rights that we do here. Places like Saudi Arabia by the Pro-illegal immigrants standards, are the ultimate racists because if you aren't of their creed color or culture, you aren't allowed to become a citizen there. They don't want Mexican culture any more than they want White culture or Asian culture.

The point of America in my mind is to be a melting pot of people and culture that respect each others differences and are united under one flag, and one country. Banning the flag is dividing, not uniting. Just stupid.

Hah, yea...it was just the first name that popped into my head. I don't really know any of the "rules" of Saudi Arabia, like the ones you mentioned. Interesting to learn though. Like you said though, they wish to have a pure breed of civilians. And hey, that's their business and it's their right. I don't blame them or even disagree with them really. Well, ok, they're a little extreme but the simple idea of a country being its own country, with its own language, its own beliefs, its own way of life, etc. is what I'm on about.

For simple reason purposes, I've been told (and correct me if I'm wrong) that if you plan on moving to Japan to live permanently, you are required to learn Japanese.

With that said...they hold true to their roots and want to be able to communicate naturally with their fellow neighbor. Yes, I'm willing to bet that many if not most of Japan knows English, to an extent but many if not most refuse to use it. Because it is not their language. I would no more plan to move to Russia without learning to speak Russian first. It's simply a disrespectful expectation that I as an American or I as a German or I as an Italian, etc. am so far above any other country that if I move to your land you speak to me in English or German or Italian, etc. without me having to learn a lick of your own tongue. Not right.

America is a melting pot, yes. And I'm all for it but Only if we hold true to our roots. We were founded as an English speaking nation with Christianity in our hearts. We fly an American flag and Pledge our Allegiance to our country. If you come to the US from another country you will have to be the flexible one. Learn our language, our beliefs, our traditions. Because we are America we won't force this on you but it should be a respectful act of grattitude for our acceptance of immigrants that we are not expected to give up our foundation. You do not come to our country to turn it into what you've left, you come to our coutry to turn your life into what it wasn't.

[46&2]

America is a melting pot, yes. And I'm all for it but Only if we hold true to our roots. We were founded as an English speaking nation with Christianity in our hearts. We fly an American flag and Pledge our Allegiance to our country. If you come to the US from another country you will have to be the flexible one. Learn our language, our beliefs, our traditions. Because we are America we won't force this on you but it should be a respectful act of grattitude for our acceptance of immigrants that we are not expected to give up our foundation. You do not come to our country to turn it into what you've left, you come to our coutry to turn your life into what it wasn't.

I guess I didn't make it clear in my post but I am not saying America should be a melting pot of disregard. I meant it should be a melting pot of cultures united under one flag, one country and true to its roots. Should have included that last part.

[BigMike]

I've been told (and correct me if I'm wrong) that if you plan on moving to Japan to live permanently, you are required to learn Japanese.

I've been to Japan a few times and have many Japanese friends, but I have not heard of this. That doesn't mean it's not true -- I just don't have any experience of what it takes to permanently live there. But from what I've been exposed to, being required to speak Japanese is just like being required to speak English to live in the US in a sense that the majority of US life is in English. English isn't "required" by law in the US, but you'd certainly have an easier time living in the US if you could speak English.

Yes, I'm willing to bet that many if not most of Japan knows English, to an extent but many if not most refuse to use it. Because it is not their language.

From what I've seen, it's not that they refuse to use it, but rather they don't know how to use it. They start learning English like in the 5th or 6th grade and continue to learn it through High School, but if you try talking to someone in English, they will barely be able to communicate. So I've talked to my Japanese friends about this, saying that I only learned 1 semester of Spanish and yet I could get around in Mexico in terms of asking where the restrooms are, ordering food from a menu, paying for a taxi, asking for directions.. I even sometimes help Spanish speaking customers (as best as I can) that stop in from time to time here at the shop. So when I ask my friends why they can't speak English, they say that they are taught English grammar and vocabulary only, and it's extremely tedious and boring. The problem is that they do not teach any conversational skills at all. They never practice using English, they just learn vocab and that's it. It's as if the Japanese teacher never speaks a single complete sentence in English. It's the most unpractical way to learn a language.

So they can look at an English book and identify certain words, but they have no clue how to assemble sentences and certainly have no clue what we are saying when you talk to them unless you speak extremely slow.

