Posted on 05/03/2006 11:54:49 AM PDT by 300magnum
A North Carolina lawmaker introduced a bill Tuesday that would prohibit a school from receiving federal funds if it prevents a student from displaying or wearing a representation of the U.S. flag in a respectful manner.
Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) introduced H.R. 5255, also known as the American Flag Display Protection Act, after recent reports of several schools in California, Arizona and Colorado banning the display of U.S. flags or the wearing of clothes with other patriotic symbols in reaction to clashes between students regarding the debate over immigration.
"The most important symbol of any Nation is the national flag," Jones said in a press release. "Since ancient times, flags or banners have served to identify and unify groups of people, especially in times of war."
In April, a Denver newspaper reported that several students in Shaw Heights Middle School were given one-day suspensions after wearing U.S. Marines t-shirts or shirts with U.S. flags. Also, another student at a middle school was suspended for a D.A.R.E. program shirt that had a flag behind the logo.
"Throughout our Nation, the American flag is displayed in classrooms and school hallways," said Jones. "The display of the American flag by students should be afforded an extraordinary level of protection - and should by no means be equated with the treatment of those who choose to display the flag of foreign powers.
"School officials in this country who prohibit students from wearing or displaying the United States flag in a respectful manner should not do so without consequence," concluded Jones.
Unfortunately, because the liberals who run the schools have their own agenda and will persecute anyone who doesn't meet that agenda unless EVERYTHING is spelled out specifically in the law, something like this is necessary.
Again, it is spelled out and the Supreme Court has even ruled on this.
Citation, please. They've ruled about recruiters, but nothing about a student displaying an American flag in a respectful manner that I know of. They've said lots about doing it disrespectfully.
The opinion outlined the questions to be addressed in a case where First Amendment protection is sought for conduct rather than pure speech. First, the Court must determine if the conduct in question is expressive conduct. If the answer is yes, then the First Amendment may be invoked, and the second question must be answered. The second question is whether the state regulation of the conduct is related to the suppression of expression. The answer to this question determines the standard which will be utilized in judging the appropriateness of the state regulation.
The test of whether conduct is deemed expressive conduct sufficient to bring the First Amendment into play is whether an intent to convey a particularized message was present, and whether the likelihood was great that the message would be understood by those who viewed it.26 The opinion emphasizes the communicative nature of flags as previously recognized by the Court,27 but states that not all action taken with respect to the flag is automatically expressive. The context in which the conduct occurred must be examined.28 The majority found that Johnson’s conduct met this test. The burning of the flag was the culmination of a political demonstration. It was intentionally expressive, and its meaning was overwhelmingly apparent. In these circumstances the burning of the flag was conduct “sufficiently imbued with elements of communication” to implicate the First Amendment.
This Ruling says that any demonstration using the flag isw protectred as free speech. The First Ammendment does not discriminate between good and bad forms of expression.
That's all fine and good, but the liberals will point to the fact that it does not specifically state that students cannot be penalized for displaying an American flag in a respectful manner while at school. When confronted with this ruling, they will say that because it is not specific, it is open for interpretation.
Liberals of this type must have it specifically spelled out for them in the law, not just a judicial decision, with no wiggle room whatsoever.
We don't need new laws; we need the application ofthe existing laws.
I agree that it's not a bad thing. Check out my reply in 17. It's funny or maybe expected I guess, that I didn't get any replies to it--guess it's not negative enough.
It's nice to see that ole wally smartened up after the way he stepped on his johnson during the coward murtha vote last fall.
Moog, I think that's a great idea! I thought many schools used to have such things?
Seems to me it would be a nice idea if all schools in the United States had such a thing. I'm very proud of your district!
That's a different idiot. Jones is the idiot who has joined the John Murtha Cut and Run Brigade on Iraq. It is an election year - guess he felt it was time to get some easy pander time in.
There's some pretty impressive displays. I can't wait to see what ours for our school will look like.
Also several displays honoring family members deployed to Iraq and our servicepeople in general.
We had a really nice program for Constitution Day last year.
Also several displays honoring family members deployed to Iraq and our servicepeople in general.
Bet that will never make the national news or be posted here. That's WONDERFUL!! It's something that needs to be done more often. We have a Constitution Celebration in our town. Back home, Veterans' Day is really a big deal in the schools and they have programs along the same lines as above. I'm hoping to make it a big deal next year as I think that people should be made more aware of it (I'm talking about for the area and people in general here, not confined to schools). I plan on contacting my legislative reps here on it.
"The most important symbol of any Nation is the national flag," Jones said in a press release. "Since ancient times, flags or banners have served to identify and unify groups of people, especially in times of war."
And we're all about protecting symbols aren't we Walt? From the man who gave us 'freedom' fries. Forget substance, we need our symbols.
Bad news is so much more fun. ;-)
Bad news is so much more fun. ;-)
I guess subtraction is more fun than addition.
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