Posted on 11/13/2001 9:23:12 AM PST by healey22
Monday, November 12, 2001 - Maria Chavez painted a mural on her high school wall last spring that was intended to promote unity - within families, at school, in communities and between nations. But that mural has recently sparked some disunity.
Chavez's mural depicting the Delta High School panther mascot between two flags - the Stars and Stripes and the banner of Mexico - has raised a protest from some veterans because the two flags are given equal representation. When facing the mural, they say, the American flag should be on the left rather than the right, and the American flag should be larger or somehow more prominent.
At least one vet doesn't believe the Mexican flag belongs there at all.
"My main gripe is some foreign flag taking the same prestigious position in a school as the American flag. A foreign flag doesn't belong in our schools in a permanent mural," said World War II veteran John Sukle.
Chavez, 18, said she never dreamed she would be creating controversy when she painted the flag on a hallway wall at the school for her senior art project. Chavez was a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a national organization with local chapters in schools, so she painted a mural that would represent the league's ideals.
"I never intended to do anything to make people offended. That's so not me," said Chavez, who now attends the Delta Montrose Voc-Tech School.
There was no offense taken until Sukle recently saw a photograph of the mural in a local newspaper and contacted the American Legion Post 65 in Delta.
Gordon O'Brien, commander of the post, met with school officials, Chavez and some other members of the league last week.
"We weren't upset. We just brought it to their attention," O'Brien said.
Chavez agreed to paint gold fringe on the American flag to make it look larger. School officials also decided to place a plaque in the front of the mural explaining the goals of the League of United Latin American Citizens and Chavez's motivation for painting the mural.
Chavez said she wanted to show understanding, cooperation and unity of two nations in a school where nearly 20 percent of the students are Hispanic. The plaque will say: "Working together as a family, school, community and as a country to make a difference in our youth."
That settled the matter as far as most people were concerned.
Not Sukle, though.
Sukle, 89, said he fought in four key World War II battles. He helped liberate the Dachau concentration camp. And he is not going to back down from defending the honor of his flag now.
"I intend to fight on. I don't mind yelling as loud as I can," Sukle said. "Too many people don't understand what our flag stands for."
School Superintendent Bill Carlquist said Friday that he understands that the flag means different things to different people.
He said the school's 30 or so members of the Latin League are very patriotic: They recite the Pledge of Allegiance before every meeting and handed out miniature flags in the school after Sept. 11. He said the group promotes leadership, community service and the importance of education.
Carlquist said he can also understand the veterans' deep-seated feelings about proper protocol for display of the flag.
Carlquist contacted school attorneys for advice and delved into the details of the U.S. flag code. They found that there are no rules specifically addressing flags in murals. The district, however, agreed to make changes that would satisfy the majority of the American Legion members.
No one, including Sukle, knows what his continuing protest will lead to.
Carlquist said right now he considers the entire matter a good learning experience for students.
"It's been a great civics lesson," he said.
Tell me St Patrick day is for the Irish while they wave Irish flag, I will agree.
Talk about a show of unity while waving, say, Irish flags with Chinese flags in Ireland, and I am starting to ask questions. It could mean anything but that, and please, spare me your politicaly correct liberal bible bull, you sound like Bin Laden.
It was part of the Louisiana Purchase. President Thomas Jefferson bought it fair, square, and cheap from Napoleon, who was occupied with various problems in Europe and wanted to unload what he considered useless land.
AB
I'm sure your point was a wise one, but I honestly don't know what your talking about. Can you elaborate?
And if the Mexican-hater charge is meant for me, stuff it.
If you knew history, you'd know that Nazi Germany waged its anschluss based on purported needs of unity. Germany was not for unity of course, but for forced unionisation with Nazi Germany. Still, usage of symbolism and hijacking of high words like unity served this very purpose.
Indeed, there is a vast difference between unity and unionisation. To me a Mexican flag with a US flag can be just that, unionisation, not unity. It could be unity if you asked me, all I am saying is that the vagueness of it is inherently controvertial.
You think Mexicans are happy about this effigy either? The "diversity" rainbow (another color obsession after all)? Go ask them, you'd be surprised. My inane comments would not compare to their hatred at such a sight.
In other words, I am not your target nor are you Robin Hood while you protect potemkin victims from potemkin "evil" suspicions. Go travel and learn about cultures. In other words, go get a grip on reality.
More than likely, her organization has enforced her beliefs, just as her parents have probably done through the belief that they should be able to fly the Mexican flag as though it were equal to the American flag in this country.
This type of logic is a farse, and it does injustice to the men who fought and died for this country and the many freedoms that it entails. These Vets are not crocky-old men, and they should be treated with respect. I cannot believe that there are some in this country who do not care about these men who gave all.
