Is it worth the battle?

Madea

Madea

zip a dee doo dah
My son is a big fan of the Rebel flag. I'm honestly not sure where it originated for him, other than his life-long love of country music. He has several t-shirts with the flag that he has occasionally worn to school. But my husband and I generally discourage wearing them to school. Over the weekend, with his own money, he purchased a rebel flag dogtag type necklace. He's worn it proudly to school this week. Today he was told by one of his teachers not to wear it again. When he asked why, he was told because some find it offensive.

My husband immediately said don't wear it again. I'm a little on the fence.

Not sure why its in Road Rage, I'm not angry. :))
 
I could be wrong but I think it is one of the items in the school rules deal thingy at the beginning of the year so he's kind of gotten away with it a few times before now. It'd double check it. Certainly not a fight I'd support him on if only because a.) knew the rules when school started (if it is in fact in there) and b.) he has no real connection to it, just likes it for some reason. Say his great grand dad just died and they had been super close and it was something special of his ... I could see something to that reasoning.. Say he was a direct descendant of [insert name here] and had proudly recognized him for years ... I could see something to that reasoning. Wanting to fight only because it is something that he likes with no real conviction behind it ... not really something that I can see being worth the inevitable fallout. I'd save my fight for a bigger issue, personally.
 
I wouldn't dare advise you on what to tell him...but this frustrates me. The stars and bars had NOTHING to do with slavery, although people are "offended" by it. It's a sad day when ALL other heritages are celebrated with the exception of Confederate Heritage.

Again, I would not even suggest how to advise your son. Sometimes you have to practice "self preservation", but I have a serious problem with some teacher telling him not to wear the tags...UNLESS they tell every single african american NOT to wear ANYTHING that celebrates the black heritage. What is good for one should be good for the other.
 
Grey Colson said:
I wouldn't dare advise you on what to tell him...but this frustrates me. The stars and bars had NOTHING to do with slavery, although people are "offended" by it. It's a sad day when ALL other heritages are celebrated with the exception of Confederate Heritage.

Again, I would not even suggest how to advise your son. Sometimes you have to practice "self preservation", but I have a serious problem with some teacher telling him not to wear the tags...UNLESS they tell every single african american NOT to wear ANYTHING that celebrates the black heritage. What is good for one should be good for the other.
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I agree with you. Wonder if Black Panther shirts or Che Guevara shirts are treated the same way?
 
Madea said:
Not sure why its in Road Rage, I'm not angry. :))
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Because you're an angry, bitter, hateful person. :D

I don't have kids, but I tend to agree with UM...this isn't a hill I'd want to die on. I also agree with GC/NJ, but again, not enough to make it an issue.
 
I see the rebel flag at school all the time (both the middle and my sons high school) I am surprised someone said something.
Is it in the rules? Specifically? (ha ha ha..if it is I have never read it and child graduates in a month. I paid real good attention, huh? )
 
I agree with the ridiculousness of labeling that flag as nothing more than a symbol of slavery and hatred and I agreed that there is a great deal of imbalance with regards to what is deemed ok and what is not but given his reasons for wanting to wear it ... not worth it in my opinion.
 
This is not a fight that I'm "all in".

But, from their very birth I have tried to instill in my children a sense of family, knowing who they are, knowing that they could do whatever they set their minds to, and most importantly, never forget where they came from. I don't know if this is what my son is drawing from or not, but my son truly "gets me" and what I find important.

I do not know if the rebel flag is a "forbidden" item or not. I'll admit to not having read the manual. It was not specifically mentioned at the meeting at the beginning of the year. However, low hung pants were specifically mentioned. According to my son, that's not strictly enforced.

My son draws the flag, draws pictures of trucks with the flag, etc. And anyone who knows his heart knows it's not a "hate thing". Quite frankly, I think the whole issue has been perverted for several purposes and has been twisted to mean something it never meant. Heck, the kids aren't even told the truth about the Civil War, but that's a whole nuther subject.

I guess my first thought when he mentioned it to me was that if these kids have a "right" to privacy, what about their right to express themselves in a non-violent manner? Do some pervert it as violent? Maybe. But, see above. :))
 
Madea said:
... Heck, the kids aren't even told the truth about the Civil War, but that's a whole nuther subject...
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Preach on and can I get an amen?

WTH is wrong with teaching the truth about our history? Did slavery suck? of course it did. Was it the reason for the Civil War? Of course not. Were there Northerners that hated blacks as much as, if not more than many Southerners? Darn skippy. Heck, Lincoln was a huge racist. We learn from our past, from our experiences ... not from changing them into something else.

Ok, hoping back down off soapbox ... for now. :rant
 
I can understand the dilema.

