DU Parents : Patriot's day at YOUR schools?

[mandyky]

I got a note yesterday about wearing red, white and blue on Sept. 11th. Just called the school. What the fucking hell has being attacked on 9-11-01 to do with patriotism? We need to nip this in the bud. Having our kids wear read, white and blue every year only perpetuates all this war on terror lie!

I am so sick of 9-11 being used politically, that I could scream! If 9-11 becomes a holiady, what do you all suggest the name and colors should be? What are our lessons from 9-11? Do we want grade school kids being taught to wage war?

This just disgusts me to no end!

[HERVEPA]

1. Just Say No

If your kid can take it. How old is She/he?

[mandyky]

3. He's in first grade - way too young for this propoganda

BULLSHIT!! I am so mad I could spit!

[MissMillie]

2. I'll send my son to school wearing ....

.... his "Save the Environment: Plant a Bush Back in Texas" T-shirt.... it's GREEN.

[Dissenting_Prole]

47. Or a T-shirt with THIS on it...

[Braden]

4. don't send em

they dont need to be brainwashed any more then the schools already do.

[trumad]

8. I think this falls into the category of take a chill pill

This in my mind is no BFD. Face it, Sept 11th will be a day in infamy for this country and some will celebrate it with patriotism....

[mandyky]

19. I don't object to remembering 9-11 but

I object to it being tied to patriotism. Yellow = remember, red white and blue in this day means imperialism. I already have one son who will probably see Iraq, I do not want my 6 year old thinking he needs to be in on this "Bush war on terrorism".

[RamboLiberal]

24. I'm with you - let's separate this from Bush

Guess I don't belong on this board cause I have no problem with showing patriotism on 9-11, 7-4 or any other day of the year. And yes I've been known to wear the colors.

As a writer so aptly put it - I love my country, I hate the president.

If your kids are old enough - let them decide.

[Braden]

44. I agree its no big deal

but mandatory patriotism is SOOOOOO CREEEEEEEPY.

[sybylla]

45. Yeah, next we'll hear them being called the Bush Youth

and they will be taught to sing patriotic songs and march in straight lines for their country.

I have no problem with demonstrations of patriotism. But dressing up children too young to understand is not done for the children's sake. It is done to make insecure adults feel better about the world and trick themselves into thinking we are more secure. Just another opiate for the masses at the expense of confusing (at best) or indoctrinating (at worst) our young children.

[0rganism]

5. Red, white and blue...hmmm.... wear the French flag?

[ComerPerro]

6. I would support a federal holiday on 9/11

Because it would give me my birthday off every year!


But then, you would have labor day and then a week or so later you would have patriots day.

Wouldn't it be perfectly fitting of this administration to cancel Labor Day and replace it with Patriots Day?

[AntiCoup2K4]

22. Geezus, don't give them any ideas!!

It's bad enough they're Freeperizing my birthday, which happens to be that "patriotic holiday" in the middle of the summer.

[ComerPerro]

39. Yeah thats true

On some calendars Sept 11 is labled as Patriots Day

[Patriot_Spear]

7. How about Red, White and Blue DEAN Buttons!!!

n/t

[ComerPerro]

10. Or how about

Red White and Blue, with the words "Anyone But Bush in 2004" on your shirt.

[MaryBear]

25. Either of these, ComerPerro,

would be great. The child would do what was directed and still make a statement.

On second thought, this child needs to get through school safely and without being targetted by staff.

Maybe the shirt could say, "Vote!"

[alphafemale]

35. Or just "Real Patriots vote for Democrats"

:bounce:

[LibDemAlways]

9. I'm curious as to

what the school officials said when you called them. Bet they're wondering whether or not to sic Asscroft on you!!

[mandyky]

17. The county school board said it

was an individual school choice. I called the principal back and he said he wanted to be patriotic. He knows who I am so, I'll let you know if Ashcroft comes knocking. LOL

[Fixated]

11. ...

My school is doing it. I'm just going avoid wearing red white and blue, basically. Not because I don't love my country, but because I'm not a whore.

[DealsGapRider]

12. I don't see anything wrong with this.

It may not be the most appropriate thing for school officials to be actively encouraging kids to wear these colors, but if everyone started a tradition of wearing red, white and blue on Sept. 11, I think that would be just fine. It's a way of saying that we're proud of who we are on the day that fanatical, murderous terrorists expressed to the world that they do not like who we are. I think it's a great way of saying fuck you to the terrorists and those who sympathize with them and to come together as a country to remind ourselves that while we have differences, we're all Americans.

[HERVEPA]

13. The unelected schmuck is using this...

for political purposes, as he has all along. How about a day for all the Iraqi's murdered?
Nope, didn't think so.

[TheDonkey]

14. 9-11 and the Iraqi war are not related...

why are you making it seem like that is the case?

20 years from now no one will agree that the second Gulf War was due to Sept. 11th. I see no problem with someone feeling patriotic on the 11th, it was a terrible time for America and if they want to celebrate the country, more power to em'.

Just don't think 9-11, and war go hand in hand because they don't and we need to nip this in the bud.

[HERVEPA]

16. Because innocent people were killed or maimed

Or doesn't it count if they're not Americans.

[0rganism]

30. 70% of Americans disagree with you

You and I both know that Iraq's ties to Al Qaeda are tenuous at most, but Bushco has played on the sad circumstance that most Americans do not know this in order to get his nasty little war on.

[MuseRider]

15. I have not heard this yet

but my son is in high school. I fully expect he will handle this with something appropriate, like the suggestion above, RW&B with ABB on it. This is stupid propaganda and to use children like this is disgusting.

