Here Ya' Go,,,Welcome To FR...;0)
Posted on 09/23/2007 9:31:58 PM PDT by Peter R. Lynch
Editor,
We wish to respond to the recent incident involving the desecration of the Mexican national flag that was raised Friday on the south side of Scholes Hall.
The incident is still being investigated, but what we do know at this point is that after a ceremony celebrating the Mexican independence day - Dieciseis de Septiembre - the flag that was raised during the celebration was subsequently taken down and, as we understand it, ripped to shreds.
We understand that a suspect has been apprehended by the police, but the investigation is still ongoing at this time. We want it to be understood that the flag desecration is abhorrent to President David Schmidly and everyone in the administration.
In light of incidents that have taken place in the past several days involving students being targeted because of their race or nationality, we want it to be known that UNM will not tolerate acts of racism and xenophobia. These incidents will be answered with disciplinary and/or legal action against the responsible individuals. The person who perpetrated this despicable act will answer for it.
We wish to offer apologies on behalf of UNM to the Mexican Consul to New Mexico, Juan Manuel Solano; to the Mexican Student Association; to all Mexican nationals who have been affected by this deplorable act; and to anyone else who has been adversely affected by this incident. Please know we are doing everything in our power to make sure this act will be sternly
addressed.
Rita Martinez-Purson
Interim Vice President,
Institutional Diversity
Cheo Torres
Vice President
for Student Affairs
(Excerpt) Read more at dailylobo.com ...
Please explain why the destruction of a Mexican flag is not an 'expression' protected by the right of 'free speech', as is the destruction of an American flag just such an expression.
Try not to fall into too great an exercise of double standards in the process, if your intellectual level permits the possibility.
I would like to assure El Centro de la Raza that hate or racism did not motivate my actions. I ask UNM administration specifically, David Schmidly (University President), Rita Martinez-Purson (Interim Vice President for Academic Diversity), and Cheo Torres (Vice President for Academic Affairs), to apologize to all the American Students, including Mexican-American students, for allowing a foreign banner to fly over UNM for three days in violation of Federal laws.
I appreciate your sentiments above but rest assured LaRaza hates you and apparently American as well. It will be a cold day in hell before they ever apologize.
Welcome to FR and best fortune to you.
Student tears Mexican flag; suspect remains at large
by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
A student took down a Mexican flag from a flagpole outside Scholes Hall Monday, tore it and took it to the Air Force ROTC office, police said.
A summons was issued for Peter Lynch, 30, by the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court for criminal damage to property, said Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for UNM Police.
Davis said Lynch is not a member of ROTC, and it is unclear why he took the flag to that office.
Lynch has not been charged because UNMPD cannot find him, Davis said.
UNMPD investigated the vandalism as a potential hate crime, but witnesses from the ROTC office told police it was not a racially motivated crime, Davis said.
“He was frustrated a foreign flag was flown without an American flag nearby,” he said. “We’re basically investigating it on witness statements.”
The Mexican Student Association raised the flag outside Scholes Hall on Friday for Mexican Independence Day, said Cheo Torres, vice president for academic affairs.
Mabel Gonzales, president of the Mexican Student Association, declined to comment.
Torres and interim vice president for institutional diversity Rita Martinez-Purson issued an apology Tuesday from the University for the incident.
“This sort of incident hurts everyone,” Torres said. “It’s something that you don’t expect to see at a place like the University of New Mexico where we celebrate diversity.”
Martinez-Purson said the incident caught her off-guard, as well.
“I don’t think anything really prepares you for this type of vindictive behavior,” she said. “Obviously, we need to have strong dialog across campus about respect for other people and their cultures.”
Whether the vandalism was racially motivated or not, it was offensive, especially to the Hispanic community, Martinez-Purson said.
“There’s still an impact that has to be dealt with,” she said. “He did insult them. His thoughtless behavior had consequences.”
The University won’t tolerate that kind of behavior, President David Schmidly said.
“It’s inexcusable to desecrate a flag,” he said. “I’m not going to be very pleasant to deal with on this issue.”
