Click2Houston.com
updated 8:18 a.m. CT, Sat., May 8, 2010
HOUSTON - A Houston-area student was suspended for taking down and throwing away a Mexican flag, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated and recognized in numerous local schools, but for 15-year-old Nicholas Morris from Klein Collins High School, the Mexican flag hanging from his school's hallway was offensive.
"It could have been a Russian flag or French flag, I still would have taken it down. If you looked at the American Flag and Texan flag, in another part of the building, the Mexican Flag was much higher," said the 10th-grade ROTC cadet. "Before I took it down, I sent a picture of it to my mom and she called the school to tell them we were offended and they hung up on her."
So, Nick decided to take the flag down himself and put it in the trash.
"Nick sent me a text message and he told me what he did. I told him I support him but he had to be ready for the repercussions," said Stephanie Morris.
Nick told KPRC Local 2 that he was punished with three days of in-school suspension and he was to pay restitution for the flag. The incident created a furry around the country and sparked heated debates on national and local radio stations.
One local radio station put a picture on its website of a Mexican flag being flown on a pole above an upside-down American flag.
Many who saw the picture thought it was at the same school.
"That never happened. We didn't do anything on this campus or any other district building to dishonor the American or Texan flag," said Trazanna Moreno, Klein ISD's spokeswoman.
The picture of the two flags was from a school in California.
KTRH talk-show host Michael Berry said the picture has been removed from his website.
"I don't think anyone was offended by what we put on the website. People are offended by what Klein ISD is doing to this student. I think what he did is heroic and I think the community of Klein agrees and does not approve of what the district did," said Berry.
Nick said he's been harassed since the incident, but he's also received support.
"I've been called a racist. I've been called a lot of things and I've received threats from people who want to fight me. I also have had a lot of people tell me I did the right thing and they would have done the same thing," said Nick.
"It's a national flag and I know we are not in Mexico, but we should respect all flags from every country," said Alfredo Torres, a student's parent.
Klein ISD said it displays several flags from other countries to celebrate different cultures and holidays throughout the year. The district has sent out a letter to all parents for clarification.
Originally posted by King Kandy
Now i don't think there can be much argument on that one. That kid's just plain nuts and it was totally within the school's right to punish him.
If the Mexican flag was "higher" than the Texan or American Flag, the only thing he should have done is lowered it. Yes, he definitely should have lowered it.
He shouldn't have thrown it away, though.
Originally posted by dadudemon
If the Mexican flag was "higher" than the Texan or American Flag, the only thing he should have done is lowered it. Yes, he definitely should have lowered it.He shouldn't have thrown it away, though.
Originally posted by King Kandy
No, he had absolutely no right to do that. It was the schools decision not any nutcase who feels offended can just go vigilante and take the thing down.
Yes he does. If you see flags improperly displayed, you can correct them. 😐
Sorry if it doesn't fit your liberal agenda. 😬
If I see flags improperly displayed, I will correct them. Guess what? They can't do shit. 🙂
apparently they can suspend you. a united states school building is flying a mexican flag though? that's uncalled for. Its the united states.
Not mexico.
Christ. People who think that a flag is part of your culture or race are so uneducated. Your flag is a symbol of your government, not your culture. It is not racist to ask you not to pay homage to a symbol of another government while you are a citizen of ours.
Originally posted by dadudemon
Yes he does. If you see flags improperly displayed, you can correct them. 😐Sorry if it doesn't fit your liberal agenda. 😬
If I see flags improperly displayed, I will correct them. Guess what? They can't do shit. 🙂
ya, America is insane
"dont fly other flags higher than ours"
"why?"
"because this is America"
"so?"
"so their flag shouldn't be higher!"
"why?"
"because this is America"
"so?"
"so their flag shouldn't be higher!"
"why?"
"because this is America"
"so?"
"so their flag shouldn't be higher!"
"why?"
"because this is America"
"so?"
"so their flag shouldn't be higher!"
"why?"
"because this is America"
"so?"
"so their flag shouldn't be higher!"
"why?"
"because this is America"
"so?"
"so their flag shouldn't be higher!"
"why?"
"because this is America"
"so?"
"so their flag shouldn't be higher!"
"why?"
The only flag within the US that is supposed to be put higher than the US flag is the UN flag.
I had it as a pub quiz question the other week.
I personally don't see the big ****ing idea with flags. I couldn't give a flying **** if people mistreat the Union Jack or the St George's Cross. Better them burn a flag then a person.. It's just a peice of fabric.
Kids are made to wear uniforms in a lot of schools in the world so chucking out a brat for wearing something the school feels is innapropriate is fair enough, if the children or family have a problem then they can simply go **** themselves. Schools should be able to make an example of children for something that is agaisnt school policy without it becoming national news, even if it does disrespect the mindless flag wavers of America.
Originally posted by One Free Man
apparently they can suspend you. a united states school building is flying a mexican flag though? that's uncalled for. Its the united states.Not mexico.
Christ. People who think that a flag is part of your culture or race are so uneducated. Your flag is a symbol of your government, not your culture. It is not racist to ask you not to pay homage to a symbol of another government while you are a citizen of ours.
Who's uneducated?
Oh thats right...
So they were basically offended by the existence of Mexico? Cool, go America. I'd really be shocked if there weren't any American flags on the second floor and in terms of of where you can put a flag the only thing that is relevant is where it is on the flag pole. By definition if it was draped over the side as shown it wasn't flying above any American flag.
What I love is that he claims the only option was to take it down and throw it away. Because we all know kids are locked in homeroom for lunch amirite?
Requiring restitution is definitely crazy. It's a flag, that's maybe $10 to replace it.
That kid has more balls than the Principal IMO. He took upon himself to take down a flag that didn't belong there in the first place. Principal was most likely relentless to do it out of fear some Mexican Gang Member would retaliate.
Personally, I would have taken down the flag and take a giant shit on it. Just piece of cloth right? Mexicans shouldn't be offended.
$50 plus shipping and handling. seriously the appropriate size flags can cost in the 100 range their not cheap its the material quality.
anyways we did the same thing in Iraq we are suppose to fly the host countries flag alongside ours.. some smart @$$ marines decided to put a small iraqi flaq next to ours.. one of the base commanders was pissed ordered it down and replaced with the appropriate size flag and then wanted the marines responsible for the BS prank..
flag protocol is very important and i think should be respected..
Originally posted by WickedDynamite
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I AM OFFENDED SO I CAN DO WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT.
Sounds like someone is going to be issuning death threats against South Park next...
Originally posted by Wild Shadow
flag protocol is very important and i think should be respected..
Yeah, too bad it wasnt broken.