First local issue: Confederate Flag Being Debated In Warren County Schools

[Endangered Specie]

As us North Carolinians know, some people will fight to keep their Confed flag's up:

http://www.wral.com/news/3020411/detail.html

WARREN COUNTY, N.C. -- Students at Warren County Middle School have to focus on classes and homework, but at least one student is concerned about classmates wearing clothing that bears the Confederate flag. That concern could force the Warren County school board to get more specific on what students can and cannot wear.

Ray Spain, superintendent of Warren County schools, said the school system's dress code prohibits "offensive" clothing.

"That policy does not speak directly or specifically to the wearing of any particular item like the Confederate flag on shirts, sweaters and the like," he said.

[bluestateguy]

1. No constitutional right to not be offended.

This is not the same thing as a Confederate flag on top of the state Capitol, nor is it the same thing as the flag being the school's official symbol or mascot. I would certainly oppose that.

This would be a chance to teach this "offended" student a lesson or two about the First Amendment, and how unpopular speech needs the MOST government protection.

Such a law gives legal standing for school districts to ban anti-Bush or anti-war T-shirts. VERY BAD.

[Endangered Specie]

2. As a recent High School graduate...

Everyone (of us) knows you dont have constitutional rights in school.


Case and point:
Try yelling "Fuck you teach" or "No more War" anywhere in a school building.

[DarkPhenyx]

3. I actually did say

"Fuck you" to a teacher once. Got sent to the principals office too. Went down there, chatted with the secretary for a bit, and went back to class. They were used to seeing me in "The Office".

[leyton]

5. I think the Confederate Flag should be allowed on clothing at school.

Of course rights at schools will be curtailed, and being a person who attends a public high school, I certainly think it's a legitimate restriction of rights. However, I think wearing a Confederate flag ought to be allowed; it will offend people, but it is not obscene in and of itself (that is, it's not displaying naked people, although its meaning is questionable).

That said, I've not been in schools were many are prone to display the Confederate flag, and I can't remember ever seeing it on a T-shirt. If fights were to repeatedly break out because of it, I could see a desire for restriction. But just because somebody gets offended doesn't mean, to me, that the shirts should be banned.

[supernova]

4. I would think the dress code would be sufficient

to prohibit inflammatory modes of dress.

[GainesT1958]

6. As long as the school's principal--or the county superintendent...

Doesn't allow the "Stars and Bars" to be flown on the flag-pole in front of a school, it shouldn't be a big issue. If a lot of students complain about it, may be best to counsel the student individually. Just as long as it's not "officially" flown in a "public place", shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Thank goodness we haven't had THAT debate (about the "Stars and Bars" being flown over our State Capitol--or in front of the Legislative Building--as other Southern states have) or about having a flag with a prominent Confederate theme...sure makes for a LOT calmer socio-political atmosphere!

B-)

[Johnny Arson]

7. People need to read more history

I would bet a hundred bucks that there is higher confederate support in North Carolina now than there was during the war.

NC would have done much better if the ruling elite hadn't pushed us into that war. We were the last to secede, and if we hadn't been surrounded by confederate states, we probably wouldn't have left at all.

People displaying the confederate flag is free speech, but it still pisses me off. They're supporting a horribly destructive war that was fought to maintain a way of life that screwed over 99% of the population.

/proud descendant of a confederate deserter (and fully aware of the irony of my handle)