Main > Everything Else
Land of the free?
ChadTower:
Look... a man (or teenage male) who has been raised properly knows there are some things you simply do not do to another man. You don't slap him, you don't spit on him, you don't talk about his family, and you don't disrespect his flag. These are all things that are wrong and will provoke a potentially violent response in a proud man. You don't do those things unless you're willing to fight. I know not many parents raise their kids properly (or at all) anymore, but wow it depresses me that an entire generation of men are out there who simply don't understand basic honor.
fredster:
There is no excuse for that teacher, that's unacceptable.
If the kid was sincere in his belief, that's one thing. But if he was being disruptive, that's another.
mr.Curmudgeon:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on March 02, 2005, 01:02:42 pm ---BTW, Jesus has nothing to do with an incident in a public school. Haven't you already covered that?
--- End quote ---
lol. Yes. Most definitely.
--- Quote ---You don't disrespect a flag, you refuse to join in and leave so as not to spit on the graves of millions of men and women.
--- End quote ---
I doubt this teacher would have accepted that option. How would his walking out have been percieved as any less "disrepectful". I've been to church several times recently (for funerals), and as a confirmed Catholic who is now Atheist, I stay seated during communion. I don't have to "walk out" of church. At the same time, I'm able to respect the practice *without* disrespecting Jesus or God.
I also disagree w/ you that refusing to adhere to nationalistic jingoisms like anthems and flag-waving somehow inherently equates w/ spitting on graves. In fact, people died DEFENDING our right to refuse to stand. Our freedoms *include* a right to protest & free expression.
mrC
ChadTower:
They did die to protect the right to refuse to stand. That is correct. What I am seeing here, though, is a kid who refused to stand in order to provoke the teacher, not to protest with sincerity. The teacher was wrong, and he got the provoked reaction he wanted, but the kid's actions had no root in nobility either.
The whole situation is unfortunate. Clearly the incident was staged or they wouldn't have had a way to record it. Neither side is in the right.
mr.Curmudgeon:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on March 02, 2005, 01:15:07 pm ---but wow it depresses me that an entire generation of men are out there who simply don't understand basic honor.
--- End quote ---
Let me get this out of the way, I disagree with the direction this nation is heading. It's no secret I have no love for it's current administration. I disagree w/ a lot of the actions taken in America's name. However, I would stand for a national anthem because I hold in my heart an understanding of what *I* believe America should stand for. I respect it's positive achievements in the past, as well as it's potential for further achievement in the future.
That being said, you just can't DEMAND people respond the same way as you. Sitting during the Anthem is a viable form of protest. Stating otherwise is "dictating"...that's *not* why people died for that flag.
--- Quote ---What I am seeing here, though, is a kid who refused to stand in order to provoke the teacher, not to protest with sincerity. The teacher was wrong, and he got the provoked reaction he wanted, but the kid's actions had no root in nobility either.
--- End quote ---
EDIT (On preview): We are 100% in agreement on this. I had imagined there was more to this than what we were seeing, as well.
mrC