# Ban the flag in schools? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429 "2010-06-08T15:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/1 "2010-06-08T15:04:32Z")
My uncle received an email, and he’s asking me if it’s true: > [@](#): > > Is this for real? I checked snopes and the moveon web site and found nothing. Where should I look to see either a yea or nay? Unk > > Subject: Should the Flag Be Banned at Schools? > There is a Fox News Poll, Question: Should the Flag Be Banned at > Schools? > > [Moveon.org](http://Moveon.org) and Organizing for America, SEIU have been twittering today > to go to Fox Poll and vote to ban the Flag. > > As I write this, they are overpowering the poll in favor of banning our > flag. > > SHOW THEM WHAT TRUE PATRIOTS BELIEVE! Let’s flip those numbers and show > the leftist we are organized and on the move. > > Flip the poll numbers now &FLIP THE HOUSE in November! > > POLL: > [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/06/american-flag-banned-america/](http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/06/american-flag-banned-america/) > Thank you for your participation! PLEASE, we can switch the numbers if > we all get in there and vote! After you vote, pass this information on to > all sites you belong to and to all your thinking friends! Yes, there is a poll on the Fox site. But what’s the deal? Why would they post the poll? Has someone suggested banning the flag in schools? Or did Fox create the poll to bait Liberals (whom they knew would vote to ban the flag just to piss off the Conservatives) so that they can point and claim outrage at Liberals and say how eeeevil they are? What’s the straight dope? ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/2 "2010-06-08T15:36:06Z")
Sounds like a poll NewsMax would run . . . ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/3 "2010-06-08T15:42:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yes, there is a poll on the Fox site. But what’s the deal? Why would they post the poll? Has someone suggested banning the flag in schools? Or did Fox create the poll to bait Liberals (whom they knew would vote to ban the flag just to piss off the Conservatives) so that they can point and claim outrage at Liberals and say how eeeevil they are? It’s No. 3: Something to rile up conservatives about unpatriotic liberals. No participation from liberals is required. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/4 "2010-06-08T16:05:50Z")
Well, I wouldn’t think there would be many people that support illegal immigration either. . . but. . . seems to be a reasonable poll to me. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/5 "2010-06-08T16:15:05Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > Well, I wouldn’t think there would be many people that support illegal immigration either. . . but. . . seems to be a reasonable poll to me. That’s more of a GD topic. What I’d like to know is whether the poll was prompted by something a liberal said or wrote, or if Fox made it up (i.e., they’re trolling). Cites are appreciated, since I like to provide them to my uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/6 "2010-06-08T16:16:19Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > It’s No. 3: Something to rile up conservatives about unpatriotic liberals. No participation from liberals is required. True dat. Who are they implying would have the power to ban the flag if the poll shows that to be the most popular choice? Unless some central authority actually has the power and intention of doing so, posing a poll question “yes” or “no” is beyond stupid – it’s like voting for or against gravity. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/7 "2010-06-08T16:22:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That’s more of a GD topic. > > What I’d like to know is whether the poll was prompted by something a liberal said or wrote, or if Fox made it up (i.e., they’re trolling). > > Cites are appreciated, since I like to provide them to my uncle. Undoubtedly prompted by an incident in a California high school (one with a large percentage of Latino students): several Anglo students wore US flag t-shirts to school on Cinco de Mayo; the school administration thought this was unnecessarily provocative and made them take the shirts off. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/8 "2010-06-08T16:23:59Z")
The poll was spawned by [this article](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/06/california-students-sent-home-wearing-flags-cinco-mayo/): > [@Fox News](#): > > Administrators at a California high school sent five students home on Wednesday after they refused to remove their American flag T-shirts and bandannas – garments the school officials deemed “incendiary” on Cinco de Mayo. …[Assistant Principal] Rodriguez told the students he did not want any fights to break out between Mexican-American students celebrating their heritage and those wearing American flags. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/9 "2010-06-08T16:26:41Z")
Aha! I do remember hearing about that. The way the email is worded, I assumed they meant actual flags. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/10 "2010-06-08T17:45:22Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Who are they implying would have the power to ban the flag if the poll shows that to be the most popular choice? \ Of course, this is just a television poll which is not legally binding, unless proposition 304 passes. And we all pray it will. \ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/11 "2010-06-09T02:14:00Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > The poll was spawned by [this article](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/06/california-students-sent-home-wearing-flags-cinco-mayo/): Thanks. I’ve sent an explanation to my uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/12 "2010-06-09T03:21:04Z")
As a former teacher, I believe (based on a Supreme Court ruling circa the late Sixties), that the principal was mistaken in his decision. He must have more than just a suspicion that the flag clothing that was worn will cause a disruption. He or she must have _evidence_ that the wearing of such clothing will cause a disruption. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/13 "2010-06-09T04:04:26Z")
Sounds like a typical repug move to pack the ballot boxes. I liked how they used an autodialer to call minority families and tell them the date of the election was changed and that they should stay home. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/14 "2010-06-09T14:02:29Z")
_Administrators at a California high school sent five students home on Wednesday after they refused to remove their American flag T-shirts and bandannas – garments the school officials deemed “incendiary” on Cinco de Mayo. …[Assistant Principal] Rodriguez told the students he did not want any fights to break out between Mexican-American students celebrating their heritage and those wearing American flags._ Gee, and I can remember in the late 60s conservatives thought the idea of putting the flag on a t-shirt was highly disrespectful. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/15 "2010-06-09T14:06:40Z")
Flags and maps. Two of the worst things ever invented. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/16 "2010-06-09T14:10:01Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Gee, and I can remember in the late 60s conservatives thought the idea of putting the flag on a t-shirt was highly disrespectful. Maybe they didn’t want people farting through flag pants. > [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Flags and maps. Two of the worst things ever invented. I find maps very useful. I’ll be using one Friday. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/17 "2010-06-09T14:30:37Z")
I heard that Fox is going to change their name to “The Fearmongering for Profit Channel.” It’s True! If you question this then you hate America and freedom. My In-laws are wonderful people but they forward us stuff like this all the time, to the point that we just delete their emails unread if we see any whiff of nonpersonel text. I can’t bring myself to believe they even read the crap they forward. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/18 "2010-06-09T17:34:06Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Sounds like a typical repug move to pack the ballot boxes. > > I liked how they used an autodialer to call minority families and tell them the date of the election was changed and that they should stay home. When did this happen? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/19 "2010-06-09T18:14:25Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > When did this happen? [Link](http://www.speaker.gov/legislation?id=0052) > [@](#): > > **In the 2006 election, there were numerous examples of efforts to deceive or intimidate voters to keep them away from the polls.** In the last election, examples of voter deception or intimidation were many. For example, voters witnessed dirty tricks like flyers with the wrong date to vote posted in minority communities. Letters in Spanish were sent to voters in Orange County, California stating that it was a crime for an immigrant to vote. In fact, legal immigrants who are naturalized citizens have the right to vote just as any other American citizen can. In Virginia, voters received calls from a so-called “Virginia Elections Commission” informing them falsely that they were ineligible to vote. In Maryland, flyers were handed out on election day in minority communities that gave the impression that Republican candidates for office were Democratic candidates. These dirty tricks are not new. In 2002, flyers were distributed in public housing complexes in Louisiana, telling people that they could cast their votes three days after election day if the weather was bad. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-the-flag-in-schools/542429/20 "2010-06-09T18:43:53Z")
You should have just replied to him “Yes, it’s true that Fox News is suggesting that the flag be banned in schools”.