Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2006 > October > 12 > Entry
Man raises issue; school raises flag
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
To him, it was a glaring omission.
Donald F. Zwick noticed it every time he drove by Hopkins Elementary School on Dickens Road. Old Glory was nowhere to be seen.
“I can say without a doubt that it has been a long time since the flag has been raised on the flagpole,” Zwick told me in an e-mail. “I got upset about that.”
On Oct. 5, Zwick visited the school to find out why. No one in the office seemed to know who was on first.
Or second.
“My mission was unfilled,” Zwick wrote in an e-mail. “As of today, Oct. 10, the flag has still not been raised.”
What’s the big deal, you ask. After all, it’s just a piece of cloth. A prized symbol, yes. But just that — a symbol. Besides, there’s plenty of ways to honor this country, to show that you appreciate its foundation — faults and all.
For Zwick, a retired arson investigator who lives in Lilburn, this one’s a no-brainer. U.S. public schools ought to display the U.S. flag. No debate.
“Why shouldn’t they?” he asked.
This has nothing to do with blind patriotism. You know the sort. The kind that compels people not to question the actions of a U.S. president just because he’s commander in chief. And on a lighter note, the kind that leads fans of conservative talk radio to call the hosts “great Americans.” Please.
“I’m an ‘in-betweener,’ ” Zwick, 78, told me. “Between World War II and Korea. I am of the generation that always saluted the flag and revered the flag. I don’t see enough flags.”
Where flags fly on campuses has been an issue in some states. This July, state lawmakers in Arizona passed a bill that requires classrooms in public schools, community colleges and universities to display U.S. flags. The state of Florida adopted a similar law two years ago.
When I called to see where Georgia stands on this issue, Dana Tofig, a spokesperson for the state Department of Education, directed me to two state codes. One requires public school superintendents to display an American flag — or an appropriate representation of one — in their offices. As for what individual school campuses do or don’t do, well, it’s a local issue.
But Louise Radloff, the school board member, said there is no issue. Campus flags are “a given,” she said.
The absence of Old Glory at Hopkins made Zwick wonder about a deeper issue — the historical and patriotic literacy of Gwinnett kids. If no one cares enough to raise the flag, how much class time is devoted to dissecting and debating what it represents?
“I don’t think the children are being advised or taught what it means,” he said. “It’s not getting the attention it deserves.”
Pagie Ryals, the principal at Hopkins Elementary, declined comment. Sloan Roach, the district spokeswoman, said the school had flown flagless because of a communication breakdown that had since been resolved.
My telephone rang about noon Wednesday. It was Zwick, who’d just cruised by Hopkins Elementary. A U.S. flag had been run up the flagpole.
Zwick said the flag looked to be shiny and new; nothing like the tattered one he’d seen stashed in the office just last Thursday.
Comments
By Cosmo
October 12, 2006 08:04 AM | Link to this
Way to go Mr. Zwick!
By madmommy
October 12, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this
Yes, all schools should fly the american flag, why else do we install their flag pole? Maybe if they don’t fly the american flag and the Ga. state flag then they should lose their federal and state funding!
By a high school mom
October 12, 2006 08:39 AM | Link to this
Where were and what did all of the parents of the children who attend this school think? It’s sad to think they may have been too busy or disinterested to notice while waiting in the carpool line. When my son was in elementary school, it was a fifth grade privilege to raise the flag each morning. The kids learned about flag etiquette as well.
By signlemom
October 12, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this
I watch in awe every morning as the U.S. Flag is raised at North Gwinnett High School.
By Amy
October 12, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this
This is absurd. It shouldn’t be an issue. Since when did schools stop flying the flag? When I was in 6th and 7th grade it was my duty, along with another student, to raise the flag each and every morning and to take it down in the afternoon when school was over. We were taught how to properly raise and fold the flag. And this was only back in the mid 1990’s. Someone needs to get to the bottom of this. The flag is a symbol of this country. It doesn’t apply to a certain religion, to a certain race, to a certain culture or to a certain language. It represents the freedoms shared by each and every citizen of this country. It represents the men and women who died fighting for that freedom. Do they not teach this in school anymore? It should not even be an issue to raise it. RAISE IT!
By steve
October 12, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this
I recently stopped and complained at a school that when taking the flag down, the person lowering the flag just let it pile up on the ground. My late father and oldest brother rest in Arlington National Cemetery. That “piece of cloth” means alot to me. And I am not an uber right wing patriot by any means.
