Kennewick school flag policy alienates students and other Tri-City Herald letters | Opinion
Kennewick policy alienates students
Again, many can bear witness that the Kennewick School Board (KSB) is displaying some hypocrisy related to diversity. First, it was the censoring of books, and teaching materials i.e., “Critical Race Theory.” Now, it’s flag display restrictions that require none but the American Flag be dominant in its buildings and classrooms…
Doesn’t this new policy show contempt for its teachers’ past efforts to be accommodating to all students? Aren’t the First Amendment, the 1964 Civil Rights Act and similar laws being violated?
There’s a troubling historical parallel that the KSB appears to be following with our minority children. The PBS historical documentary, “In the White-Man’s Image,” (if not already forbidden by the KSB) shows the kind of “white supremacy” ideology and accompanying educational policies that destroyed indigenous Native Americans and their culture. The KSB’s so-called “inclusive” policies target racial minorities, LGBTQ, etc., in a similar manner. Surely, the KSB can greatly benefit from this kind of “White History” they vehemently seek to suppress…
The American flag represents liberty and justice for all. Yet, the KSB’s recent flag policies further alienate students marginalized by board actions. Should these students pledge allegiance to a flag that’s no longer representative of their liberty?
Dallas Barnes, Pasco
Let’s pray Putin doesn’t mimic us
Masada, 74 (CE). Resident Jewish families and 960 Sicarii rebels patriotically sacrificed their lives by committing mass suicide, rather than surrender to the encroaching Romans.
Alamo, 1836. While five to seven defenders surrendered (and were soon executed) over a hundred other Texans refused to give up to the surrounding force of approximately 1,500 Mexican soldiers, and patriotically sacrificed their own lives.
Japan, 1945. American leaders recognized that many of the Japanese people were also likely to patriotically sacrifice their own lives in defense of their nation. This Japanese love-of-country, die-hard attitude was used by American leaders to sell our people that the only way to win (i.e., achieve unconditional surrender) was to drop atomic bombs over densely populated civilian areas; the worst instant massacres of human beings in history.
Today, many Americans are still blind to this ironic historical hypocrisy concerning the use of atomic bombs. Like us, the Japanese citizens were (are) also stubbornly patriotic. Consequently, it was unquestionably and totally necessary to slaughter hundreds of thousands of children, women and men.
We all need to pray Putin does not mimic our hypocrisy; sacrificing for your country is a patriotic duty for Russians, but an atomic-bombable offense when it’s Ukrainians.
Michael Harrington, Pasco
Learning about the American flag
The U.S. flag is the symbol of America. As an American, some of the reasons I display the flag are: it represents my hope for the future of America and reminds me of the people who died so that I could be here. When I display the flag, I am thankful to God for my country.
I encourage people to get a flag and learn about it. Then, teach their kids the proper way to treat it by taking it down at night if you don’t have a light. When it is worn and torn, you can give your flags to the Boy Scouts of America so that they can properly retire them.
Jude Macduff, Pasco
This story was originally published January 20, 2023 at 8:02 AM.