Question The American Flag? How Dare You!

I was on Facebook the other day and I noticed someone had linked this. It's a poll to ask you if the American flag should be banned-in America. I didn't answer it because it's an absurd question, and also because it was on Fox news. It seemed like a random question, and I was unable to find a link to another story to explain it. Long story short I was informed of it's relationship to this story. Well, of course, there is more to that story than kids being kicked out of school for wearing the American flag. They were kicked out for being racist pricks. I got into an argument with a commenter on that post, and of course, he was all about loving 'Merica and the flag. So I wanted to take a moment here and point some things out.

All students there had been asked to not wear any flags at all (that means American, Mexican, Estonian, etc) on Cinco De Mayo because of all the tensions it caused the year before. These 5 decided they were going to break the rules and then hide behind their 'patriotism'. They were using the flag as a smoke screen to justify making other students feel inferior, unwanted, and unimportant.

That is what upsets me the most about this story. We will totally allow racism if it's wrapped in an American flag. We won't look past the flag detail and see the rest of the story. "We love the flag! We are 'Mericans! Fuck other cultures! Fuck making public schools places where all the students feel safe! 'Merica!" It's sickening. These boys knew exactly what they were doing. They were going to defy the school's decision, let those damn Mexicans know who's in charge of this country, and openly display their hate and bigotry. Then they let the flag shield them from all the consequences.

And it worked. The right wing saw them as heroes. They were touted as champions of the 1st amendment. What is wrong with people? These boys are bigots, and they were punished as they were told they would be. They were entirely in the wrong. 'Patriotism' should not be used as magic armor from criticism.

Using your 'patriotism', or your faith for that matter, to hide your bigotry is always disgusting. It is a cowards move and it only fools those with the same diminished mental capacity as the person doing it. Wake up and look past your blinders of stars and stripes and see the actual injustice done. Not everyone waving the flag deserves respect. Not everyone with a cross is a good person.