Maybe that school could have a Boy Scout troop raise and lower the flag correctly and the custodian could push his broom more.
When I lived in Brunswick, I saw a custodian take down the flag, stuff it into a rolling trashcan and wheel it inside….
GSA never responded to my letter.
By Jaszmin
October 12, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this
It’s a real pathetic that he had to notice it rather the parents or even the students for that matter. What a shame & waste of the American flag. When I was in school a whopping 11 years ago that was somethig we look foward to each & every morning. That just goes to show what the world is coming too & how education & teaching has changed tremendously!!
By singlemom
October 12, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
WAY back when I was in elementary school (late 60’s) we had a flag raising ceremony every single morning. We all filed out onto the courtyard, watched the flag being raised, put our right hands over our hearts and said the Pledge of Allegiance. I don’t believe that is done any more, and it is such a shame.
And we wonder why our country is in such a mess. This PC crap is going to ruin this great nation!!!!
By SW
October 12, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this
Some of the things that some may perceive as small things such as raising the flag and pledging allegiance to our nations flag are helping erode the core valuse we had as kids grwoing up, values that are lacking in our youths today. Why didn’t the parents notice? Perhaps they’re too busy in their self-absorbed world to notice or care; most are probably on the phone as they drive up and wouldn’t notice a pink elephant doing cart wheels on the school lawn. Same with the kids, they can text meassage and use any kind of electronic device known to man but probably couldn’t tell you what each star on the flag represents. Or, perhaps the school is waiting to install a second falg pole with the Mexican flag so we won’t run the risk of offending anyone for Gods sake. What a shame.
By Jason
October 12, 2006 10:19 AM | Link to this
I trace the decline in flag respect back to McDonalds. It use to be that if it started to rain that the flag would be lowered and taken inside. McDonalds decided one day that it was too much work. They liked wrapping themselves in the flag so they could appear patriotic and gain the business of people who look up to the flag instead of looking up to what it stand for. But they didn’t like the effort involved in respecting the flag code. So they stopped taking down the flag when it would rain and often let it fly at night without illumination. They posted signs that said they felt they had the right to determine when the flag was flown and under what rules under the guise of “we think ever taking down the flag is disrespectful so we’re going to fly it 24/7 no matter what”. It didn’t matter that the rest of the country had developed and respected the flag code because it was in McDonalds way so it had to be marginalized.
Eventually McDonald’s stopped bothering with the flag altogether but not before their version of the flag code was informally adopted by most other businesses.
Just like Christmas has been hijacked by business and changed into a secular shopping holiday (though they like to play like they respect the religion behind it when the truth is it is all about money), the flag was long ago hijacked by used car dealers and fast food fry pits to promote their businesses.
By Proud of my flag
October 12, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this
Thank you for caring enough to follow up this issue. I agree with everyone who has responded here, when we were growing up the raising and taking down of the flag at school was a privelege and an honor. All the schoolkids watched in awe and said the pledge of allegience to that flag. I doubt that most parents talk to their kids about the significance of the American flag, what it represents and the respect due it. I know that as a parent I assumed the schools did this, like they did when we were children. How sad, to think the schools may no longer do this.
It shouldn’t take a law to teach our children about the American flag. We should all ask our children what they have been taught about the American flag, and if our schools aren’t teaching them then we should. We should also follow up with their schools to find out why they no longer teach this. Thank you Mr. Zwick for caring enough to stop and ask about the flag.
By Patriotic
October 12, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this
They day they fly any flag other than OUR flag in front of OUR schools is the day I’m outta here. Mexicans and other illegals are ruining everything for everyone, including themselves. They made a mess of Mexico, now they want everything done here that way so they can mess up the USA. It’s a non-violent take-over attempt. I say they can’t build the wall fast enough or round up the illegals and send them home even faster.
By Jason
October 12, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this
singlemom, how big was your school? Our change over from local neighborhood schools to mass production education makes an assembly of the whole school at the flag pole each day undoable.
When I was in school we had a flag in each classroom and that worked well. Even when I went to a very poor school in rural Alabama that could not afford flags, we had a plaque with the image of the flag on it in each classroom. It would have been chaos to try to get everyone out to the flag pole every day.
