Denver middle school bans apparel, radio host Peter Doyle decries "moral relativism"
Reported by Chrish - April 05, 2006
Peter Doyle got his FOX talking points mixed up on the Big Story tonight 4/4/06, confusing political correctness run amok and moral relativism. What he should have been upset about was an abridgement of students' First Amendment rights, or even breech of US Flag protocol.
In an pre-emptive effort to prevent violence arising from tensions between student ethnic groups, the principal of a Denver middle school banned clothing with any patriotic symbols on them. She even went so far as to tell a girl who wore blue jeans and a white tee shirt under a red one that if she came to school dressed in red, white and blue again she would be expelled. What??? Boyle called it Orwellian - I'm guessing the ACLU will be all over this one.
But guest Peter Doyle's indignation was due to the "moral relativism" of comparing some students' wearing Mexican flags or colors to other students wearing American flags. To the best of his knowledge, we are at war and that US flag has meaning! He is offended by the attitude that this flag from Mexico is on equal footing with the US flag. A previous banning by this principal was of "gang" clothing, example being LA Raiders caps, so in his mind she is comparing American flag-wear to gang-wear! Never mind that she compared Raiders' fans to gang members.
Even a flag in the background of a Ford Mustang tee shirt was not allowed, and Boyle was left sputtering. USFlag.org says
# The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard
# The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
# The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
Too bad Boyle only chose to defend the rights of kids wearing American "patriotic" clothing. It could have been a positive step to demand that ALL their free speech rights be upheld.
# The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
Like giant blue letters that say: FOX NEWS
Posted by: dan at April 5, 2006 12:22 AM
What I love is when, from time to time, you see the rusty pickup truck with various stickers that contain remarks about the South rising again, homosexuals, the Confederate flag (which shows how little the person really cares about their country), W’s and pictures of Hobbs peeing on numerous things and on the back of the truck they are flying a 3’ x 2’ American flag that is ripped from the wind, crusted in mud, and covered in black oil stains from their lack of a muffler.
Posted by: dan at April 5, 2006 12:40 AM
That's Calvin that is peeing.
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmie at April 5, 2006 09:59 AM
Calvin - An insight into Southern culture by our resident savant.
Posted by: claudo at April 5, 2006 10:06 AM
Give me a break, that strip ended like 10 years ago lol
Posted by: dan at April 5, 2006 10:24 AM
In defense of Calvin...
He'd never pee on anything. He is a good boy with a wicked imagination.
I wonder which Fox personalities wear American Flag banana hangers. I'm guessing Gibson and Cavuto.
Posted by: Keg at April 5, 2006 12:40 PM
The thought of Gibson and Cavuto's "banana hangers" is something to be avoided on a full stomach as it induces a certain gagging reflex!
Posted by: claudo at April 5, 2006 12:47 PM
Right.
empty stomach and then think of their "dunlops" lopping over the banana hangers...
:D
Posted by: Keg at April 5, 2006 01:28 PM
You know, if this were about Iraqi or Islamic flags, FOX would be firing away at the ACLU for standing up for terrorists. But when it comes to the defense of wearing the American flag, something FOX confuses with patriotism and that the ACLU would almost certainly be participating in defending the right to wear, the ACLU is completely absent of mention. They are even alluded to on FOX news if it is for some unpopular stance in defense of the COnstitution. WHen the ACLU defends the rights of conservatives (people wearing the flag, the KKK, Rush Limpballs, Sean Insanity), it's never mentioned. Because then people would know that the ACLU is about defending our rights, not one specific party.
I think it just so happens that liberals are more likely to stand up for the constitution than conservatives. Hence, the association with the ACLU.
Posted by: Pastor Bill at April 5, 2006 01:43 PM
The Nazis and the Stalinists used to complain about "moral relativism," too. Totalitarian evil shits always like to complain about "moral relativism."
Posted by: DanH at April 5, 2006 02:40 PM
"She even went so far as to tell a girl who wore blue jeans and a white tee shirt under a red one that if she came to school dressed in red, white and blue again she would be expelled. What??? Boyle called it Orwellian - I'm guessing the ACLU will be all over this one."
Okay, folks; that's WAAAAAAAAY out of line. Are you going to ban red, white and green? Orange, white and green? Black, yellow and red? Red, yellow and green? Red and white?
There is such a thing as freedom of expression. As long as you're not too offensive (the t-shirt with the words "Too busy to fuck" in small type comes to mind), you should have that right. There is some dress code issues, but that's more decency than expression.
MTL
Posted by: MikeTheLiberal at April 5, 2006 03:30 PM
You want an example of "moral relativism" and the damage to children?
Two in Homeland Security now charged with child sex crimes
Scripps Howard News Service (SHNS), April 4, 2006
It's called "Operation Predator," a high-priority Department of Homeland Security program that does battle against those who prey sexually on children. Now, with the arrest Tuesday night of a department deputy secretary, AT LEAST TWO OF THE AGENCY'S OWN TOP PERSONNEL stand charged with just such offenses...
...The other Homeland Security official charged with a sexual offense involving a girl is veteran administrator FRANK FIGUEROA, 49, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agent in charge of the agency's operations in central and northern Florida. Figueroa, who also ran the agency's El Paso, Texas, office, has pleaded not guilty to charges he exposed and fondled himself to a teenage girl last year at a mall in Tampa...
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/national/article/0,1406,KNS_350_4598044,00.html
Posted by: -R at April 5, 2006 04:54 PM
There are two little words with great meanng in this part of the world - "Remember Columbine"
This teacher will be damned to hell if any kind of shooting incident arose from these idiots confronting one another over flags and clothing.
She had no choice. That massacre can never be allowed to happen again, and if banning clothing reduces the chances, then so be it. I stand behind her and with her.
Posted by: Mandark at April 6, 2006 12:20 PM
