Flag flap: confederate flag controversy keeps students from attending commencement

[leobold1]

kare11.com :: KARE 11 TV - Flag flap: confederate flag controversy keeps students from attending commencement

They say they're just "good ol' boys" who, like the song goes, were "never meaning no harm." But three Bloomington Kennedy seniors were not allowed to attend their commencement Wednesday night after bringing a Confederate flag to school on Tuesday.

"We're all big fans of the Dukes of Hazard," said Dan Fredin, who was suspended, along with Joe Snyder and Justin Thompson. "It's just us showing we have our own style and we aren't going to conform to whatever anyone else thinks."

School officials say at least one of the students waved and carried the flag in the parking lot.

The boys argue they never took the flags off their trucks, but they admit they brought them to the school.

Officials asked the students to remove the flags. Eventually, all three students were suspended for three days -- which, in this case, included graduation.

Officials say a Student Code of Conduct prohibits behavior that may provoke or offend other students.

"We are very clear that the Confederate flag is a symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism," said Rick Kaufman, the Executive Director of Community Relations at Bloomington Kennedy High School.

"It's truly unfortunate that the bad decision they made will prevent them from walking across the stage in graduation," Kaufman said adding that the school has dealt with students bringing confederate flags to school before.

But the students argue the punishment doesn't fit the crime. They say they show the flag as a sign of rebellion, not racism.

"The confederate army was in rebellion to the U.S. Army who were about money and power," Fredin said. "We never took it as racial or anything like that."

Meantime, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota said the students would likely not have a case in court.

"If the authorities can make the claim that the presence of the flag can reasonably disrupt the educational process than they can censor it," said Charles Samuelson with the ACLU of Minnesota.

The three students will still receive their diplomas. Already they have plans for next year, which for two of them, includes serving in the U.S. military.

[Shooterman]

Originally Posted by leobold1

kare11.com :: KARE 11 TV - Flag flap: confederate flag controversy keeps students from attending commencement

They say they're just "good ol' boys" who, like the song goes, were "never meaning no harm." But three Bloomington Kennedy seniors were not allowed to attend their commencement Wednesday night after bringing a Confederate flag to school on Tuesday.

"We're all big fans of the Dukes of Hazard," said Dan Fredin, who was suspended, along with Joe Snyder and Justin Thompson. "It's just us showing we have our own style and we aren't going to conform to whatever anyone else thinks."

School officials say at least one of the students waved and carried the flag in the parking lot.

The boys argue they never took the flags off their trucks, but they admit they brought them to the school.

Officials asked the students to remove the flags. Eventually, all three students were suspended for three days -- which, in this case, included graduation.

Officials say a Student Code of Conduct prohibits behavior that may provoke or offend other students.

"We are very clear that the Confederate flag is a symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism," said Rick Kaufman, the Executive Director of Community Relations at Bloomington Kennedy High School.

"It's truly unfortunate that the bad decision they made will prevent them from walking across the stage in graduation," Kaufman said adding that the school has dealt with students bringing confederate flags to school before.

But the students argue the punishment doesn't fit the crime. They say they show the flag as a sign of rebellion, not racism.

"The confederate army was in rebellion to the U.S. Army who were about money and power," Fredin said. "We never took it as racial or anything like that."

Meantime, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota said the students would likely not have a case in court.

"If the authorities can make the claim that the presence of the flag can reasonably disrupt the educational process than they can censor it," said Charles Samuelson with the ACLU of Minnesota.

The three students will still receive their diplomas. Already they have plans for next year, which for two of them, includes serving in the U.S. military.

Once again, everything must boil down to being PC.

Does it offend young girls trying desperately to lead good Christian lives, for unwed mothers, with the blessings of most school boards, attending class, or even unwed mothers bringing their little ones to school for the state to pay for their keep while the mothers attend class? Tough dookey, if it does. Just don't bring a Confederate Flag to school. That may truly be offensive.

Can one imagine how offended some may have been to see The General Lee with the Stars and Bars on top, speeding, making big jumps, and generally outwitting Boss and Roscoe P Coltrane?

[Manchu34]

Originally Posted by Shooterman

Once again, everything must boil down to being PC.

Does it offend young girls trying desperately to lead good Christian lives, for unwed mothers, with the blessings of most school boards, attending class, or even unwed mothers bringing their little ones to school for the state to pay for their keep while the mothers attend class? Tough dookey, if it does. Just don't bring a Confederate Flag to school. That may truly be offensive.

Can one imagine how offended some may have been to see The General Lee with the Stars and Bars on top, speeding, making big jumps, and generally outwitting Boss and Roscoe P Coltrane?