The painting of a Mexican flag in an American school should be treated as the outrage that it is. For one, this is America, not Mexico. Secondly, unless the school has a mascot known as the Padres, Tamales, etc., then there is no reason to display symbols of Mexico. Thirdly, if they are going to paint a Mexican flag, why not paint a Chinese flag, a Japanese flag, a German flag, a British flag, etc., for I'm sure that there are many recent immigrants from these countries that are now attending the school. I mean, we might as well be fair, right? You get the picture don't you? It makes no sense. Furthermore, all this multiculturalism only works to divide us. American kids, I'm sure, do not take kind to seeing the painting of a Mexican flag in their school cafeteria, which, I might add, is an American school. It's as if people use the fact that because a lot of Mexicans, many illegal, have immigrated to the area, that it somehow gives them a special privlege to display the Mexican flag as though it is somehow equivalent in the U.S. What about all those years that there were very few Mexicans in the school? Does their sudden migration into the area grant them special rights? Fourthly, the preceding sentence plays onto another reason why it is absurd to display the Mexican flag. The land never belonged to Mexico, nor had any influence, thus what's the purpose?
I respect the American Legion members for their stand, for they are doing the right thing. The Legion is a well-respected dignified, patriotic organization, and it too deserves respect. They're merely pointing out the flaws of a system of rampant "multiculturalism" that has invaded the public schools, particularly within the past five to seven years. Trust me, I see it all the time, for I often substitute in the public schools. It's very shocking how profound this mantra is drilled into the school textbooks, lesson plans, assemblies, charts and displays throughout the school. This is no different. I, for one, respect the men who fought for this country, and for the flag that they fought under. To equate the Mexican flag with Old Glory, in this country, in a taxpayer funded school, is completely inexcusable.
Why don't we just ask Mexicans to put US flags in their schools? Fat chance of that ever happening!
Want to get sick got to this site, scroll down on the left (below the Los Angeles Capital of Aztlan time& temp, and above the Stop Military Aid to Israel) is a picture of the Mexican Iwo Jima Flag Raising....
http://www.aztlan.net/
Exactly.
Here's your flame-retardant blanket.
You wanted to know why you should respect Mexico. I gave a few examples of Mexican virtues; you responded that this alone didn't compel you to respect Mexico, which is true. As I understand it, you choose to respect virtue only within an American context -- certainly your choice. I wanted to point out that some of the virtues we respect within an American context are also present within a Mexican context. (Hence the examples of my family members, who expressed their Mexican virtues in the service of America -- thereby making them, you might argue, American virtues as well.)
That being said, while you cannot be compelled to respect non-American virtues, it might be a mark of wisdom to do so. Take the immigrant, for example. He may choose, as you do, to respect only the virtues in his own land. But he does not: instead he respects the virtues of other lands where he sees them, and in doing so, finds superior virtues in America and comes here.
That's what I was trying to say. I'm sorry if I have not made myself more clear.
What foolishness. Go read my other posts and figure out who you're talking to before spouting such nonsense.
Go travel and learn about cultures. In other words, go get a grip on reality.
You mean going to and/or living in South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Estonia, Russia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia, Finland and Hungary hasn't done it for me? You're a demanding fellow.
That sentence, standing alone, indicates the extent of the problem. There should be NO foreign language radio stations inside the boundaries of the United States. If they want to assimilate, let them learn to speak English. If they don't want to assimilate, let them return to the hovels from which they left.
You must have skipped over the part about their patriotic, pro-American activities, didn't you?
just as her parents have probably done through the belief that they should be able to fly the Mexican flag as though it were equal to the American flag in this country.
Oh yeah? You know her parents, huh?
I guess you also skipped over the part where the artist rushed to agree to give the US flag proper prominence and honor.
These Vets are not crocky-old men, and they should be treated with respect. I cannot believe that there are some in this country who do not care about these men who gave all.
No, this one vet, he really is a crotchety old (as opposed to crocky-old) man. Since I once carried a rifle, does that mean I get to rant and make a fool of myself without repercussion? Come on.
The painting of a Mexican flag in an American school should be treated as the outrage that it is.
I suppose it is an outrage, if you're a paranoiac.
At the risk of repeating myself, did you read the part where the artist rushed to agree to give the US flag proper prominence and honor?
American kids, I'm sure, do not take kind to seeing the painting of a Mexican flag in their school cafeteria,
Somehow, I doubt the kids give a crap.
it somehow gives them a special privlege to display the Mexican flag as though it is somehow equivalent in the U.S.
I guess you skipped over the part where the artist rushed to agree to give the US flag proper prominence and honor.
Does their sudden migration into the area grant them special rights?
Is no one else here aware of the history of immigration into America? Does no one remember the Bunds? The Irish-American associations? The Italian-American associations? Walk down any street in my neighborhood in Brooklyn, and you'll see Italian and American flags waving side by side. You'll see the Italian flag displayed proudly, yes, even within some public buildings. Are you going to question their Americanness, too?
Somehow I doubt you work yourself into a lather over these Old Country manifestations of homeland-patriotism. So why are you treating the Mexicans different?
To equate the Mexican flag with Old Glory, in this country, in a taxpayer funded school, is completely inexcusable.
I guess you skipped over the part where the artist rushed to agree to give the US flag proper prominence and honor.
Ridiculous. And ridiculously ignorant. As if the speaking of English is a precondition for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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