Dear Editor, I was disappointed and saddened by the fact that
Live Oak administrators had to deal with these four students and
their choice of attire on Cinco de Mayo. Although the shirts didn’t
go against the school dress code, wearing red-white-blue on Cinco
de Mayo is, to me (a white, American woman), not patriotic, but
disrespectful.
Boys should reflect on the choices made that day
Dear Editor,
I was disappointed and saddened by the fact that Live Oak administrators had to deal with these four students and their choice of attire on Cinco de Mayo. Although the shirts didn’t go against the school dress code, wearing red-white-blue on Cinco de Mayo is, to me (a white, American woman), not patriotic, but disrespectful. I also own an American flag T-shirt, which I’ll save for Independence Day or any other day.
As a parent, one responsibility I feel is to model tolerance and acceptance of others. We parents should encourage our kids to be sensitive as to how other kids will feel by our actions. If one of my sons were walking out the door in an American flag on Cinco de Mayo, I would use this as an opportunity to educate him about racial sensitivity. I’m all about being patriotic; however, there’s a time and a place for everything. I wish these parents would have asked their sons to reflect on their actions that day. How would other kids feel/respond to that T-shirt or bandana? Is today the appropriate day for that attire? How would you feel if kids wore Mexican or Columbian flag-shirts to your Fourth of July celebration?
A few years ago, I had a disabled, wheelchair bound, African-American boy in my 12th grade English class. Daily, the other students would hold the door for him, laugh at his jokes, include him in group projects, assist him in getting out his materials. I was so proud of those students; they modeled acceptance, empathy and tolerance of someone quite different from themselves. I look forward to a time when all of us think before we act – a time when we can look beyond our differences and find a common ground with our neighbors, co-workers and fellow classmates.
Anne Monty Zhang, Morgan Hill
Cinco de Mayo incident painted the city in a poor light
Dear Editor,
Morgan Hill used to be a quaint little town under the radar of many issues encountered by other communities. That all changed May 5. On that dreadful day, five students wore American flag apparel to school. They were asked by a school administrator to turn their shirts inside out or be sent home.
Cinco De Mayo has been celebrated in California since 1863 to honor the culture of Mexican-Americans, much as St. Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest and Chinese New Year celebrates those of Irish, German and Chinese descent. Mexico Independence Day is actually Sept. 16.
Regardless, the incident of May 5 brought negative national attention to our small town. Then, the next day, a large group of students walked out of school and marched the city’s streets demanding respect, being from Mexican origin. This brought more news crews, giving the nation the appearance that we as a community are disrespectful of our fellow citizens. But it doesn’t stop there.
Shortly thereafter, there was a debate in one of our schools over the appropriateness of Arizona SB 1020. The teacher was asked if it was OK to break the law. I was shocked to hear the response that sometimes it is OK to break the law.
All of this has impacted our community, me included. We all live, work and play together, and have always been respectful of one another. Sure there have been issues here and there over the years, but these recent events have taken us to a new level.
I hope those who felt slighted when their school administrators demanded they turn their T-shirts inside out find compassion and not pursue litigation. I hope that those who felt slighted by others wearing American flag apparel on Cinco de Mayo find compassion in realizing those students had an American right to do so, and those offended by the American flags have those same rights to wear apparel proudly showing their heritage any day of the year. Please, let’s all show compassion for one another.
David Dindak, Morgan Hill
People are wrapping themselves in the flag to overcome bigotry
Dear Editor,
I’d like to thank the Tea Partiers – for taking an issue the students wanted to heal, and rubbing salt into a wound until it became large and raw and much more painful.
Also, to the parents and other adults whose noisy protestations have kept this issue in the forefront – your claims of patriotism are lame and overdone. These people are wrapping themselves in the flag in an effort to cover their bigotry.
I’m as proud to be an American as anyone, but I have respect for other people’s cultures. If you shout and antagonize people they will never respect you. Asking a passing motorist who gave “thumbs down” at signs the Tea Partiers held, “Do you have papers?” is a huge insult which I would never accept. These claims of patriotism and love of country are nothing more than bigotry against a particular segment of society. For true patriotism, we should follow the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the tempest tossed, to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Elaine Jelsema, Gilroy
Because of what the flag stands for, we have freedoms
Dear Editor,
I have never taken to writing about an issue until now. I have witnessed both in print and on the television the last few days an embarrassment both to the Morgan Hill Unified School District and to the city I have called home for many years. I am a homeowner and taxpayer in this city. Because of that flag and what it stands for, we enjoy freedoms in this country that are not available in many parts of our world.
If the allegations in print are factual, there have been both federal and state laws broken. The fact that a group of students display their love of our country by wearing patriotic clothing should be celebrated no matter what date they decide to do it. Many brave men and women have shed blood or given their lives to see those colors prevail. Now someone on the public payroll has opted to send children home for being proud of his country? This is outrageous. I imagine I am not alone in my distaste for this action and the individual responsible.
Lee Parchert, Morgan Hill
Former LOHS principal: Common sense was not used
Dear Editor,
As a former principal of Live Oak, I would expect the current administration to use common sense before making such a ignorant decision. They need to remember this is America, not Mexico!
Bill Mathews, Principal Live Oak HS 1976-1983, Roseville
HSRA should conduct another EIR, this time with South County participation
Dear Editor,
A letter from Union Pacific (dated April 23, 2010) makes it abundantly clear that they will not allow, grant, tolerate or negotiate a UPRR alignment or shared right of way through this area, for High Speed Rail transit. The Program Environmental Impact Report was based on this assumption and, as we also know, the East U.S. 101 or other alignment alternatives were never accounted for in the Program EIR. This is a serious breach of understanding and urgent issue for the entire section of High Speed Rail through the South County area.
We cannot simply allow an entirely new (massive) transportation corridor to be carved through the South County. This changes everything. All environmental impacts (open space, prime agriculture, wildlife, water sources, flood control, noise, traffic circulation, connectivity, etc.), property takes and quality of life impacts – everything is now significantly multiplied.
There is no plan for this. HSRA must go back to the drawing board and produce a new Program EIR that the South County communities can participate in – as required and guided by the California Environmental Quality Act process.
High Speed Rail logo reads “Fly California Without Ever Leaving the Ground.” This is not the local economic stimulus we hoped for – this makes Gilroy a Park-n-Fly city – not a destination. Where will passengers go when leaving the station (behind the Outlets), directly to the empty massive 6,600 car parking structure, they will get in their car and drive straight through the city limits … they will not be driving over to the newly divided West side of U.S. 101 to shop, eat or stay in downtown Gilroy.
Who, in the South County area, is holding the High Speed Rail Authority accountable? Who is asking the critical questions? Does the Pacheco Pass option still make any sense at all considering the HSRA will not be securing the UPRR right of way? Who is protecting the South County from fatal flaws and unintended outcomes? How have we allowed ourselves to become so vulnerable?
Asking questions is not the same as opposition; but, when you are repeatedly given false, incomplete, inaccurate or delayed information, that is the same as being lied to.
Yvonne Sheets-Saucedo, Gilroy
