Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating a Mexican Victory & US Unity

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers around the controversy of students wearing American flag shirts at a school during Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that commemorates a Mexican victory over French forces. Participants express differing views on the appropriateness of the school's actions, with some supporting the principal's decision to send students home due to potential tensions, while others argue for the students' right to express their patriotism. The discussion highlights the complexities of cultural identity and freedom of speech within a multicultural society, referencing the Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines as a legal precedent for student expression.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Cinco de Mayo and its significance in American culture
  • Familiarity with the principles of freedom of speech in educational settings
  • Knowledge of the Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court case
  • Awareness of cultural sensitivity and its implications in diverse communities
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the historical context of Cinco de Mayo and its celebration in the United States
  • Study the legal implications of Tinker v. Des Moines and its impact on student rights
  • Explore strategies for fostering cultural sensitivity in educational environments
  • Investigate the role of nationalism in contemporary American society and its effects on immigrant communities
USEFUL FOR

Educators, students, cultural analysts, and anyone interested in the intersection of cultural identity, freedom of speech, and educational policy.

  • #61
zomgwtf said:
...Flags represent an entire nation, everything about it,
...

This is exactly what I mean. It's a total fiction to prentend some group or territory has some spotless history or moral superiority. It seems that such thinking "WE are better then YOU" is exactly what I find offensive. I can't spell it out much more clearly.
 
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  • #62
I think in this case its less about current national pride and more about ancestral pride since it was on a day honoring Mexican heritage and these students were opposing that with their own. Doing so on that specific day then to Oppose them basically expressed their pride in the CONFLICT between the two heritages rather than any individual national pride.
There IS a difference, albeit a small one, and it is this difference which I believe allowed the principal the authority and freedom to deem it possible to incite violence.
 
  • #63
Galteeth said:
This is exactly what I mean. It's a total fiction to prentend some group or territory has some spotless history or moral superiority. It seems that such thinking "WE are better then YOU" is exactly what I find offensive. I can't spell it out much more clearly.
You seem to be just grasping for things now.

No one said anything about moral superiority. I wrote out a long post addressing this flaw in your post in relation to flags but I hit the F5 button and lost everything, do not feel like typing it all out.

In short though it said that morals are subjective, not objective. I think most people understand this so if a person thinks 'my nation is better than yours based on morals' then they are only saying 'I believe my nation is better because...' it has no objective meaning... This happens with EVERYTHING about beliefs, 100% of the population will never agree on all things. This will naturally lead to 'I think that this idea is better than yours,' it's only human.

Anyway this has nothing to do with finding flags offensive. If you find your countries flag offensive because it symbolizes freedom or other moral standards etc. then I still do not see why you decide to reside in the country. We do not live in a utopian state, we never will, and people will always have diverse beliefs, there is nothing offensive about it. Actually it makes me love my nations flag even more because we are tolerant of all the diverse beliefs. In fact, it's how our government works.

However I have to call you out as a hypocrit. It would appear to me that you are placing your OWN beliefs higher than all those around you by finding flags offensive... What you are basically your saying 'I find it offensive that people think their ideas are better than others' Which is the same as saying 'I think this idea I have is better.'
 
  • #64
zomgwtf said:
You seem to be just grasping for things now.


Anyway this has nothing to do with finding flags offensive. If you find your countries flag offensive because it symbolizes freedom or other moral standards etc. then I still do not see why you decide to reside in the country. '
That's a strawman and you know it.

zomgwtf said:
However I have to call you out as a hypocrit. It would appear to me that you are placing your OWN beliefs higher than all those around you by finding flags offensive... What you are basically your saying 'I find it offensive that people think their ideas are better than others' Which is the same as saying 'I think this idea I have is better.'
Flags, as symbols of nationalism, are also symbols of nation states. In other words, they are largely military symbols. The notion of "Us" and "them" is not necessarily offensive, but its extension to violence is. As is apparently the case in this school, where the kids are apparently ready to fight over whose colors they fly. Remember, I am not supporting the ban.
Honestly, I can't be sure, but I think you understand exactly what I mean, but are mischaracterizing it out of a strong emotional reaction to the content of the debate.
 

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