There are many thing I would "like" to express at work and it has nothing to do with heritage. But I watch what I say because I don't want to commit political suicide. Not becuase I am afraid, but because I want to continue to provide for my family.

We hold back what we say and do at times, but still hold dear to beliefs in our hearts. It's a shame that in a "free" nation we have to watch what we say, but it's a reality. But we hold things in our hearts that no one can change or take away. And when it comes down to do-or-die, those beliefs come out.

It's frustrating, I understand, but no man can change another man's or woman's heart. Do I sound like the Anti-Postman yet? :laugh
 
unionmom said:
Madea said:
... Heck, the kids aren't even told the truth about the Civil War, but that's a whole nuther subject...
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Preach on and can I get an amen?

WTH is wrong with teaching the truth about our history? Did slavery suck? of course it did. Was it the reason for the Civil War? Of course not. Were there Northerners that hated blacks as much as, if not more than many Southerners? Darn skippy. Heck, Lincoln was a huge racist. We learn from our past, from our experiences ... not from changing them into something else.

Ok, hoping back down off soapbox ... for now. :rant
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Amen Sistah!

We have to learn from our mistakes or we are doomed to repeat them! Black people, in particular, have been lied to for so long about SO MUCH that their community, their culture and their very livelihood has been severely effected!

My son has no reason to be ashamed that he was born white. I will never make him feel that way. He's a good soul and a special young man (even if he does frustrate the heck out of me sometimes! :)) ) I will not break his spirit. And I won't stand by while anyone else tries.

But, back to my issue :whistle I don't think this is a "make or break" for him, he doesn't seem that passionate about it. I'll stay laid back about it and see how it plays out.
 
Madea said:
... I don't think this is a "make or break" for him, he doesn't seem that passionate about it...
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And that right there is why I don't feel it is a fight worth fighting.

IMO
 
unionmom said:
Madea said:
... Heck, the kids aren't even told the truth about the Civil War, but that's a whole nuther subject...
Click to expand...
Preach on and can I get an amen?

WTH is wrong with teaching the truth about our history? Did slavery suck? of course it did. Was it the reason for the Civil War? Of course not. Were there Northerners that hated blacks as much as, if not more than many Southerners? Darn skippy. Heck, Lincoln was a huge racist. We learn from our past, from our experiences ... not from changing them into something else.

Ok, hoping back down off soapbox ... for now. :rant
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Oh, I do love you. :love
 
Grey Colson said:
It's frustrating, I understand, but no man can change another man's or woman's heart. Do I sound like the Anti-Postman yet? :laugh
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Sorry, I cannot understand your post unless you include a 2007 pie chart and ramble on about nothing for six posts in a row. :D
 
unionmom said:
Madea said:
... I don't think this is a "make or break" for him, he doesn't seem that passionate about it...
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And that right there is why I don't feel it is a fight worth fighting.

IMO
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Well, that's where I'm at. And why I'm not fully engaged. We limited the conversation regarding the subject. This morning he chose not to wear it (not without a good bit of grumbling), proclaimed his dislike for said teacher and announced that his principal was fully aware and had not commented to him.
 
Madea said:
... proclaimed his dislike for said teacher and announced that his principal was fully aware and had not commented to him.
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And there is the bigger problem ... consistency. Ok, sure ... life ain't fair, etc., etc. but come on.
 
Hey and here's an interesting dilemma ... what do you do if a black student wants to wear it to school? I think some people's heads would explode trying to work that one out. :))
 
Reminds me of the gay kid that wanted to wear a t-shirt to school, the school admins waivered.... ;D

Look at the school handbook and see what it says. Explain it to your son and if he feels that passionately about wearing the necklace, have him to go the principal to get clarification. Let him decide if it is a battle that he wants to wage.

But, it is possible that the confederate flag could be viewed as inflammatory or creating a hostile learning environment simply because many perceive it to be a racially derogatory symbol.
 
unionmom said:
Hey and here's an interesting dilemma ... what do you do if a black student wants to wear it to school? I think some people's heads would explode trying to work that one out. :))
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Funny you should mention that. One item that I have deliberately left out of this conversation is that one of my son's best friends is a boy that is black. They ride the bus together, play football together and became friends several years ago when they were first in class together. When my son got on the bus Monday morning and was sharing his new purchase with his friend, his friend's first words were "I have to have one of those". My son share our weekend activities involving The General in Kennesaw and told his friend that he would purchase him one this weekend when we return to Kennesaw.
 
Stellarvore said:
Your son's teacher is a typical PC nazi liberal.
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We'll go with that. :laugh

My son has chosen, on his own, not to wear it to school anymore. He puts it back on as soon as he's home.
 
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