The most surprising thing that everyone says about English: "You guys speak so fast!" Every time I hear this I am shocked, no, THEY speak so fast! dang!

[1972TLC]

I guess I didn't make it clear in my post but I am not saying America should be a melting pot of disregard. I meant it should be a melting pot of cultures united under one flag, one country and true to its roots. Should have included that last part.

Oh no I got that from what you wrote. My post just kind of went from responding to you to rambling on more about my feelings on this or whatever haha I agree though. Come one, come all...but let us be one and all together, not apart.

[1972TLC]

I've been to Japan a few times and have many Japanese friends, but I have not heard of this. That doesn't mean it's not true -- I just don't have any experience of what it takes to permanently live there. But from what I've been exposed to, being required to speak Japanese is just like being required to speak English to live in the US in a sense that the majority of US life is in English. English isn't "required" by law in the US, but you'd certainly have an easier time living in the US if you could speak English.

One would think right?!

From what I've seen, it's not that they refuse to use it, but rather they don't know how to use it. They start learning English like in the 5th or 6th grade and continue to learn it through High School, but if you try talking to someone in English, they will barely be able to communicate. So I've talked to my Japanese friends about this, saying that I only learned 1 semester of Spanish and yet I could get around in Mexico in terms of asking where the restrooms are, ordering food from a menu, paying for a taxi, asking for directions.. I even sometimes help Spanish speaking customers (as best as I can) that stop in from time to time here at the shop. So when I ask my friends why they can't speak English, they say that they are taught English grammar and vocabulary only, and it's extremely tedious and boring. The problem is that they do not teach any conversational skills at all. They never practice using English, they just learn vocab and that's it. It's as if the Japanese teacher never speaks a single complete sentence in English. It's the most unpractical way to learn a language.

So they can look at an English book and identify certain words, but they have no clue how to assemble sentences and certainly have no clue what we are saying when you talk to them unless you speak extremely slow.

The most surprising thing that everyone says about English: "You guys speak so fast!" Every time I hear this I am shocked, no, THEY speak so fast! dang!

Whoa....and I thought my spanish teacher was lousy haha If that's the way they teach english over there then yea it's more understandable why they wouldn't be using it.

Point in case though, as you've noticed is that when you plan on living the rest of your life somewhere else, you really ought to learn the language. And the unfavorable thing about that is, that many who come to the US, do not. It's actually one thing I really don't understand. I can't even imagine moving somewhere where I didn't know a single word and relied on my children to translate for me. Talk about being held back in life! :/

[BigMike]

Well get this,

When I'm over in Japan, I see a LOT of English translations. Street signs, bus maps, food menus, train maps, etcetera. While it's more common in the larger port cities such as Tokyo, where there are a lot of international travelers, you can still find plenty of English even in the country side.

I compare this to living in California. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but there is a lot of Spanish translations out here (obviously). You can even get your DMV California driver's license using a Spanish test from a Spanish speaking instructor (and I'm tired of pressing '1' for English). It is true that it is our own fault for offering so much assistance to non-English speakers, and this is a bit off topic, but I digress.

I just don't understand why they "have" to be so friendly to what may be considered the "universal" language, English. I say that if I want to move to Japan, I should absolutely be required to learn to read/write/speak Japanese. I hate seeing all the English translations, except that they are usually really comical (see Engrish.com). If someone moves to another country, they should already be prepared to have to be required to "fit in".

[THK Matt]

man the government has completely forgot what this country is all about and was founded on hasn't it? F***** ridiculous.

[<MIKE>]

My Daddy was a Marine in Vietnam.  I remember when I was little, we had a flag post in our front yard and flew the flag all the time.  Didn't have a light to shine on it, so we took it down every night.  And I remember lots of times dashing out front to take it down when it was starting to rain!  

we still do the same thing at work every day. if it rains we litterally run outside to take it down let it dry then fold it. how are kids supposed to know these things if we start banning flags from schools?!?!?!?!??!?!?!
                                   

we still do the same thing at work everyday. if it rains we litterally run outside to take the flag down let it dry then fold it up correctly and store it in its box. how are kids supposed to know these things if we ban the American Flag in our schools? Am I taking crazy pills?!?!?!?!?!?!?!