The problem is that we are focused on the trivial rather than the big. The school obviously equates Old Glory with gang colors. It is an insult to all the Americans who have struggled here and abroad to make this the best country ever on the planet. I hope that the parents of the district have the sense and courage to put this principal in his/her place.

I'm sorry Matt, why do you think the democrats will join us in this? You know they think that patriotism is just one step from Nationalism and we all know what that means, Nazi's. Even thought they hate patriotism don't dare call them unpatriotic.

Maybe it's time to make wearing of school uniforms madatory. Khaki pants, white shirt.

No, I guess it's not our country anymore...
-OC

Here in Harrisburg PA camouflage pants are not worn to support the troops but more of a Gangsta' style among the kids. Out west I assume a bunch of white kids showing at school up in camo means WHITE POWER!! The world has not seen this kind of right-wing nationalism since Germany in the 1930's, thank you GOP

Mark - for heavens sake - please tell the whole story. The principal banned the patriotic clothing because it was been worn to antagonize other students over the immigration issue, along with a lot of racial name calling. She was right to neutralize the issue by temporarily banning the practice. It's tough enough to get through middle school with the added pressure of taking your parents political battles into the classroom sand hallways. I would hope these parents would try to let their kids be kids for a little bit longer.

Cammie pants banned?
Hits the poor hardest, one would think, clothing themselves from the Goodwill and all.

xm, as I understand it there was some flag brandishing and that sort of thing, but this was AFTER a demonstration that brought the Mexican flag and similar articles of clothing from the other side. The denunciations of the RedState types (for lack of a better descriptor) as "provocative" ignore the earlier provocations of the groups demonstrating in favor of illegal immigration. Was Mexican nationalist material banned as well? I have seen no reporting to that effect and we would have heard from La Raza had that been the case.

mega - I agree that all of the antogonizing should be neutralized on both sides of the issue. They're just kids. They should focus on kid issues like getting through puberty and schoolwork. Leave the political fighting to us grown-ups - especially us REAL men, fighting with our web browsers.

This needs to go to the Supreme Court. I'd sue the heck out of that school district for infringing on my civil rights as an American citizen.

Maybe it's time to make wearing of school uniforms madatory. Khaki pants, white shirt.

Hey Ash-lick, what's "madatory?"

BTW, Ash, I hear you wear a Tutu to school. Does Barney wear one too?

Mr. Margolis, I hate to be pessimistic on this but with political correctness so ingrained in this country's psyche, it's going to get much much worse before it will get better. I do emphasize that it will get better but it's going to take at least one generation of conservatives to get it over the top and a second generation to keep the momentum rolling. Remember, this sort of liberalistic thinking started way back in the 60's and it's only been recently that a surge of conservatism has arisen to begin to counteract it.

Now now Keefer as much as I disagree with Ash this time he/she has a point. I've heard things such as this as a major reason to go to school uniforms.

Personally, I'm quite torn on the idea of school uniforms. I see both the good and bad reasons to use them and I know growing up it wouldn't have bothered me. Then again, I grew up in the middle of nowhere so there was only one school. :)

In all seriousness though I have to wonder if this is really in the kids best interests or not? I know here in So Cal we've been having lots of "racial tensions" at schools at it's along racial lines. Changing what the kids wear only removes one excuse to start a fight, it's not working on the root problem. A bandaid for the dam perhaps?

Since when was khaki/camoflague a school uniform. What r u running there. a terrorist camp perhaps?

I think it naive to expect that cammies atutomatically indicate patriotism and/or respect for the military. If the principal knows the symoblism of a certain type of clothing in her own school, and feels the symbol is unhealthy, then it has to be her decision. If the parents in the district, who should also know more than we do here, don't agree with her, they can act.

I'm not sure what "a political symbol for a version of patriotism..." is. If it is jingoistic, in-your-face, I'm-an-Anerican-so-better-than-you, then yes, that could be called "a version of patriotism" that is unhealthy. If it's just support for our troops, war effort, or president, then the prinicipal is on shaky ground.

And it's about time some stopped identifying all nationalism with Nazism. Read some books, you guys, and eddicate yourselves, instead of simply regurgitating the pap fed by Air America in their Short Course on American History. I was just told that "Bush is like Hitler" because he appointed people he knew. As opposed to appointing strangers, the way all the other presidents have done. Uh, duh........

It would be funny, if it weren't so sad.
It would be sad, if it weren't so funny.

Gozer, clothes send so many messages, I don't think it would be a bad thing to eliminate most of them.

Uniforms eliminate several:
"I have more money than you"
"I dress cooler than you"
"This clothing tells you of my ethnic background, political leanings, and/or gang affiliation"
"I'm sexual and available"

None of those messages is very productive or helpful to getting an education. Seems that when clothing did not advertise those messages, we got a better education.

Ok... they don't want to have any patriotic
clothing in the school. No worries. Then take
away the federal funding from the schools as well.
Why should Americans fund a public school where
the American Symbols are banned.

I don’t agree to any banning of any clothing that expresses your first amendment right to free speech. In school there are some topics that may be a unacceptable buy a flag???

I am not the most patriotic person but as an American I respect the rights of others to show how they feel about there country.

This overkill notion of being politically correct is going to be the downfall of this country. Why are some Americans bowing to NON Americans by banning patriotic colors and also flying our flag? What/who are you acquiesing to? You better hope and pray America stays the most powerful country in the world because what's wrong with that? Think about it! Think about life if Iraq or Mexico were the super power. Americans better unite before it's too late.

It is time that we got together and started standing up to all these illegal people (they are not immigrants). We need to stop using the term immigrants when referring to them. Call them criminals, felons, trespassers or whatever but do not call them immigrants. Immigrants come to this country through the proper channels and want to be a part of the U.S.A. They learn our language. The take the steps necessary to become a citizen. These illegals, the want everything given to them without obeying our laws. We do not need to create laws for immigration. We already have laws on the books. Let's enforce the laws we have. Try to go to Mexico and behave as these illegals have and see where it will get you. Jail! That's where you will be!!