Dobbs falsely suggested Colorado, California schools banned only American flags
SUMMARY: CNN's Lou Dobbs falsely suggested that a Colorado middle school's ban on flags -- in the wake of protests at the school over proposed immigration reform legislation -- applied only to the American flag. In fact, the ban encompassed clothing depicting all flags and other "patriotic" symbols, and was not limited to American flags. Dobbs also said a California school district "ban[ned] flags and patriotic symbols"; in fact, both the Mexican and American flags are prohibited there.
On the April 5 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, host Dobbs falsely suggested that a Westminster, Colorado, middle school's ban on flags -- in the wake of protests at the school over proposed immigration reform legislation -- applied only to the American flag. In fact, the ban -- criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) -- encompassed clothing depicting all flags and other "patriotic" symbols, and was not limited to American flags. Further, Dobbs reported that the principal of the school "says students wearing the American flag are using the flag to antagonize Mexican students." In fact, Shaw Heights Middle School principal Myla Shepherd instituted a ban on any clothing, flag, and banners intended to make a political statement, because, she told The Denver Post, students at the school were using both American and Mexican flags to "taunt" each other. "The Mexican flag, the U.S. flag, were no longer representing pride in where we're from," Shepherd told the newspaper, "but started to be used as symbols of negativity and racism."
Dobbs also said on the April 5 program that Oceanside Unified School District in California "ban[ned] flags and patriotic symbols," and then quoted a California State Senator Bill Morrow's claim that the school district "ban[ned] the wearing of American flags"; on the April 4 edition of Lou Dobbs Tonight, Dobbs himself asserted that Oceanside "is banning American flags on campus." In fact, both the Mexican and American flags are prohibited in that school district, as a report that aired on the April 4 program indicated. In that report, by San Diego TV station KGTV, Oceanside superintendent Ken Noonan said: "Well, someone would wave the Mexican flag and then someone else would wave an American flag, almost as if they were using the flags as emotional weapons with each other, and we think, you know, that's not appropriate for either flag, for the flag to be used as a weapon."
As Dobbs noted during the April 4 program, the ACLU has criticized the clothing bans at Shaw Heights and Oceanside. ACLU spokesman Kevin Neenan told a San Diego TV station: "The school has to be able to show a strong likelihood that there is going to [be] material and substantial disruption of school, and if they don't meet that standard, then they can't censor student speech."
From the April 5 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight:
DOBBS: In Colorado tonight, yet another school is forbidding its students from showing their support for the American flag and their opposition to the illegal alien amnesty agenda. The Shaw Heights Middle School in Adams County, Colorado, has changed its dress code to ban any piece of clothing deemed patriotic. Even camouflage pants have been banned. The principal says students wearing the American flag are using the flag to antagonize Mexican students. Students say the ban is simply outrageous.
STUDENT 1 [video clip]: I think it's ironic, because it's USA, first of all, it's United States of America. And our colors are red, white and blue. And there's flags in this school already in those colors, and we can't even wear the colors.
STUDENT 2 [video clip]: Freedom of speech. I should be able to wear what I want, my First Amendment.
DOBBS: Also tonight, outrage building after a decision by California's Oceanside school district to ban flags and patriotic symbols in class there. As we reported last night, Oceanside officials took the step after large demonstrations last week in favor of illegal alien rights. Tonight, California state senator Bill Morrow says Oceanside must reverse its decision. The senator saying, "The decision to ban the wearing of American flags in order to achieve safety is terribly misguided. There's something very unfair when kids from any city in any state in this nation are prevented from displaying the stars and stripes." Senator Morrow says that it is incredible that students from Oceanside who have parents serving in Iraq cannot display the flag that their loved ones are fighting for overseas. The senator could not be more correct.
[...]
DOBBS: And in Southern California, the Oceanside School District is banning American flags on campus after last week's illegal alien protests and demonstrations there. Tina Azedin (ph), from our affiliate KGTV, with the report.
[begin video clip]
AZEDIN: For student protesters who carried a flag, it was a matter of pride. For police and the district, it was a problem.
