November 16th, 2010 at 10:30pm
And about the dress code I think it really is foolish of authorities to think that taking this kind of measures will restrain racism from growing. I think (and forgive me if I'm wrong) that what creates racism is an ancient grudge held my immigrants inherited thru their parents. It was their parents (some children cross the border too, but I think that the influence of their parents is the main reason) who crossed the border as "mojados" and experienced the fear of being caught by "la migra".
From the other part I think that (nothing personal) Americans are at some point are so proud of their country and forget that it was and is built over immigrant people. This people clearly want to keep their ways and Americans should be "flexible" to it, of course only if they follow the law while doing it.
What they are doing to Mexicans and to Americans is violate their right of expressing themselves. They are already controlling their way of dressing and that I think is going too far.
Its like if you asked all the emos of the country to stop wearing their style because it might cause public disturbance. Or if you told jews not to wear their kipá because it can be an object of controversy between other religions.
I think that by taking this measure they are acting in a way that will even encourage more this kind of thinking.
Two. I find it very offensive when people of the white race tries to rid of the oppression towards people of color, they may feel. One reason would be because they don't understand what the minority feels therefore I find it ignorant for someone to act like the minority shouldn't feel the way they do. (note that I'm talking about Americans)
Three. There are lots of things behind the Mexican's not knowing much about their holiday that you don't seem to know (which I'm assuming because you don't seem to understand). In America the government system has a belief of assimilation of other races to the "American" race. Hence the reason why many school systems don't even teach Cinco De Mayo in the first place nor Kwanzaa. I could ask any black person if they knew what Kwanzaa was and nine times out of ten they wouldn't know. Do you know what it is off of the top of your head? Could you tell me the principles? Do you know how many principles their are? Most people couldn't answer that question. All we learn in the American school systems that is mandatory is American and/or European culture, history, traditions and etc.
Four. The possible reason to teachers telling students to take off their shirts is because the people who DO know what Cinco De Mayo is might find it offensive. Sure the war that took place that established the holiday might have been between Mexico and France but American whites are usually a mixture of all of that and some more. The holiday also has nothing to do with America therefore wearing an American flag on the holiday could be looked at as opposing the Mexican pride which the holiday is created for, the showing of Mexican pride, not American. July fourth is not that hard to wait for. It would almost be like someone wearing a confederate flag shirt during black history month or a Nazi Germany flag shirt during Hanukkah. That's disrespectful in my eyes.