Beyond FRICTION: Colorado Students Struggle with Tough Tolerance Lesson

Waving your country’s flag reveals your own patriotism and inspires respect. Waving the same flag in the face of someone from another country reveals your own ignorance and intimidates, insults, and infuriates. Some students at Skyline High School in Longmont, Colorado, learned that lesson after all flag-waving was banned this past week at their school. Articles from the Associated Press and the Rocky Mountain News this morning describe the disturbing incidents that incited the ban, as well as the peaceful protest of 100 students against the ban.

As one school administrator and one insightful student commented, however, many of the students in the walk-out failed to understand exactly what they were protesting. By the time everyone returns from spring break a week from Monday, school administrators say they will be prepared to explain the concerns behind the ban and work to reunite a potentially divided student body.

One student suspended for waving an American flag in the face of a Hispanic student was quoted as saying, “If this country means freedom, then why can’t we fly our own flag? It’s ridiculous.” I have a feeling it’s going to take more than a talk with the principal to teach this student the difference between patriotism and prejudice.

Photo © Mike & Valerie Miller - FOTOLIA