Last week I wrote about 13 year old Cody Alicea, a boy in California who was told by his school board that he must remove his American flag from his bicycle on school property because it could be offensive to Hispanic students. Apparently there were some complaints from some of these students and parents and the school's solution was for Cody to remove the flad that he'd been displaying for over two months.
On Friday, Cody received a public apology from the Denair, California, school Superintendent and a parade on his way to the school. Hundreds of supporters from the town lined the streets, most with American flags in their hands, and they all gathered in front of the school to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the national anthem. A copy of a speech by California Congressman George Radanovich on the floor of the House was read in which Congressman Radanovich condemned the initial actions of the school board and congratulated Cody on his patriotism and love of America. Congressman Radanovich reiterated the fact that the American flag stands for unity as well as patriotism and freedom.
No one in America, be they an American citizen or a visiting foreign national, should ever be prevented from displaying the American flag in the United States of America. If the flag offends someone who lives or is visiting here they should seek another place to be. That flag is the symbol of why people have the right to be here in the first place and is a beacon of freedom, unity and tolerance. We are very tolerant of people from other countries and other cultures in this country and will support your right to embrace your differences. But with all due respect to you and your beliefs or culture, if our flag offends you, take those beliefs and differences somewhere else.
I hope you'll all watch the video. It makes you feel good to be an American.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQtizxN6l5o
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