We did still have a flag pole and it was considered an honor to be able to raise or lower it. At that time only cub scouts/boy scouts were allowed to do it because they were the ones who were fully aware of the requirements of the flag code.
By patriot
October 12, 2006 10:36 AM | Link to this
THANK YOU Mr. Zwick!
By jim d
October 12, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
WTG Mr. Zwick,
I can appreciate your efforts. It took nearly a 6 months letter writing campaign from me to get a torn and tattered flag replaced at one of the local USPS offices I frequent. A couple of letters to The Postmaster General in Washington finally made it happen.
Now if we could just get people to recite the pledge properly and leave the pause out of it between one nation and under god (no comma exists between nation and under)
By singlemom
October 12, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this
Jason I have no idea. It was back in the 60’s in Las Vegas, NV. After that we moved to Boulder, CO and I remember being in elementary (3rd grade) and going outside for the Flag raising and Pledge. Unfortunately, today’s parents are more focused on getting their kid on the football/cheerleader team than whether our beautiful flag is flying. I honestly feel the generation after mine is responsible for the decline in our country. The greed of the 80’s and the ME, ME, ME generation. I think those my age (40’s) had it the best in this country. Unfortunately I see it all slipping away. I agree with a previous poster, when they start to fly any other flag, I’m outta here too.
By Brent
October 12, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this
Tucker High School 79 - 81. Friday morning - formal flag raising with the entire marching band to play the National Anthem. It wasn’t that long ago.
By Jason
October 12, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this
jim d, the pause exists to keep the flow of the pledge intact. Because “under God” was added in the 1950s in response to communism, you can’t expect it to work perfectly with the rythmn that the was originally intended for the pledge. I’m saying it my head right now without the pause and it ruins the flow.
singlemom, I don’t understand why you think the 80s are evidence of the generation coming after you ruining things. If you are in your 40s, that would mean you were in your 20s in the 80s. The next generation certainly wasn’t in control of things since they were in diapers. Perhaps I just didn’t properly understand something you wrote.
By Jmarsh
October 12, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this
Jason: The US Flag can be flown in the rain, and at night, with two conditions: 1) that the flag be an all-weather flag, and 2) that the flag be lit. Every single McDonalds I have seen a US flag at meets these conditions (I used to work at one in the early 90s).
If you see someone mistreating a flag, writing letters is not going to help. YOU have to stop and take the effort to nicely instruct them the right way to do things. Some people were never taught any better, but that’s water under the bridge. No emails, no faxes or letters, just fix it and help someone learn.
On a positive note, I reported a flag in horrid condition at Brookhaven to MARTA last October. Expecting no action, it was replaced within two days.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this
Sorry folks I’m not feeling all of this touchy feeling over the American flag. Not when i pick up the paper each morning and read about the needless death of another American boy or girl in Iraq! If you really want to get mad or pis**ed about something,how about the politicans who lied to we the people about the need to be in Iraq. Until we start seeing red over that issue,the lack of a flag flying at a local building is not important to me!
By jim d
October 12, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy,
With all due respect Sir, Those kids are dieing for that flag you have labeled with little importance. Would you care to tell them it isn’t important?
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this
@james mccoy - I supposed flag flying is not important in your paranoid small minded world. So if it is not important how bout hopping a plane to another country like maybe Iran where you would be right at home
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this
In response to jimd and baby girl,please don’t run that rightwing play on me about not supporting our troops,because I disagree with your stance on the flag. Address my point about our being in Iraq please.
By babygirl
October 12, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
If you don’t understand the importance of freedom and protecting this country, I have nothing to discuss with you. You are closed minded on the subject anyway. You are one of the selfish who don’t see the whole picture. You don’t want to see what is going on in the world and the danger we are in. You want everything to be okay doky and that smacks of the democratic way.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
Baby Girl,that Republican kool-aid you been drinking has really affected your ability to think for yourself and clearly. My prayers go out to you in hoping a light blub will come on in your head before the November elections.
By Janet_G
October 12, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this
Many, many people do not know flag etiquette or how to behave during the national anthem in this country. I’m appalled at how many people will remain seated or fail to remove their hats during the playing of the anthem or when the flag passes during a parade. It’s a combination of a failure by the schools and a failure by parents to teach their children or set the right example.
Whether or not you support or respect the current administration in office has nothing to do with showing respect for the symbol of our country, The United States of America.