KEN NOONAN (Oceanside school superintendent): Well, someone would wave the Mexican flag and then someone else would wave an American flag, almost as if they were using the flags as emotional weapons with each other, and we think, you know, that's not appropriate for either flag, for the flag to be used as a weapon. That's almost a form of desecration.
AZEDIN: Now, the Oceanside School District is sending this letter to parents, stating, no student may bring or wear disruptive clothing, face paint, signs, placards, or flags. Claiming they were contributing factors to last week's disruptive behavior.
ROXANNE GUZMAN (student): It's bringing a lot of tension between the students.
AZEDIN: Sixty-hundred and fifty students skipped school last Tuesday and Wednesday in Oceanside to protest.
EDWARD JOHNSON (student): I went out to protest against the bill that -- that was introduced in the House.
AZEDIN: Here's what happened.
JOHNSON: I got suspended for five days.
AZEDIN: Students will be suspended again if they bring flags to school now.
GUZMAN: I think that's a good idea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They should be able to bring a flag to school, as long as you're not doing nothing bad with it.
AZEDIN: Behind these walls, the district stands behind the state education code, which puts limits on free speech.
NOONAN: But the whole idea is that students don't need to be waving signs, don't need to be waving flags on the campus. They need to be in class.
[end video clip]
DOBBS: And reporting, Tina Azedin of our affiliate KGTV. The issue of wearing flags is one being taken up buy the American Civil Liberties Union, supporting those students who would wish to demonstrate their views by wearing an American flag or taking an American flag and holding it high wherever they choose.
Wonder what the right has to say now that the Big Bad ACLU is needed to defiend thier first admendment rights. Hey you Neocons-- I thought that that the ACLU was evil and "Left-wing NUTS" I guess things are different now that the shoe is on the other foot and you actually need them to defend your A$$es.
I watch Lou Dobbs and mostly think that he does a decent job but on the immigration thing he is one sided. I agree with his premise to secure the border but I think his position on immigration reform is narrow minded.
It was the ACLU who came to Rush Limbaugh's defense when El Rushbo got caught doctor shopping. The ACLU defended Rush's right to privacy. Funny how Rush has a right to privacy for his medical decisions but he believes a woman shouldn't. Kind of like how the GOP now thinks that the Constitution gives the president powers that are not included in the text. Apparently, constitutional penumbrations are, once again, good for Rethuglicans, bad for women.
That's the sound of Lou's mind slamming shut when it comes to immigration issues, and it's nothing new for him. He's harped on this for years and has blamed just about everything but Bird Flu on illegal immigrants.
While I usually agree with him when he's being an advocate for American workers and business, he just seems to flip out when the topic is illegal immigrants, especially those from Mexico.
Anyone know why?
... needs substantiation, even if it has to be falsified.
The Rightwing is invested in demonizing Democrats, Liberals, anyone who dares disagree with Republican policy and/or behavior. Much like the fake "War on Christmas", the Rightwing Media is rabid for "examples" that demonstrate their Straw Man.
"SCHOOL BANS AMERICAN FLAG" fits the bill; it seems outrageous, and demonstrates "proof" that there is a "HATE AMERICA" crowd "out there".
Now the FACTS interfere with the propaganda. It doesn't do any good to look at WHY this "ban" was implemented; to protect the students who were using flags as weapons. It doesn't do any good to note that ALL flags were banned to the students ... it sounds much better to keep it limited to banning the AMERICAN flag, because that's what a "HATE AMERICA" crowd would do. It also does no good to note that the "BAN" did not apply to the usual displays of the American Flag in places of proper respect ... on the flagpole out front, and other places. To be a "HATE AMERICA" example, it must be portrayed as both an EXCLUSIVE ban which didn't affect flags of OTHER lands, and that it was a school-wide BAN.
So, Lou Dobbs has done his part to try to propagandize and enrage Americans ... using incorrect information and implying FALSE motives. The idea is to continue to separate US -- the Republicans who LOVE the flag and are good Americans -- and THEM -- those "HATE AMERICA" Democrats and Liberals who are traitors and are evil.
