If you don't like read don't answer it's so long.A radio station in Houston has posted on its website two video clips of a Texas elementary school "diversity" assembly where a volunteer leads students in saying a pledge of allegiance to the Mexican flag.
Station KTRH has posted both a video clip showing elementary students cheering and waving Mexican flags, and a separate clip showing people the school described as volunteers leading students in the pledge in Spanish.
The story by Scott Braddock of KTRH notes that "whether students also recited the Mexican pledge remains a point of contention," however the audio clearly indicates that students are reciting the pledge along with the volunteer leader, because their voices can be heard finishing the final phrase well after the volunteer has finished.
As WND reported at the time, the event outraged parents and the principal at Velasco Elementary School said it was a "diversity" effort, but he would not do it again.
KTRH, which broke the story when the assembly was held a month ago, said it obtained the video from the school district under Texas open records laws.
On that station a month ago, callers were outraged.
"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 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?"
Several parents also told KTRH News students were joining in the pledge, but district officials said they did not.
District officials said the assembly was meant to teach children about Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on Sept. 16 to mark the day Mexico gained independence from Spain.
Longtime Velasco Principal Sam Williams said in hindsight he should have done things differently and apologized to those who were offended.
"As stated previously, and again verified with the campus administration this morning (Tuesday), the students did not say the Mexican pledge," school spokesman Stuart Dornburg told KTRH.
Those who watch the video will be able to judge for themselves.
A parent of a third-grader who wished to remain anonymous told the station that he was at the assembly and students were saying the pledge.
"I was telling them you don’t have to stand for the pledge of allegiance to the Mexican flag," he told the station.
"That's treason … you're not supposed to say the pledge of allegiance to any flag other than the American and Texas flags," the father said. "It broke my heart to see the kids doing that."
The earlier exchange between Baker, the talk show host, and a mother who identified herself as Amy reported school officials handed out Mexican flags and then the "volunteer" led the pledge.
Dornburg noted that Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month and the assembly at the Clute school was planned by the Brazosport Independent School District as part of its cultural education and to show that the district 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.
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
Officials say there are 635 students from preschool age to fourth grade in Velasco, and about two-thirds are Hispanic.
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."
SEE THE VIDEOS AT
http://www.ktrh.com/pages/newsarchive.html?feed=134584&article=1488088
2006-10-20 08:35:17 · 18 answers · asked by Zoe 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Allegiance to another country is an offense and must be look into by the authorities. Anyway, it was just a video clip and its must first be verified.
2006-10-20 08:39:10 · answer #1 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 5⤊ 3⤋
That is just ridiculous. I don't mind if they have pride in their country or their heritage. What I do have a problem with is the fact they are not in Mexico so the pledge should not be said to their country. Now I realize when an American Team plays another countries team then both National Anthems are snag and I do not have a problem with that but this is a horse of a different color. No other Pledge should be taken for any other country while it is on the US Soil just like if I was on Mexican Soil or English Soil or any other countries soil I should not state the Pledge to the US.
2006-10-24 03:21:18 · answer #2 · answered by John L 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes I saw it. Some students were clearly trying recite the Mexican pledge of allegiance. Elementary school students are not going to stand up and say this is wrong, first they don't know that it is wrong, second even if they did what elementary school student is going to stand up to that kind of peer pressure?
At best this was a very bad mistake at worse who knows what they really had in mind. After all a, I'm sorry if I offended anyone it wasn't my intent, doesn't tell us anything. It could be mean I'm sorry I got caught or it could mean I really messed up we'll never know which.
There are far better ways to teach children about Mexican Independence Day, but in elementary school how much of it are they really going to understand?
This was more about being PC, please teach the children to read and write first. Then worry about diversity. This time could have been better spent on a field trip to the library or a museum to look at dinosaur bones and then point the children to books on the subject, instead of wasted and a diversity assembly.
I know I'm going to get a lot the thumbs down. But I stand by my opinion.
Lead a good life and leave it better then you found it.
2006-10-20 09:01:45 · answer #3 · answered by Richard 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
After the video is verified the princibal should be tried for treason. The guest speaker, if he is a citizen shoulld be tried for treason. Any one who was involved with organizing this horific even should be tried as treason. This is yet again proof the illegal immigrants from mexico are trying to take over our country. They are making lots of progress too when they can use our own laws against us like freedom of speach. Hell they were trying to make it illegal for us to say our pledge of Allegence in schools not too long ago but these people have freedom of speach so they can say the Mexican pledge of Allegence. What the hell is happening to this country when we have some people accepting invaders with open arms and politicians too afraid to uphold our laws because they don't want to be called racicst. This hole isue is not about race it is about keeping what is rightfully ours and upholding our laws.
2006-10-20 08:54:17 · answer #4 · answered by knight35966 4 · 3⤊ 4⤋
They can have all the diversity they want, but no one can be forced to pledge allegiance to a foreign flag, nor do it in a foreign language. Also, they really should not be pledging allegiance to another country anyway, at least in school. One cannot be forced to declare loyalty to another nation.
2006-10-20 08:51:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
Time to move in with the National Guard, round them all up, and send them to Mexico. If the s-o-b's like Mexico so much, make them go live there where they can wallow in their own filth. Good riddance.
2006-10-20 11:28:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
if they want to pledge to the Mexican flag then they need to take there commie butts to Mexico. they want to take over Texas, and they can't if they want trouble with the rest of America. Mexico wants Texas back, then they need to fork over the money the united states gave them for the land.
2006-10-20 11:19:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Yep I saw it and find it very upsetting. Showing the flags of another country.....fine. If your old enough to maybe have a discussion group of pledges of various countries....fine. But this is "in your face for Mexico" and I find it wrong. Half the darn kids in this country don't even know their own pledge let alone having a pledge, of another country, in another language, is just plain wrong. You love Mexico so darn much....head south and have at it......but keep it out of American schools who foot the bill for your education. The Stars and Stripes is THIS countries flag and the "pledge of allegiance" is to the USA, NOT MEXICO!!!!!!!
2006-10-20 08:45:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 6⤋
I thought every ethnic group in the USA waves the flag of their country of origin,any occasion they get f.ex.in their national holiday's parade in NY.
I have seen flags in many occasions.Why is the Mexican different?
Mac
A European
2006-10-20 11:30:26 · answer #9 · answered by Mac 3 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Can't they pledge allegiance TO Mexico IN Mexico? If the feeling is that strong, whyinhell even stay in the United States? Border fence, please, employer enforcement etc...build it, and they won't come...
2006-10-20 10:33:24 · answer #10 · answered by gokart121 6 · 5⤊ 3⤋