Hundreds of thousands of men and women have died defending our country and flag. Even if you don’t love America or agree with the reasons that those people went to war, surely you must respect the history of sacrifice given by those who went before us so that this country could continue to exist and to prosper.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this
My God people it’s just a pieace of cloth,not a human life,you people really need to start thinking for your selves and stop believing that a strip of cloth will save your behind!
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this
FYI mcquack, I am not a republican or democrat. I was brought up to be respectful, loyal, and dutiful to this country. You spout concern about the troops all the while dissing their efforts. You are a self centered coward. Its easy to sit in the comfort of your home and make statements like that. I work in public safety on the homefront frontline and your the one who tells me you pay my salary.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this
Baby Girl if you are an example of “public safety” then God help America!
By Rick
October 12, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this
I was a Boy Scout during my high school years and took it upon myself to raise the flag every day that I was allowed. Yes, I said allowed! No one seemed to care enough and I was ridiculed by other students and even the school staff for doing this honored task. After graduation in 1977 I sometimes passed by the school and would see that the flag was not being raised daily. No one seems to understand or care what this flag stands for and why it should be proudly displayed. My high school has had a race riot and I heard that an entire building was constructed only for 9th graders so they can avoid being attacked by upper classmen. It’s sad that our education system has come to this. Civic mindedness and pride in self and country are learned and the flag is just one of those symbols!
By SW
October 12, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this
James McCoy thank God your liberal pinko worthless rear end lives in a contry where others have fought and died for you to have the freedom to express yourself the way you get to do here in the USA. Why don’t you pack up and move to North Korea with that insane third world dof eating pigmey leader they have and you two go off into the sunset and die happily ever after, you scumbag.
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this
Remember you said that when someone in your family gets in an accident, or is robbed and we are the ones who come to help. We do it dutifuly, loyally and respectfully because we care about you, about your family and about this country. The flag is a symbol of freedom, just like the bible, koran, or anything else that means something to you. If you are not for america then you are against it.
By Joe
October 12, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this
McCoy you idiot, who mentioned Iraq in this BLOG? Mr. Badie didn’t, why did you? This is about OUR flag and OUR children, not the kids in IRAQ. Go worship your mural of Ted Kennedy you have painted in your house…oh, by the the way, he is a murderer too you know.
By Janet_G
October 12, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, If the American flag is “just a strip of cloth”, then the U.S. Constitution “just a piece of paper”? Perhaps the memorial at the World Trade Center is “just a park”? Or maybe the Vietnam memorial in D.C. is “just a stone wall”. All of these things are just symbols after all.
The feeling that is attached to these symbols is the feeling that we feel for this country and all of those patriots who gave their lives and continue to give their lives for freedom. None of those men and women in Iraq are fighting for a president or a political party, they are fighting for freedom. The flag symbolizes all of that, freedom, democracy, rule of law, the bill of rights, the U.S. Constitution and our way of life. The flag won’t “save us”, but our love for freedom and our way of life will. The flag isn’t sacred, but the lives of those who died for it, are sacred.
If your political affiliation or views result in your disdain for patriotism or love for this country. So be it. You have the right to express those views here or anywhere else BECAUSE someone, somewhere loved the flag and all that it represents enough to offer their lives for it. If that’s ridiculous, then you, your freedom and your ability to voice your opinion must also be ridiculous.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this
So i’m all of these names because I refuse to drink the kool-aid of the day. Then you tell me I should be grateful to have the freedom to say what i wish? Which one is it folks,do I or don’t have the right to disagree with your point of view without you folks changing my name in every other post?
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this
Janet G you said it all. God bless America
By Jesse's Girl
October 12, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this
Can I just say that this is far and away a more worthy cause than Harry Potter Gate. Good job Mr Zwick….good job indeed! And as a small aside……your stance on flying this country’s flag should have nothing at all to do with your opinion of our presence in Iraq. It should fly….period.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this
If god is to bless America will he also bless Iraq who have lost 655,000 citizens since we have raised our flag in their country?
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
Mccoy, an earlier poster suggested you go play with Ted Kennedy. Good idea.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this
Baby Girl you are beginning to sound more like your name with each post!
By jim d
October 12, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. McCoy,
Drink from the fountain you wish. It matters little to me. However, I must admit I’ve seldom been called a right-winger.
