Is wearing the US Flag on Cinco de Mayo disrespectful?

hi 3Snugglebunnies oh my I hope mylot admins looks the other way, there were earlier several other discussions on this same article. I was appalled at the way that school reacted as its fine for us Americans to celebrate what isreally a Mexican holiday but to show patriotism for our own country the student is punished? that makes no sense now had it been in a Mexican school in Mexico I could understand but not this is just plain stupid.Why on earth would it be disrespectful, why should American kids be forced to bow down to Cinco de Mayo thats not an American Holiday?

I think it depends on the motives of the students. Were they really racists and were fully aware that the Hispanics in that school are offended by the American flag? If so, then wearing the shirts with the flag motif would provoke those Hispanics. But was provoking the Hispanics the real motive of the five high school students? Or were they simply exercising their freedom of expression? If it's the latter, then they should not be punished for wearing those shirts. What if someone wore a shirt with the Mexican flag motif? Would they be punished? Probably not. So there's a double-standard there in that school. I'd also like to ask, do the Hispanic students hate America? If so, why? I received an email from someone a few months ago, showing Hispanic students taking down the American flag, turning it upside down, and raising the Mexican flag above it. In my country, you'd end up in jail for showing this kind of disrepect for the flag. But in this country, the Hispanic students who did this were not punished by the school at all. As for the risk of provoking violence, violence against other groups would not be tolerated, and the perpetrators of the violence would be punished. But in this case the ones who would have been the target of the potential violence were punished. I think the school officials in this case failed to look at the issue logically and use common sense. They reacted out of fear for any political backlash that might result in doing something that's not "politically correct." Perhaps the five students should sue in defence of their rights. I noticed also that many people, especially in very "liberal" regions, view the U.S. as evil. Perhaps this is due to injustices that Americans have committed in the past. But the same can be said of any nation, such as France or England. They've had their share of injustices too. So I'd like to ask those people who view the U.S. as evil, "Is the U.S. still committing those same offenses? Is the US still trying to exterminate Native Americans?" No. "Is the US still using Africans as slaves?" No. Then perhaps we need to focus on the present and ask what problems exist now that need to be fixed rather than always looking at past sins and digging up old wounds. Even a marriage counselor would tell couples this if they want to resolve problems or issues. Furthermore, if we keep hatred alive and continue to hold grudges against others, a conflict is guaranteed to occur sometime in the future.

The growth of perverse logic in this country is amazing. How can there be anything wrong with wearing the US flag on Cinco de Mayo? Or on St Patrick's Day? Or during Oktoberfest? This IS the United States of America. There should be no circumstance, no situation, no setting where it is not appropriate. I understand the boys were making a statement. Are they not allowed to express their opinion? Don't we have the freedom to do so? IS this the United States of America? Good grief.

We went through this before. This incident was turning into and "us vs them" situation with the specific kids involved and the school had every right to squash it before it lead to real trouble.

I really don't know if it's disrespectful or not to tell you the truth, but since it's a day that they love to celebrate well I do not know I am mexican myself in fact my whole family is still I don't know if it's rude or not.

As when Political Leaders meet, there should be a means to wear dual flags, if one chooses and definitely not be judged by wearing just the one, if it is American, no matter how insensitive it may appear.

it could be seen as an attempt to goad other students if quite a few were wearing it at once.. but that being said-i'd be damned if i took it off.it's not an american holiday.

Since this took place in the U.S. why is it offensive to wear a u.S. flag? Besides, Cinco de Mayo is not even a Mexican National holiday. It is only celebrated in one state down there and even then not very heavily.

Its RACIAL!!!! Racial, I tell you! This is America! How dare someone wear a US flag motif!

Last I heard the kids families are sueing over it. As to your question...it is NEVER disrespectful to wear a shirt with the US flag on it in this country. It is our national flag. So I don't see a "holiday" that would be "disrespectful" to wear it on....or any day of the week. This IS America. Why is being patriotic or loving the country you live in "disrespectful"?

To kinda echo lilwonders' sentiments on it, only in America is there some type of controversy over a flag wherein the AMERICAN flag is perceived to be in the wrong. Get real! If an American wore the flag on the 4th in the UK, you could imagine what most of the criticism would be. "Damn bloody tosser yanks thinking America is the greatest country ever!" In America, not only are we expected to allow other flags to wave on our soil, but we must be sensitive and caring and accepting in allowing other cultures to trump ours. Well, more specifically, minority cultures. Anything that isn't white must be patronized, basically, because of the enormous white guilt in America. The people on the Mexican flag side aren't speaking against the cruel, cruel American flag for no other reason than Mexicans aren't white = US minority. Social (perverted) justice at work. Pure and simple. Mexican = victim American = victimizer

America is a free country. I don't think its a crime wearing US flag on there shirt or something they love the country and they are loyal into it.