American Flag Gets Teen in Trouble

Photo from Fox40.com

     When is displaying an American flag at an American school unacceptable?  NEVER!  Yet it took thousands of phone calls, some from military personnel in combat zones, to convince the superintendent of Denair Unified School District in California to decide to "allow" Cody Alicea to leave his small flag on the back of the bike he rides to school every day.
     There apparently was a problem, not involving Cody, on Cinco de Mayo that set the stage for this past week's decision.  Some students brought Mexican flags to school on that day, resulting is what the campus supervisor described as "a little issue."  Flash forward to November and observe Cody riding his bicycle to school with a small American flag waving off the back, as it has been this entire school year.  Some students complained about it, and the campus supervisor decided, for Cody's safety, it would be best if he removed it.  He did, but then went through channels to protest the decision.
     Why did the other students complain?  They apparently had been told they couldn't display the Mexican flag at school because that action would be likely to disrupt the educational process.  If they couldn't bring their flag to school, Cody shouldn't be allowed to bring his flag to school.  As they saw it, this was a question of fairness.  There is just one piece of information they failed to consider.  This is the United States of America, not Mexico!
     It should not have taken thousands of phone calls from around the world to bring about the action by the superintendent to rescind the decision.  It's a no-brainer.  The presence of the American flag is always appropriate on any campus in the United States.  It flies from the flagpoles in front of every school.  It is the object of a pledge recited by millions of students every morning.  In California every elementary school and secondary school is required to begin each day of instruction with a "patriotic exercise."  The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance satisfies this requirement, as does the instruction in the various elements of the Pledge (CA Ed Code 52720).  If the campus supervisor was truly concerned about Cody's safety, she should have focused her attention on the prospective perpetrators.  Denying a person a Constitutional right because the exercise of that right may put that person at risk is a dangerous precedent to set.  Instead, every effort should be made to ensure the exercise of those rights.
     As I look at the picture of Cody on his bike, it is not difficult to imagine him being perceived by many other students to be anything but whatever the current term is for cool or hip.  To me, he's a courageous young man, and I applaud him.  Superintendent Parraz, on the other hand, should learn a lesson from Cody, man up and take a stand for the U. S. Constitution.