My respect for the flag is simply based largely on those that have died for her. I believe she’e earned my respect. You however are welcome to believe as you wish and thats one of the great things she represents. YOUR freedom to believe as you wish.
Have a great day my friend.
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
Dude, why don’t you go outside and harrass people in person. Wouldn’t that be more fun? I’m sure you’re familiar with it.
By Jesse's Girl
October 12, 2006 01:11 PM | Link to this
Incedently Mr. McCoy…the good citizens of Iraq and their neighbors suffered far greater losses before we arrived. The atrocities they have faced were at the hands of people who killed them if they raised their country’s flag or not. They were mutilated, burned, buried alive even. How fantastic is it that you, Mr. McCoy, are permitted to voice your opinion without fear of your wife and children watching you die? You have a blessed life. Our flag is simply a raised extension of that blessing.
By gttim
October 12, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this
“Those kids are dieing for that flag you have labeled with little importance.”
The flag is not what is important. It is the ideals the flag is supposed to stand for; free speech, freedom of religion, the right of habeus corpus, all men being created equal. That is what those men died to protect and defend. Yet I do not see the GOP, Republican office holders or the conservatives populating the “so-called-liberal” AJC comment pages protesting as all those are being stripped away from us by the current Republican Party.
The flag is not what separated us from the communists, fascists and dictatorships. It was the democracy and freedoms we had. How about you guys start protecting those? The flag is a piece of cloth, the freedom, rights and ideals are what make America great. Protect those! Protect the ideals behind our Constitution and Bill of Rights!
Instead of personal insults and empty rhetoric, how about addressing issues with reasoning, facts and valid arguments. Republicans are so quick to get angry, call names and hurl insults- as shown above. This is not the Rush Limbaugh show. Address the issues, please.
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this
Just as I thought. James McCoy/gttim, one and the same.
By jim d
October 12, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this
HEY!! Call me a lot of things but don’t EVER call me a Republican.
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this
@jesses girl: I think they made a song with a line in it “if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything”
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this
Thank you gttim for your thoughtful commentary,I hope it sinks into the likes of some of these die-in-the wool flag wavers,who can’t see the forest for the trees!
By singlemom
October 12, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, if our flag really means nothing to you, please leave this country. France has a few openings for people like you, weenies. Those brave men and woman fighting for our freedom simply do not need you or your p** uneducated comments.
It’s people like you, who are uninformed, uneducated, and spout off stupid remarks, that take our freedom for granted. I bet you will be voting for Hillary in 08 and see absolutely nothing wrong with the current immigration problem. All you want to do is blame others. Typical democrat, blame others. Oh yea, and it’s all President Bush’s fault right?
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this
Thank you gttim for your thoughtful commentary,I hope it sinks into the likes of some of these die-in-the wool flag wavers,who can’t see the forest for the trees!
By tspec
October 12, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this
After Clinton and GWB, why in the hell would anyone want to Raise the Flag?
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this
how can you thank yourself. Oh i forgot. paranoid schizo
By jim d
October 12, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy,
While I whole heartedly disagree with you views on the flag, I must admit, there are a few here on this blog that I also disagree with on their stance on the flag.
Flag burning offends me, but there are other forms of desecration which offend me far more. I become nauseated when I see a flag the size of a football field flying in front of an automobile dealership. I likewise become indignant when pretty girls wear bunting at political party conventions. I also regard as an abomination the use of the flag by the Ku Klux Klan and other far right fringe groups. These are the people who really desecrate the flag by perverting its use to their own ends and who demonstrate Dr. Johnson’s famous dictum that “patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” The flag-burning protester, on the other hand, is more often than not expressing his outrage, justified or not, upon a nation which the flag represents but which he believes has not lived up to the high ideals which the flag symbolizes. To me, this sounds more like a lovers’ quarrel than something approaching treason. I wish you the best.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:33 PM | Link to this
I was kidding. I love George Bush and all that he stands for. The troups in Iraq have my deepest regards and I thank God for them every day. I hope I didn’t make ya’ll too mad when I was flaming earlier. I was in a bad mood and needed to vent. Thanks.
By Jesse's Girl
October 12, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this
Once again…Gttim….we meet. Tell me sweet heart, if your wife left you and took your children with her never to return again….would it be ok with you as long as it wasn’t with a republican? Again..you seem to have introduced partisanship into the mix when it has no business here. We are addressing the flag and the ideals attached to it. Surely even you…you dastardly democrat….can see that this issue shouldn’t be party affiliated.
