1. Valerie

   11/15/2010 at 7:59 pm

   Utterly disproving the claim that the US flag could ignite racial tensions was the presence of a number of Latino students and parents holding flags.

   Reply

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3. NY-David

   11/16/2010 at 10:28 am

   Two things:
   Why was he standing alone? Where were his parents?
   This isn’t a measure of what’s wrong with this country currently, in difference to what the speaker was saying. This is a school district that was trying to get out of their duties of keeping the students safe. If driving a yellow car makes me a target for road-rage, will the police make me paint my car?
   NY-David

   Reply
4. Steve

   11/16/2010 at 3:23 pm

   “I never realized that the American flag contained racist undertones”

   Ask some Native Americans if they think the US flag has any racial undertones.

   Reply
   • CJ

     11/16/2010 at 3:40 pm

     Steve, I asked my wife, who is a Native American born in Colorado, and she said no. I asked my neighbor, who is a Native American born in Texas, and he said no. I also just asked a few Soldier in my office, born throughout the United States as Native Americans, and they all said no. Which Native American are you referring to?

     Reply
     • Steve

       11/18/2010 at 2:40 pm

       Try this one….

       http://www.racismagainstindians.org/Tribute/Southern/SouthernLawrence.htm

       Check out that second to last paragraph…
       “If we are honest there is no government existing with a clean record regarding people of color, especially the U.S., and its flag, and we would not think of removing it, or its mention from the nation’s schools even though in years past the U.S. flag has flown over more massacres of people of color in North America than any flag other than the British and Spanish flag and the U.S. flag has also flown over markets selling people of color, Indian, African, as well as European peoples, without regard for basic human rights. It is not unimportant that until recent years the flag of choice for racist organizations in the U.S. has been the U.S. flag. In the history of oppressionist bigot groups the U.S. flag has been the premier standard, and it remains so to this day, but the flag some schools seek to ban is the Confederate veterans flag (the 3×5 Confederate flag is not the battle flag, it is the flag adopted in 1904 by the United Confederate Veterans).”

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       • NY-David

         11/19/2010 at 9:42 am

         Steve,
         I hear your concerns. What are your thoughts about a solution?
         NY-David
       • Steve

         11/21/2010 at 6:23 pm

         Instead of spending money building schools in Iraq and Afghanistan let us spend it improving the schools on the reservations for a start.
       • CJ

         11/22/2010 at 11:34 am

         Hey, Steve, how about we stop spending money on schools in Iraq and Afghanistan and start spending money on NO schools in America at the federal level? That is not a function of the federal government. How about make the states responsible for what they are responsible for – education? Let’s stop with this selective funding of reservations! They are Americans just like everyone else and it’s time we treated everyone equal as the Constitution dictates!
       • Steve

         11/22/2010 at 4:57 pm

         As long as you include the schools on military bases. Let’s stop this selective funding of military bases! They are Americans just like everyone else and it’s time we treated everyone equal as the Constitution dictates. Right on!

         The reservation system didn’t exist when the Constitution was adopted.
       • CJ

         11/22/2010 at 5:39 pm

         Steve, the only place there are schools on military bases are in foreign countries and in isolated bases or in bases where the burden on the local population is too great to bear the burden of military children. The federal government sends troops to live outside their hometowns. It does not force anyone to live on a reservation – at least not since the 1800s. You’re mixing apples and oranges.
       • Steve

         11/22/2010 at 6:11 pm

         “in isolated bases or in bases where the burden on the local population is too great to bear the burden of military children”

         Really, then how do you explain West Point Elementary and Middle Schools? West Point is not remote and there aren’t that many permanent party to impact on the local school district.

         “The federal government sends troops to live outside their hometowns. It does not force anyone to live on a reservation”

         The federal government doesn’t force anyone to join the military either so if you don’t want you don’t have to leave your hometown.
   • NY-David

     11/17/2010 at 10:50 am

     While a lot can be said of past behavior of the US government against the Native Americans, the flag in and of itself is a reflection of the American People, Native Americans included. Its a nod toward our British colonial past based on its color and the inclusion of all the states united represented with the stars. I’m a history student and see no racisim actual or implied in the stars and stripes.
     Wave that banner loud and proud!!
     NY-David

     Reply
5. apache warrior

   11/17/2010 at 3:09 pm

   Steve its not the flag that we as natives find racist I’m full blooded apache and I’m a soldier in the us armym I’m proud of are flag but what I’m not proud of is how this country came to be and the diseases and suffering my people went through. What’s racist is when we are called savages for fighting back against white people. But its the past be proud of who u are today and where are people are now. Hooah 19k

   Reply
6. apache warrior

   11/17/2010 at 3:09 pm

   Steve its not the flag that we as natives find racist I’m full blooded apache and I’m a soldier in the us army I’m proud of are flag but what I’m not proud of is how this country came to be and the diseases and suffering my people went through. What’s racist is when we are called savages for fighting back against white people. But its the past be proud of who u are today and where are people are now. Hooah 19k

   Reply
   • Steve

     11/18/2010 at 9:22 am

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

     When I was a police officer in DC I worked several demonstrations conducted by Native Americans. I guess I must have misinterpreted the speeches in which they flat out said they viewed the US Flag as a symbol of racism and oppression. They were pretty clear about it. And they traveled hundreds of miles to deliver that message, so I suspect they felt pretty strongly about it.

     “What’s racist is when we are called savages for fighting back against white people.”

     Try changing “savages” to “terrorists” and it takes on a whole new meaning.

     Reply
     • CJ

       11/18/2010 at 3:46 pm

       Yeah, the United States is such a piss poor nation. We should constantly hang our collective heads in shame for the sins of our forefathers and beat our backs with cats of nine tails into a bloody pulp. The United States doesn’t deserve to exist. We’re a racist, masogonistic people that should become extinct. Kill whitey!!

       Is that what you wanted to hear Steve? I can ratchet it up another notch if it’ll make your liberal heart bleed a brighter color red!

       Reply
       • NY-David

         11/18/2010 at 9:04 pm

         He’s not Liberal. He doesn’t seem to be able to seperate patriotisim of a young boy from prior grievances of a nation.
         NY-David
       • Steve

         11/21/2010 at 6:21 pm

         Well, David, then let us fly a Confederate Flag with pride!

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