Sure, some people now a days will throw out the phrase "It's because of PC." Then throughout some other irrelevant examples in the attempt to prove the act was right and the reaction was wrong.

The action taken by these boys and the action done by the school has little to nothing to do with unwed mothers or daycare for their children. The boys violated the Students Code of Conduct period. As an old saying goes "If you want to play the fiddle. You have to be willing to suffer the consequences of their action." They knew before hand that the Confederate flag was not permitted to be brought onto school grounds. So, being a typical teenager they willing choose to ignore the rules.

Now as far as unwed mothers and/or having their children being in school, Yes, let's be Politically Correct because some Christian might be offended and blame and punish them, because their parents and society has failed them.

[Woodmonkey]

"We are very clear that the Confederate flag is a symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism," said Rick Kaufman, the Executive Director of Community Relations at Bloomington Kennedy High School.

That's what it is out here. It's what the White Supremists fly.

"The confederate army was in rebellion to the U.S. Army who were about money and power," Fredin said. "We never took it as racial or anything like that."

I see that the school was lax in teaching history. The Confederate army was rebelling against the Union army?

[ollie]

Originally Posted by leobold1

kare11.com :: KARE 11 TV - Flag flap: confederate flag controversy keeps students from attending commencement

They say they're just "good ol' boys" who, like the song goes, were "never meaning no harm." But three Bloomington Kennedy seniors were not allowed to attend their commencement Wednesday night after bringing a Confederate flag to school on Tuesday.

"We're all big fans of the Dukes of Hazard," said Dan Fredin, who was suspended, along with Joe Snyder and Justin Thompson. "It's just us showing we have our own style and we aren't going to conform to whatever anyone else thinks."

School officials say at least one of the students waved and carried the flag in the parking lot.

The boys argue they never took the flags off their trucks, but they admit they brought them to the school.

Officials asked the students to remove the flags. Eventually, all three students were suspended for three days -- which, in this case, included graduation.

Officials say a Student Code of Conduct prohibits behavior that may provoke or offend other students.

"We are very clear that the Confederate flag is a symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism," said Rick Kaufman, the Executive Director of Community Relations at Bloomington Kennedy High School.

"It's truly unfortunate that the bad decision they made will prevent them from walking across the stage in graduation," Kaufman said adding that the school has dealt with students bringing confederate flags to school before.

But the students argue the punishment doesn't fit the crime. They say they show the flag as a sign of rebellion, not racism.

"The confederate army was in rebellion to the U.S. Army who were about money and power," Fredin said. "We never took it as racial or anything like that."

Meantime, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota said the students would likely not have a case in court.

"If the authorities can make the claim that the presence of the flag can reasonably disrupt the educational process than they can censor it," said Charles Samuelson with the ACLU of Minnesota.

The three students will still receive their diplomas. Already they have plans for next year, which for two of them, includes serving in the U.S. military.

I have a question. Would it be racist or politically expedient if the President of the USA reversed a general's decision to emancipate slaves (Fremont in Missouri, 1861)? Would it be racist or politically expedient for the President of the USA to proclaim even though he had no way to do it, to free slaves in the South, but not in the north (January, 1863, Emancipation Proclaimation). Would it be racist or politically expedient to point out that the USA Flag flew over a land of slavery for 80 years before the Confederate battle flag flew over a southern piece of the land for 4 years AND.....last but not least, please, please, please look at photgraphs of the Klan in the 1920's,30's and 40's. What do you see: USA flags and the Klan flag!!!! No Confederate Battle flag. You didn't see them until the beginnings of the Civil War Centennial.

These students should have done their homework then pointed out the idiotic hypocrisy of the situation.

Ollie

[Shooterman]

Originally Posted by Manchu34

Sure, some people now a days will throw out the phrase "It's because of PC." Then throughout some other irrelevant examples in the attempt to prove the act was right and the reaction was wrong.

The action taken by these boys and the action done by the school has little to nothing to do with unwed mothers or daycare for their children. The boys violated the Students Code of Conduct period. As an old saying goes "If you want to play the fiddle. You have to be willing to suffer the consequences of their action." They knew before hand that the Confederate flag was not permitted to be brought onto school grounds. So, being a typical teenager they willing choose to ignore the rules.

Now as far as unwed mothers and/or having their children being in school, Yes, let's be Politically Correct because some Christian might be offended and blame and punish them, because their parents and society has failed them.

Society has damned sure not failed them. It is not now nor has it ever been, in my opinion, societies place or obligation to 'not fail', for lack of a better phrase, people's children.