By jim d
October 12, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this
James,
That may be taking it just a wee bit too far the other direction.
“I love George Bush and all that he stands for”
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this
Mr. Jim you make some valid points.
I have studied military history and have found that the people fighting are not fighting for the political causes, but because it is their duty and love of country that call them. For that reason, I honor the flag. For those who bravely thought they were doing the right thing. They believed in duty and honor and America. I hope we never see a time when the numbers of those who believe this way diminish.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this
Jim D I’ll be the last person you would find burning a flag to express my concern with our country’s policies. I believe a honest and thoughtful discussion is due in this country on where we have come as a country in the past five years. As you can very well see by some of the comments on this blog today,we are hustling backwards as a nation.
By Tenaj
October 12, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
Aren’t there more important issues than students raising a flag? How about worrying about these students raising their books to learn! I don’t see anyone complaining about GA being last in the US. So, fight aobut getting better INSIDE the school and stop worrying about what is on the outside. A school can fly a flag, but be the worst towards patriotism!!!
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this
So you disagree with me and you use my name to pretend I have change my point of view. How childish!
By singlemom
October 12, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, if you are sincere in your 1:33 post, then I take back my harsh words to you. That’s one of the joys of freedom, is expressing ourselves……
I hope you were sincere.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this
Nope sorry…that was me again. I’m having a little issue today with my split personality. Please forgive me. My rants weren’t well received and they only let me use this computer for a short time. I should be done soon. If I can just break these last two restraints I might be able to offer some kool-aid to many of you. What kind do you prefer?
By singlemom
October 12, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, if you are sincere in your 1:33 post, then I take back my harsh words to you. That’s one of the joys of freedom, is expressing ourselves……
I am VERY passionate about our beautiful flag. I actually tear up whenever I hear the Star Spangled Banner. I place my right hand over my heart, and stare directly at our flag. It upsets me greatly to be at a public gathering, ie football game, etc. to hear people talking during the singing of our National Anthem. I find it very disrespectful to our nation. I hope you were sincere.
By Fulton
October 12, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this
You people are silly and your words clarify the point. If it’s ok to slight another human being simply over a difference of opinion, then you are no better than those overseas that kill in the name of their particular cause. Get a grip and get over yourselves. It’s amazing how we cannot use the very ‘freedoms’ out troops are supposedly fighting for. Including the right to voice an opinion, even though it may not agree with yours. Truly a sad state but hey, this is America, right?
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this
singlemom - I was very sincere. I just don’t know what’s wrong with me today. I haven’t been sleeping too well, maybe that’s it. I love kids, do you want to go out sometime?
By jim d
October 12, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy,
The flag burning was simply meant as symbolism of disrespecting the flag. I really didn’t mean to imply you or anyone else on this blog would do so.
Sorry if I gave that impression.
By jim d
October 12, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy,
Not sleeping well?
I find three fingers of Glenlevitt over ice, just before retiring, works well.
By James McCoy
October 12, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this
I knew there were a few children on this blog but when you resort to using other peoples names to make a point you have cross the line. my views have not changed and for the person using my name please grow up.
By singlemom
October 12, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, have a cocktail, and everything will be ok tomorrow.
Sometimes in these blogs our words get misconstrued. People tend to read the wrong thing into our words.
It is absolutely ok to express your feelings, you are entitled. Have a lovely evening…..
By H.I. McDonough
October 12, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this
James McCoy…you do have the right to say what you wish, even though i think most people on this blog will disagree with you when you say the flag is “just a piece of cloth”….but the same right that guarantees you the right to speak your mind also guarantees me the right to speak mine. You sir, are an @ss. If you dont see that the “cloth” you refer to symbolizes more than just the material its made from, then you miss the point all together and probably need to be educated on what the flag actually stands for.
and by the way, YOURE AN @SS
By baby girl
October 12, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this
Hey at least he’s the right animal for the party he belongs to
By Kristin
October 12, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this
People should remember that there are flags inside each classroom. This is not a big deal.
By Kathleen
October 12, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this
I work at a middle school and got frustrated that our flag was not put up and taken down on a regular basis. Last year I took it upon myself to assume the PRIVILEDGE of putting the flag up each morning and taking it down in the afternoon.
