Pledge to Mexican flag featured at Texas school
Principal says he was pursuing 'diversity,' but wouldn't do it again
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Posted: September 22, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
The principal of an elementary school instructed his students to stand during the recitation of a pledge to the Mexican flag during a diversity assembly recently, and he's been trying to backtrack ever since.
"We absolutely refuse to stand up and pledge allegiance to another country's flag," a mother whose daughter attends the school told talk show host Chris Baker on AM 740 KTRH radio. "Where is the sensitivity to the country and to the troops and the men and women that have fought and died for this country?"
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The mother, identified only as Amy, said school officials gave all the children Mexican flags to wave and then asked everyone to stand up and pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag.
"Get out!" Baker shouted. "What school is that?"
It was Velasco Elementary in Clute, Texas, where Sam Williams is principal.
Stuart Dornburg is a spokesman for the Brazosport Independent School District which includes Velasco, and he said Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is a national Hispanic Heritage Month and the assembly was a cultural education activity in a district that values and respects diversity.
But Amy said she got "glares" when she didn't participate and when she "proudly" put the Mexican flag on the ground.
She said her husband was in Vietnam for three tours of duty, and she has a son in the war now.
"Arrest that man immediately. Bring him to me," Baker said.
In a report in The Facts, Williams said the response to his action was "overwhelming."
"It's been a real trying ordeal and all I can say is I deeply apologize if anyone was offended by it – and I can see that they are," the principal said
He said the situation should have been done differently. "There's no way that we would repeat it," he told the news group.
Officials say there are 635 students from preschool age to fourth grade in Velasco, and about two-thirds are Hispanic.
"We have stated in our mission statement that we are a campus that is a beacon of hope for a culturally diverse population,” Williams said.
The assembly was held Sept. 16, a day on which Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain.
Baker said the recitation was especially offensive since the U.S. is in the middle of a serious dispute over illegal immigration and the huge ramifications the nation faces from not having a secured border with Mexico.
"To blow it off as quote-unquote 'historical teaching methods' either shows complete arrogance or a lack of the ability to grasp the seriousness of the illegal immigration issue to Americans," told his listeners.
On a weblog, a fan identified as El Jefe Maximo said, "What's needed is a dose of nationalism, with a pinch of religion, and I'd throw in a dash of evil old imperialism as well."
Papa Ray told the same blog, "Homeschooling is looking more and more attractive to me for my Sweet Sarah."
Williams was upset that parents took their complaints to the radio waves.
"I would have graciously visited with that parent and explained on-site what the intent was," he said.
"I really don't understand why President Bush is so gung ho on giving these people 'a pathway to citizenship.' I would like to see them given a pathway back to Mexico after they help to build the wall," said Starblazer
2006-09-22 14:26:14 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
No surprise here,just like 100,000 people marching in the streets demanding we change our laws to suit them or putting up a Mexican flag over a school in Cali.This crap is getting way out of hand and for all the finger pointing the fact is it's the Mexicans making it out of hand.After all,seen any Americans in the street burning Mexican flags because I haven't but I've seen American flags torn down, trampled on,and burned and then we're called the extremists because we believe we have a right to decide how to legally enter our country. No country should put up with this or be expected to. I certainly hope I'm wrong but I believe this is fixing to get ugly/uglier soon. By the way keep up the good work,you are truly a person after my own heart,nice to hear someone expose the truth. Way too many people on here ready to make excuses for these people,glad to see more people standing up. Now if we could all get our senators and reps to listen,unfortunately my representative is a lost cause,Charlie Gonzales wouldn't know how to vote in the interest of anything America needs.
2006-09-22 16:08:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
1. This is not the fault of illegal immigrants.
2. An oath means something. Perhaps his mean nothing. This man has no business making children pledge ALLEGIANCE to a foreign country under any circumstance.
I am steaming and my brain isn't functioning yet. Did you know that under the old rules pledging to a different country could have been considered abandonment of these children's citizenship rights?
The court ruled against that, but it shows you what that has been historically taken to mean. Pledging to a different country is NOT diversity, it is treason.
That man had better be fired.
-edit-
OK, maybe not treason, there is no intent to OVERTHROW the government. But disloyalty, definitely, and definitely teaching children that what they promise is not important, it can just be a stunt.
Let us know what happens.
2006-09-22 23:30:36 · answer #2 · answered by DAR 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The principle should be fired! This is America and that's were Americans should pledge their allegiance. I have no problem with diversity or people from other countries, after all that's what America is made of (people of other countries)but if you can not stand up for the country you live in then GET OUT!! I don't believe everything we do is right but it is still the best place to be!
2006-09-22 21:42:56 · answer #3 · answered by tarows_sorrow 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Yea feed into the propaganda ,oh 11 million illegals are going to take over a country of 200 million. Right, sure, ok . What year is this 1960 ? Why don't you have a little cutural appreciation. Especially in areas that are mainly Latin.When your kiddies get out into the REAL world they will be in contact with all kinds of different people. Might as well climatize them now. Bush is doing a smart thing for once. He knows they are never going to capture everyone of them.They are deported when they are convicted of a crime.Many hispanics that come here as do many poor people enlist and serve in the military and give their lives for this country .
2006-09-22 23:27:15 · answer #4 · answered by primamaria04 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
That's a bunch of crap. If you live in this country, and go to our schools, you need to either pledge allegiance to OUR flag or respectfully stand. I have visited a few countries and this is what I have done, be respectful while they sing the anthem or honor their flag and certainly never expect them to pledge allegiance the U.S flag. It's basic manners.
So sweet- that is extremely rude, graphic, and in violation of terms of service. Try to show respect to others. You have been reported.
2006-09-22 21:34:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
NO it doesnt REALLY tick me of...
The man made a mistake and he wont do it again.
It might REAAAAAALY tick me off if refused to admit he messed up and that he thought it would be AWESOME to make all the white kids mexican citizens without parental consent.
but c'mon the man messed up! messed up in a pretty dumb way... but no one was physically injured the psychological trauma im SURE the children allegedly suffered will pass... it will probably affect some of the parents for the rest of their lives...
but the man appoligized...
i dont think he was trying to make all the children into some kind of mexican army...
RELAX!!
2006-09-22 21:42:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The parents should contact the superintendant of the school district and file a complaint against that principal until he does not have a job in that school district any longer. I would get my kids out of that school so fast, they would look like comet trails.
2006-09-22 21:48:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
People have a real problem with diversity cous, I think it was probably not the brightest move to have them "Pledge allegience" but they were probably actually trying to teach them something and didnt have bad intentions. People in that situation should just calm down and let the principal apologize.
2006-09-22 21:43:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Hold on, think twice. I know it goes against your heart to support another country, but think about these concepts. Throughout history, we've kept the world divided by nationalism. We all support different governments, and it separates us for some stupid reasons. "You believe in justice? Well darn, me too, but since we have different names, flags, and customs, we can't collaborate. I'm better." We need to unite as a race and try to sift through the complexities of the humanity, not of 182 different countrie's laws and names.
2006-09-22 21:30:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes, if schools want to manipulate children and indoctrinate them without the kids even knowing what they're doing, then at least they should be forced to pledge allegiance to OUR flag!
How else are we going to convince them to grow up and kill others in defense of it if we don't start making them pledge allegiance to it when they're 6 years old!
2006-09-22 21:31:25 · answer #10 · answered by Whoops, is this your spleeen? 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