The National Review – by Andrew Johnson
Four California high-school students were reportedly suspended for chanting “U.S.A! U.S.A!” and wearing American flag bandanas during a basketball game. While their punishment has since been rescinded, school administrators said “the incident is far from over.”
Oxnard Union School District superintendent Gabe Soumakian told Fox News Radio that “we need to pursue this further” and “work with teachers and students and the community about the concept of cultural proficiency.” Soumakian and Camarillo High School principal Glenn Lipman felt that the students’ actions might have had racist undertones since the schools have large Hispanic student populations.
“We wanted to make sure [their actions weren’t] racially motivated, and I told the kids I just want to be sensitive to the feelings of everybody,” Lipman said. “If we’re doing it for patriotism, that’s fine. But if we’re doing it for something else that’s racially motivated, I’m not going to allow that.”
But the students deny any racial element to their chants. “We’ve done it always,” one student said. “It’s something we do. It’s the same group of friends. We’re all very patriotic.” The four students gained support from their peers: More than 100 students gathered by the school’s flagpole the following morning to protest in patriotic clothing.
A short video of the incident is below:
I have never really understood the “U S A U S A U S A” thing. That whole nationalism thing starts to get a bit creepy when you are approached at the beach by a smug looking person with a US accent who accosts you and then proceeds to talk about your beach towel.
My beach towel was a very large Australian flag. I cannot remember what that smug tosser said. The gist of the conversation was that he thought it was disgusting that we would lie on and sit on our national flag at the beach. I pointed out that I also dried my butt and my balls with it. I think that that might have been what started up his rant/rave gland.
I would really like to ask Gabe Soumakian what the term ‘Cultural Proficiency’ means to him personally. Being told you cannot celebrate with your own national chant/behaviour/pastime while within your own nation is just wrong.That’s all it’s just WRONG.
PS: The incident at the beach stuck with me as the guy just wouldn’t shut up and go away.
Considering your flag looks like a misprinted union jack that someone spooged upon, I can understand your disdain. Our Stars and Stripes, on the other hand, they’re just beautiful to behold. And why, those boys wadding them up and using them to catch their head-sweat and pimple-grease, well that’s about the most unAmerican thing I seen in a long time! [/satire]
It goes well beyond xenophobia, I’m afraid. It’s a whole new level of Weird here in the US. Be glad if you’re in Oz. Kansas went “bye-bye” a long time ago.
This is just pathetic. Racial motivated? To the superintendent, I say, dude, what country are you living in? America is a multi-cultural country. Many races. What the hell does that have to do with chanting, “USA”? Do they want us to chant, “UN” or “NWO”? Probably.
I’m guessing “Viva La Mexico” wouldn’t have been a problem for them.
Freakin’ pukes!
p.s. I REALLY hate this state, btw.