I served in the military for seven years and I don’t agree with our current Chief of Staff and the situation over in Iraq. I am however, very proud of what the American flag stands for and how it came about.
By jim d
October 12, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this
Kristen,
It’s not a big deal. However,Accepting that a flag is in the school as logic to not fly one outside would be akin to rationalizing that since most first class mail in the post office has a Stamp with a picture of a flag on it there is no need to fly the flag at the post office
By Joe
October 12, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this
Think anyway you want to McCoy, people suh as yourself me nothing to me. However my country and our flag does. I fly two flags at my house, one for each son I have serving in military today. If you or anyone such as yourself ever wants to test how much I love my flag, try coming onto my property and try removing it, defacing it or burning it. I’ll show you how much it means to me and how little you mean to me. You are not worth the effort of any more post on here. In my book, you are lower than whale poop. Go to hell.
By jim d
October 12, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this
Personally I’d rather the flag not be flown than to be treated as it is oft times by people that don’t understand proper flag ettiquitte.
I’ve seen the flag on the ground, crumbled up laying in a corner on the floor and set lower than an adjacent flag. I’ve even seen her lowered, rolled up and carried in and thrown in a closet, Rather than being properly folded for stoarge. I find all of these actions more disturbing than not flying her at all.
By Randy/Redneck
October 12, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this
is yall taking about de flag? I went to the third grade and wish yall would have let me gone to the fourth. but i had to spend most of my life raising and lowering a flag so yall could drink your beer in peace on friday nites. god bless america.
By Jmarsh
October 12, 2006 03:17 PM | Link to this
Fulton: “If it’s ok to slight another human being simply over a difference of opinion, then you are no better than those overseas that kill in the name of their particular cause.”
Sorry, I’d rather be slighted than dead, and I imagine you would be too.
gttim, +20 to you, until you got to the “see how all you republicans are shameful ignoramuses” bit. While I love, protect and defend the symbol of my country, in and of itself it is only a symbol. I will salute her, but never pledge allegiance to a flag. I took an oath to defend the Constitution, period. You’ll never manage to burn my flag, but you can burn yours if you like. I may be glaring at you from the front porch while I clean a firearm or two, but you can do it.
By Bob
October 12, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this
The flag should definately fly in all schools. And alot of us questioned the actions of Bill Clinton almost daily.
By dissent is patriotic
October 12, 2006 08:19 PM | Link to this
I believe that all of you who are ‘outta here’ if another flag flies in front of a public school should just go ahead and go- and good riddance.
Free speech includes not having to fly the flag - I’m glad that an issue for one man was solved for him, and that he took some satisfaction from his efforts, but seriously folks, get over it already.
Quit looking for everyone to conform to your moral and idealistic standards, and accept more people for being people- which, you all seem to forget, is what this country is founded on.
I am a patriot, just not your type of patriot.
By Adam Strong
October 12, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this
The president is Commander in Chief of the armed services, not the nation. He’s Chief Executive of the nation, which is supposed to put him on a roughly equal position with the Supreme Court the (God help us) Congress.
That position does not make him immune from criticism. Please stop trying to make everyone think all Tennesseeans are retarded.
By tyrone
October 12, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this
Shut up you BITC#$%
By ATICO
October 12, 2006 09:37 PM | Link to this
Thank you Mr. Zwick. What I demand to learn is this: Where is the hell are the members of the Gwinnett County school board? If they visited each school as they are obligated to do, they would have seen this flagrant violation by the principal of this particular Gwinnett County institution of learning.
All patriotic voters should remember this oversight by their School Baord Member and vote him or her out of office. Donald Duck would not doubt serve you and your childen better.
By Regularjoe
October 12, 2006 10:52 PM | Link to this
ATICO, you are exactly right.
By Jeff
October 12, 2006 11:19 PM | Link to this
11p, I should be in bed!!!!!
Anyways:
jim:
Another topic where we are one! (For those that DON’T frequent Get Schooled, it happens with alarming frequency these days, but didn’t initially!)
My $.02:
I have 3 different flags in my middle school classroom, two actual flag, one image behind the National Motto. (Look it up in the US Code…. “In God We Trust”.) It is ALARMING how many of my SIXTH GRADE students don’t even STAND to acknowledge the Flag! As a teacher, I’m pretty sure that there are legal precedents saying that I cannot REQUIRE them to say the Pledge, but that I CAN require them to stand. SOOOOO many in my homeroom are constantly talking, sitting, or otherwise being disrespectful during the pledge.