[DealsGapRider]

18. I wish people didn't equate any expression of patriotism...

...with foaming-at-the-mouth jingoism. I don't see this emanating from the White House, so maybe we can tone down the whole "This is right-wing propaganda!" and "What about all the murdered Iraqis?" screeds. Maybe people just want to express their patriotism. Jeesh.

[mandyky]

21. MY point is what does 9-11 have to do with patriotism!

Being attacked is not patriotic. Remembering is one thing, remembering being compared to patriotism is something else. All we need is school children yelling Hiel!

[DealsGapRider]

28. Please.

"All we need is school children yelling Hiel!" This is really uncalled for. There is a difference between patriotism and blind nationalism that you apparently don't appreciate.

Being attacked is not patriotic, but reminding each other on the anniversary of the attacks that we are all Americans - despite our differences - is quite worthwhile. It's a way to remind each other that we should all stand together and defend the values that make our country great - democracy, ethnic and religious pluralism, equality for women, etc.

If you want to be cynical and nihilistic, don't disparage those of us who still appreciate expressions of patriotism.

[VermontDem2004]

32. Please

Bush created this day for political gain. Where is the OKC bombing holiday? What about a Columbine Holiday? People shouldn't use tragedies and turn them in for political gain.

[mandyky]

33. Being a veteran, I understand patriotism, but

turning a tragedy into a patriotic holiday is definitely spin. Pearl Harbor was an attack on a naval base, so 12-7 is a legitimate patriotic day. On 9-11, civilian targets were hit, and I do not want remembrance being tied to patriotism, unity is one thing, remembrance another. Having our kids raised as lashing out and vitimization is not appropriate.

When was the Cole hit? Make that patriot's day, not 9-11. Make the day we win the war on terror a holiday. 9-11 was something else, very private, not government sponsored.

[DealsGapRider]

37. Huh?

"Pearl Harbor was an attack on a naval base, so 12-7 is a legitimate patriotic day. On 9-11, civilian targets were hit, and I do not want remembrance being tied to patriotism..." I do not understand this logic. If military personnel are slaughtered en masse, it's okay to remember that event through the lens of patriotism, but if civilians are slaughtered en masse, we should view it like some giant traffic accident -- simply as an unfortunate event? Strange.

[mandyky]

38. 12-7 isn't a holiday, is part of my point

I think we can manage remembrance without wrapping it in red, white and blue. Who knows what they tell our kids in school on that day? My point is what they do and say, and why we should make it a day to be remembered as patriotic.

[maveric]

20. Isnt there allready a "Patriots Day"?

In April, when they run the Boston Marathon??

[mandyky]

23. It's not federal, it must be a state thing.

We have memorial day, veterans day, pearl harbor day, armed services day, independence day, and several other "lesser" patriotic days.

Honestly, I think 9-11 should be Unity day and feature the colors red, green, blue and yellow, like the rastafarian unity colors.

[maveric]

27. I grew up in the Boston area and we always had the day off from school

Banks were closed etc.

[Fescue4u]

26. I fail to see a problem with this.

No matter what story you believe about 9/11, America was viciously attacked that day and thousands died.

I see no problem whatsoever with displaying a little unity on such a somber day.

(edited for my piss poor grammer)

[trogdor]

29. Send them to school wearing THIS shirt.

[DemVet]

31. I think we've lost our focus...

...as Democrats and Americans when we think wearing the colors of our flag on an anniversary date of a national tragedy is wrong. It is only a suggestion, right?

[tom_paine]

34. Reichstag Fire Day

n/t

[Blue_Chill]

36. I don't see anything wrong with this

We got attacked on 9/11 and lost a few thousand people. Coming together as a country on that day is healthy in my book.

Don't politically charge your kid, let him have his child hood. Kids will have plenty of time later in life to learn what goes on behind the scenes and what motivations and actions cause attacks like the one on 9/11. For now let the little guy/girl enjoy the care free life of a child.

[BiggJawn]

40. Wear Black.

I did last year.

I'm not wearing anything special this year. I'm SICK of "Our National Teeth-Gnash"...

Hell, I may not wear anything, just call in sick...

[trogdor]

46. That's easy for my kid.

He wears black all the time. He looks like a million bucks in black, too.

[noonwitch]

41. I don't have kids, but if I did, they'd be wearing whatever they want to

If all the other kids are wearing red, white and blue and my kid wants to, I'd let him. If my kid didn't, I'd let him wear what he wanted to.

[cmd]

42. I used to wear United Nations blue

We had a multitude of patriotic days last year. Sept. 11 - red, white and blue; Nov. 11 - red, white and blue; the National Guard is leaving - red, white and blue; spring program - red, white and blue; Memorial Day - red, white and blue. I always wore my "UN costume". It's a good time for a little civil disobedience. Give your child a power line in case any one challenges him. I suggest. "Talk to my mother. She'll tell you why I'm wearing this."

It's good to be retired. I no longer have to put up with this stuff.

[leftchick]

43. they are doing the same thing at my sons' school

It is a Catholic school, so they are doing a RW&B dress down and having a special ceremony with prayers. I was okay with it last year but now it smacks of nationalism to me and I don't like it at all. My eight year old's spelling words this week were all American Patriotism words too! I think they are trying to produce a new crop of bushbots. My son sees right through it! :)

[goobergunch]

48. DU student here

Thankfully, this would violate our dress code.

ON EDIT: If they did this at my school, I'd go for something like this:

LIHOP?

with black being here substituted for white