ROTC student suspended for telling Muslim to respect flag, remove hijab
Maybe it's because her dad served in the U.S. Marines ... or because her high school mascot is a fierce-looking eagle ... or because she plans to enlist in the Army next summer after graduation to defend her country ... whatever the reason, when Heather Lawrence saw a fellow student refuse to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and recite it with the class, the 16-year-old Junior ROTC member saw a teachable moment and took it.
And for that, she's been suspended five days.
Lawrence's troubles with administrators at Springstead High School in Spring Hill, Fla., began last Wednesday when she noticed a female Muslim student refusing to participate in the Pledge. The student was wearing a hijab, the traditional Muslim headscarf.
Later in the day, Lawrence encountered the student between periods and told her she should stand for the pledge, reported Hernando Today.
GO HERE to read more.
32 comments:
She should have been suspended, and I would suspend her from ROTC, too. Nice behavior.
That student is a HERO in my book. Earl
Good for her!
What a shame that we have people that live in our Country that do not respect its values and commitments sufficiently enough to simply demonstrate it in a simple, symbolic gesture hurting no one, but can continue to wear a hijab, which is a symbol of one of the most oppressive and legalistic religions in the world.
The last five words of the Pledge are: "LIBERTY and justice for ALL." Except, apparently, for Muslims, I guess. I must have missed that part. To demand that someone remove their religious headgear and participate in the Pledge violates that person's liberty and flies in the face of freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution.
No, I'm not anti-American. Don't even start.
If one's love of Country is not demonstrated through those symbolic vehicles provided, then one can assume the lack of same.
How many times have I stood, removed my head gear and placed my hand over my heart out of respect for my Nation and its fallen heroes, surely not because I had to do it. It is simply a manifestation of behavior that shows an inward feeling for my Country.
If under attack, I personally would rather be surrounded with those that have demonstrated through symbolic gestures, love of and respect for Country. Those that had failed to do so would be worrisome.
I don't stand for that filthy military flag.
This is not America. This is Empire. I will have no part in it.
Being an American means not having to stand.
The government was created to serve me.
We are all kings.
The lack of tolerance for different is nothing to be proud of, frankly she does not belong in the military.
Liberty and Justice for all! Is not the standing and showing respect for our Flag indicating our appreciation for those that have delivered "Liberty and Justice for all" and continue to deliver it?
Sure everyone has the "liberty" to ignore such an action, but am I at "liberty" to question their motives or lack of respect for our fallen heroes?
In the true sense of "liberty" you are at liberty to ignore anyone or anything, including the questioning of motives! Its a great Country isn't it?
the muslim had the right not to stand. it is the American constitutional right JUST like it was the ROTC students constitutional right for freedom of speech! It was a commement. If you cant handle a little back lash then GO BACK to Iran! I can only amagine what the other students are saying and doing to that muslim. That teacher will be RIF next next I hope.
Everyone missed a "teachable moment" on this one.
The principal could have talked to the ROTC girl instead of suspending her. Give her a warning and explain the following:
God before country is a belief held by many. The Jews learned this the hard way in Germany, many thinking "They will not hurt me because I am a good German."
The Muslim girl and her parents could have been asked whether standing in respect for others during the pledge would be acceptable within their religious beliefs and have American custom and beliefs discussed.
There was an Orthodox Jewish girl suspended in Virginia for not saying the Pledge. Why not? Because in her religious observance, allegiance should be sworn to no one and nothing except God. To pledge to a symbol could be equated with praying to an idol.
The ROTC girl and her parents could have had this shared with them and asked if they support the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of religion, something the flag they Pledge to represents.
And the observer who reported it is right -- the ROTC girl could have asked why the Muslim girl didn't go with American custom instead of making an accusation which, if said in an angry enough tone to make another girl shrink back, is a form of bullying. How to better handle a bad situation is something many school professionals discuss with students, so why not this time?
The intolerance expressed in the article and by some commenters here is part of sad and frightening trend in this country. Nationalism at the expense of the very Constitution and Bill of Rights, religious fervor (in any faith) in contradiction to the principles of love and peace in those faiths, is not a healthy thing, and can be a terrible force for destruction, whether talking about the Nazis, Al-Qaeda or the KKK.
Today is the first day of school. Use this time to open a mind, not slam it shut.
Just a retired teacher's thoughts.
if youre muslim and in this country be thankful of what we gave you and respect the flag.good thing i wasnt in her shoes because my approach wouldnt have been as nice.i probably would have removed her from the chair.so whats the teachers problem they cant control the classroom or were they afraid to tell the student to stand up.this kid and her family should be shipped back to the third world hell they came from if they cant show thanks and respect to this country.