Never noticed if my school flies Old Glory, though I doubt it. (Long, complex story.)
My feelings about the flag: Every time I hear the National Anthem, the story of that song and the heroic stand involved plays through my mind, and the same is in my mind when I recite the pledge. What most people these days don’t realize is that we were DANG near defeated - on our own soil. America, as a nation, was very nearly destoyed only 30 years after it began. And here we stand, nearly 200 years after the Second American Revolution (commonly known as the War of 1812). Both of my grandfathers survived D-Day, and an uncle is a former Marine. I was literally within HOURS of signing the dotted line to become a Marine myself when the call came in that began my teaching career.
Fly the flag, and care for it properly. Remember the sacrifices of so many FOR so many. Personally, I do my best to salute every flag I see, just as a private recommitment to the ideals I hold so dear.
Enough diatribe… gotta go to bed…. LONG day tomorrow….
By Making a point
October 12, 2006 11:38 PM | Link to this
James, You come on here and call people names and accuse them of being kool aid drinkers and are amazed when your rocket lobs offend people? Who truly is the kool aid drinker here? Methinks everyone needs to take a step back and look at the big picture. The kool aid drinkers, as you aptly termed them, are concerned about the security of this country…something the folks on the left haven’t had a good track record with. Those on the left are concerned about citizens rights and world opinion about the United States. Each has merit.
Resorting to name calling by either side is no way to gain further favor. I’ve seen the kool aid drinker analogy used quite a bit by those on the left. It’s an interesting way of devaluing others opinions without regard to the merit of their position. It’s also juvenile. Pot…meet kettle. I understand your concerns and yet when I look for solutions to the myriad problems we face today, I find little being offered by those on the left other than excuses and complaints. Who gave Kim Jong Il the capability for producing nuclear weapons? I believe it was Mr. Clinton and Ms. Albright. Now, casting stones is easy when you disregard history. Shall we get back to the topic at hand? Kudos to Mr. Zwick for recognizing a wrong and making it right.
By Mark
October 13, 2006 08:19 AM | Link to this
All it takes is for one person to stand up.
Thanks for standing up, Mr. Zwick.
By jim d
October 13, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this
Back in the good ol days (late 50’s - early 60’s)we had a couple of students that were selected by the school principal to act as a color guard for flag raising every day. It was considered an honor and the students got to come to first period class late and leave last period a few minutes early.
Have kids changed so much that the schools can’t find just 2-4 students out of a 3000 student population that would be willing to do this?
By jim d
October 13, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
Jason,
I respectfully disagree with your statement that “the pause exists to keep the flow of the pledge intact.
While it is true that President Eisenhower (1954) signed into law a bill to have “under God” added to the original pledge. It was added without a comma.
Original text—“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Note the current version —“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Personally, I don’t feel it should have been changed from its original form, but in as much as it was, proper reading of it would preclude a pause between Nation and God. Much like there originally was no pause between nation and indivisible. We were “one nation indivisible” now we are “one nation under God” Which adds an entirely new meaning and would be a great topic for another blog.
By Michael H. Smith
October 14, 2006 07:20 AM | Link to this
If no one cares enough to raise the flag, how much class time is devoted to dissecting and debating what it represents?
“I don’t think the children are being advised or taught what it means,” he said. “It’s not getting the attention it deserves.”
Well said Mr. Zwick. If you asked that same question to everyone you passed by in a day’s time it would probably frighten us both as to the answers given.
What does that flag represent?
To me the flag represents symbolically The Republic, a nation under law. Laws crafted and enacted by our representatives, “We the People” elect.
The patriots, the truly “Great Americans”, devote a great deal of time dissecting and debating what this Republic represents. Or better said, what this evolving Republic should represent?
Does U.S. Citizenship really matter? You bet it does. Every school in Georgia should have a class in Citizenship – it should be a required class. Of course many will say that this is brainwashing propaganda. Well… One man’s propaganda is the other man’s indoctrination. But never at any time should anyone swear a solemn alliance to anything they truly do not understand or know in detail what they our obligating themselves to by swearing in oath to defend it with their very life.
To the Republic for which it stands!
By biagra
October 22, 2006 07:07 PM | Link to this
Try out the new form of biagra from some new reseller named after the cheap biagra online easy