What makes the situation worse is that it was a Mexican flag, Schmidly said.
“For God’s sake, New Mexico was part of Mexico at one time,” he said. “There’s tremendous ties, and we have a large population of Hispanics that live in our state and many of them have relatives and connections to Mexico.”
I’m happy to see a true patriot stand up for all Americans. You don’t appear to be one who will back down from a rightful position and issue the usual craven “apology” political correctness demands. I think you will find much support here at Free Republic, even including contributing to any legal bills you may incur defending yourself. You are right and they are wrong, even if you need to make a federal case of this matter.
I’m sure they’d send out a similar email for the American flag [/sarc]
“New Mexico WAS a part of Mexico at one time.” WAS, WAS, WAS.
By the way, UNM big wigs, New Mexico became a member of the United States in 1912, just in case y’all need to update your history books.
The criminal matter will probably be a slap on the wrist but make sure you've got a good lawyer fighting the school's disciplinary board. Set up a defense fund and blow this thing through the roof.
The only way to take back our country is to make sure every single American knows exactly what the seditious Left is up to. The silent majority is on our side but most of them are still sleeping.
Red,
Check out Peter’s open letter (second half of original post, near top). He is a decorated 8-year military veteran. Please ping your list.
FRegards,
LH
The state of Michigan has "UN day" once a year, where they fly the UN flag in Lansing. There are always lots of protesters. The state police warn them that it's okay to burn an American flag, but they'll be busted if they touch the UN flag.
As I always suspected, the "symbolic speech" argument in the flag-burning ruling only applies to the American flag. All other alien flags are protected by American laws.
And I like using the word "alien" because it does sound sinister. My grandparents were immigrants. They came here to stay, and live by the rules. They weren't aliens here to live as parasites off of the host.
Wow!! This guy Schmidly is a real assclown! Did he really say this stuff?
Also, (( ping )) to post #24.
So desecrating a Mexican flag in America is a hate crime, but desecrating an American flag is protected speech. Do I have that right?
Here Ya' Go,,,Welcome To FR...;0)
From the Library President at UNM:
It has been quite a week already for those who hate the First Amendment and free speech on college campuses around the country - from stopping the displaying of a flag raised in front of Scholes Hall to silencing too many questions concerning government leaders at a public forum at the University of Florida.
On our campus, an individual took it upon himself to remove a symbol of Mexican independence and obstructed the expression of pride by those who raised the flag. At the University of Florida, the campus police took it upon themselves to silence a student with Tasers and obstructed the speech of those who wished to question the motives of our country’s leaders.
These agents of injustice who desire to control our First Amendment right to free speech hide behind patriotism or the necessity to keep order because we are at war. Or probably, the tragedy at Virginia Tech galvanized the need to control every aspect of a campus.
The rights enumerated in our Constitution, including free speech, are not conditional. They are not fleeting. They are inalienable and people need to start getting ticked off by the fact that we are being made strangers to the law that is supposed to secure these rights. You may not agree with what the Mexican flag expresses or what University of Florida student Andrew Meyer said, but you should be willing to fight for his right to say what he did.
Carsen Bentley
President
College Libertarians
Nice rolling the flag and the “don’t taz me bro” guy in one issue.
Pics from a high school in L.A. this May.
Just re-read it. Didn’t even notice the VTech thing in there on the first reading.
Today it’s a Mexican flag, tomorrow it will be the Iranian flag and next week it could be the North Korean flag.
Yes, I am facing Criminal Charges if anyone want to check out the Governor Bill Richardson’s MySpace page and send him an email?
The state of New Mexico is charging me with Criminal Damage...
Who wants to claim ownership of that flag now?
Also the university is charging me with...
2.18. of the Student code of Conduct...
Any other acts or omissions which affect adversely University functions or University-sponsored activities, disrupt community living on campus, interfere with the rights of others to the pursuit of their education, or otherwise affect adversely the processes of the University.
So this was a University-sponsored activity.
Good on ya, lad!
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