The Freedom Bulletin

On Cinco de Mayo, two high school students in California wore American flag t-shirts to school. The principal told them to either take the shirts off or wear them inside out, calling them “incendiary.” Now the two boys and their parents are suing the school system, claiming that the school’s actions violated their constitutional rights:

Kendall and Joy Jones; John and Dianna Dariano, parents of Matthew Dariano; and Kurt and Julie Ann Fagerstrom, parents of Dominic Maciel, are asking a judge to rule that what happened May 5 at Live Oak violated the First and Fourteenth amendments, and that the school district’s policy regarding student speech is too vague.

The suit also asks for “nominal damages” and to award attorneys’ fees.

The Morgan Hill Unified School District, Live Oak Principal Nick Boden and Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez are named as the defendants.

Some people might call this lawsuit frivolous, but I think it has merit. No one should be banned from showing pride in their country, even during the holiday of another country. So many teenagers try to be cool and fit in at all costs that it’s a breath of fresh air to hear about teens showing their patriotism and standing up for what they believe in. It’s too bad that the Fourth of July doesn’t fall during the school year, because it would be interesting to see if the school allowed students to wear Mexican flag t-shirts on America’s holiday.

Complaint (PDF), thanks to KSBW-TV via the Examiner

Customers of a Marblehead gym are mad that there’s a big flag hanging from the ceiling! According to Fox25…

“The Fitness club’s owner, 23 year-old Mark Shea, hung the 12 foot long flag from the gym rafters on Friday and had over a dozen complaints by Monday. Some have complained that the flag blocks gym televisions, while some members have gone as far as to say that the flag is offensive. One members (sic) was quoted to say ‘It’s like putting a Jesus cross in my face.’”

Okay, I can understand the issue with the televisions (the gym owner subsequently moved the flag so it didn’t block them), but offensive? The American flag???

I can also understand why someone who didn’t believe in Jesus would be offended by a “Jesus cross,” but a flag is not comparable to a cross. People legitimately disagree on matters of religion, but I don’t think anyone disagrees that the gym is in America. An American flag doesn’t stand for a particular political theory, but simply for our nation, which happens to be where the gym is located. What could be offensive about that? Do these people think America shouldn’t exist?

If I was in another country and that country’s flag was displayed in a gym, that wouldn’t offend me in the least. It’s awesome to be proud of your country, no matter what country you’re from.

If you don’t like America (and you must not if you find our flag offensive), then you shouldn’t live here.