Bush claimed he would be a "uniter, not a divider". If only we had known that his jingoistic, nationalistic plan was to UNITE the haters of his party against all other Americans ... we might have been prepared for this ongoing Rightwing Media program of identifying a CRISIS A DAY, in the "Culture War" in which Rightwingers are the angels, while the "Left" are the devil incarnate.
Americans must be reminded daily that there is a "HATE AMERICA" crowd out there, they are Democrats, and that ONLY Republicans are good decent Americans. And LOU can be depended upon to do his part, misreporting, lying, inventing, misrepresenting, leaving out vital details, and providing the "examples" needed to promote this propaganda of HATE.
The long winded Tex gets something correct.
"Americans must be reminded daily that there is a "HATE AMERICA" crowd out there, they are Democrats, and that ONLY Republicans are good decent Americans."--Tex
So very true. Thanks Tex, I couldn't agree with you more.
It takes courage to sign on with the propaganda. I salute you; even under a screenname, it's good to know that some people actually BUY IN to this hate-filled Rightwing vision of America.
If not for those like you, who turn sarcasm into FACT ... we might believe that nobody could possibly THINK this way. Thanks again.
Occasionally it helps to have a troglodyte surface so we know that they truly do exist.
...Tex has a subtle mind. Jingoism and dogma take far fewer words. They're akin to that advertising technique, where a full commercial is shown and then a 0.7 version of that commercial and finally, a half version of that commercial is telecast. This works because the viewer's mind remembers the missing pieces. However, the difference between dogma and the commercial is that dogma is delivered in the same form as baby bird food: it's soft and pukey, for it's prechewed, regurgitated food.
Now, don't disrespect Tex. Arch your neck, open your mouth wide, and Father Limbaugh or some other such birdbrain will fill your gullet with some million-day old dogma, the same war-mongering tripe that the Roman nobility told slaves so they'd march off to die in wars begun by rich men, but fought and finished by poor men.
Giving up his search for an honest man for his new calling. Channelling the spirit of Bozo the Clown
How true, the Republican's love our flag but the Democratic Party loves the constitution. One is a symbol, one keeps us free.
Conservatives love symbols; little fish on their cars, little yellow ribbons, the flag. Shiny objects for simple minds. This is all a clever ruse on their part...demonize liberals and Democrats to the point that any law-breaking or lie on the part of their leadership can be excused.
Tex represents a dying breed…the bard, the word smith. I suspect the responses like this one to use modern vernacular common among the young are representative of those that are "playa hating"; those are people who resent others for their ability to do something they can't. In this case it’s you’re ability to articulate substantive, cogent thoughts beautifully in writing. I must admit I’m a little jealous myself, nevertheless I read your post and admire your gift.
you gotta lotta love! I'll have to take a number in the future to praise you, eh?
Every few weeks I start thinking I agree with Dobbs, that he cant possibly be the nut I thought he was a few days ago...and then he proves me wrong again.
The first few times I watched ORielly I thought the same thing... when will I ever learn?
If a person is arrested for yelling "FIRE!" in a movie theater, then why isn't a riot mongerer and racism mongerer like Dobbs arrested?
...am I disappointed in Lou.
As a teacher, I can relate first hand the tension that exists in the schools right now. To exacerbate the tension by over simplifying the flag issue is irresponsible and dangerous.
As I said last week in reference to the student protesters in Dallas I say still holds for Mr. Dobbs and the other figures that are taking this track, an overabundance of pride and passion can be a dangerous thing.
Instead of banning the wearing of particular clothing, would it not be better for the schools to see this as an opportunity for explaining how civil discourse can help everyone to a fuller understanding of each other's opinions? Suspend the regular class schedule for the morning or afternoon, call an assembly and bring in teachers to talk about things like respect for opposing positions, how the cable talk shows get it wrong, how it's important that we understand all aspects of a given issue not just our own and the lost art of compromise.
Gee. Schools as a center for learning. What a concept!
California's 50th District. It is the contested district where disgraced and convicted Republican former Congressman Duke Cunningham held office. The special election for his replacement is coming up this week and I'm wondering if this lie will be used as a last ditch effort to defeat Democratic candidate Francine Busby.