Anonymous 9:06, Good you're anonymous, because calling the American flag filthy in my opinion, is treasonous. If you truly feel that way, then why do you live in the United States of America? Feel free to enjoy all the "freedoms" of another nation. In other words, "Get out." But wait, you don't have to. Hundreds of thousands of men and women have gladly given their lives, under that filthy military flag, so that you can openly express your opinion, albeit a rancorous, traitorous opinion, for the entire country to read. Even if you aren't, I'm very grateful for both my freedom and the safety they provide me.
Melanie:
VERY WELL STATED
I dont give a damn about the Muslims or what they think they are entitled to. They threw that out the window on 9/11. If it were up to me I would push them all back to that pile of sand they call home.
To tell a Muslim to "take that thing off your head" is like telling an Orthodox Jew to take off his hat.
The headwear is worn out of respect to God.
I'm as Christian as they come, but even I know that. I also have military men and women running in my family going back many generations.
The situation was handled badly all the way around, like the teacher above said.
What would Jesus say? Certainly not what 9:42 did.
She should be kicked out of ROTC and banned from ever entering the military. Bigots beware I say.
She might be muslim, but she is also a U.S. CITIZEN! If she can't honor the nation that gives her freedom and allows her to wear her head covering then she can take her ass back to where ever she came from and fight her holy war there! If she can't respect the nation that she lives in then our nation should not respect her...period! I have no problem with the head covering, but to ignorantly refuse to acknowledge the Country that she resides in is absolutely obsurd! That is the problem with this nation, we are TOO tolerant of other religions that actively defy and hate our Country, but still choose to live here.
I have gone to sporting events in other countries and I have saluted their flag out of respect during their national athems. Our olympians acknowledge the flags of their competitors on the podiums, but you don't always see other do such. Acknowledging other countries' flags is a gesture of respect and apparently other nations/religions have none for the U.S.A.
10:36, ever heard of the crusades, your god if I recall.
I'm a bigot tough guy what ?
10:53 Why did the crusades take place ? Because the Muslims attacked the Christians and took their land and killed their people the crusades were a retaliation. show some more of your stupidity !
If she doesnt respect our country enough to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance,then why is she attending an American taxpayer paid public school.At the risk of sounding intolerant,if she doesnt like the flag or what it stands for,her parents should send her a*s to one of their private Muslim-only schools.Why should the rest of America have to conform to fit people who claim they want to be American?
As far as the burka on the head,as much as I do not like it,it is her religious right in our country that she hates so much to wear it.
10:53
what about the crusades?
I am so sick of the political correctness in this country which has led us to a socialist President. Diversity doesn't work and it will destroy freedom by is name alone it means divide . For a country to succeed and be prosperous the people must have the same core values.And anyone who wish's to become part of that nation must assimilate to that countries values to achieve peace and harmony.
1:47 Wow, sounds like something out of the Third Reich.
Diversity will work on its own, this forced diversity that the gov't and liberals push doesn't. I agree, the burka wearing girl should stand for the pledge but doesn't have to remove her headgear. As for the ROTC girl, she should not be suspended esp if this is her only offense, calling religious headgear "that thing on your head." According to the link, the what the principals of the school said it was about. It's ridiculous to suspend her for 5 days, a five day vacation from school. If nothing else, they could mediate between the girls with a counselor and get some of the differences settled or force her to write a paper about the Muslim religion instead of the suspension. Making it a "teachable moment." MOst of the divide and intolerance comes from misunderstanding and ignorance and not from actual intolerance.
what Obama is doing is right out of the Third Reich political correctness is just another way to get their . Give me one example of a diverse country that stood the test of time.
Standing for a pledge of allegiance to a corrupt, war mongering, election rigging government? WTF?
I thought there were some smart readers here. Real Patriots rise up and change a wicked government.
That military flag does not stand for the U.S. Constitution.
Americans don't have to pledge anything to anybody.
Americans are free from tyranny because of our creator. Not because of the working end of a rifle.
Stop killing in our names
Stop Zionism.
2:59
Sounds like you are one of those highly educated public school graduates that voted for Osama Obama. I mean if Kennedy could call him Osama I can.
If you do not know that standing for the pledge is just a show of respect there is just no hope for you.
2:59
Zionism will stop when you people stop blowing people up in the name of your allah.
Freedom of religion. No I am not a muslim. Yes i am very upset about 9/11, the attacks and the wars. The muslim girl should have stood, whether she recited anything or not. Jehovah's Witness do not recite the pledge to the flag, but they do stand out of respect. Civilian women do not remove "headgear", hats etc for the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, prayer in church or out of church. There was a time when American women did not leave the house with some type of hat, scarf, etc..
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