Land of the Free and Home of the Brave?

To The Editor:
The progressives are at it again. A recent story out of California’s Santa Rita School District claims that a student was told that a drawing of the American Flag was “offensive,” however another student — in the same class – was praised for drawing a picture of President Obama. Why should this be a surprise to anyone? This is just another example of the ever-growing popular movement of socialism in America. But why?
Could it be that this teacher has such hostility for this country that her only recourse is to express it to students? Does she have such animosity toward our Constitution that her only remedy was to disgrace a student drawing our flag? Does the protection of the teachers union and board of education allow such actions? Whatever the reason, it comes as no surprise to me. It is another example of our children being subjected to the never-ending promotion of anti-American propaganda within our educational system. An educator should display objectivity, not political one-sidedness. What made the teacher so engulfed with sickness over the drawing of an American flag? Visit Education.org, (www.educationnews.org/education newstoday/90900.html) and view, “Teacher Deems Student’s American Flag Drawing “Offensive.”
Tracy Hathaway, of Salinas, Calif. said, “She (her daughter) had drawn the flag and was sketching the letters, ‘God bless America,’ when the teacher confronted her,” she told Fox News. “She (teacher) said, ‘You can’t draw that – that’s offensive.’” Even more striking, another student in the same art class drew a picture of President Obama and was praised by the teacher. “The picture of Barack Obama was in red, white and blue hues,” Hathaway said. “The teacher said it was great. But when it comes to the flag – all of a sudden it was offensive?” she continued.
So what is so offensive? The fact that an educator would criticize a student’s ability to express her First Amendment rights. Why is a drawing of the American flag “offensive” but a drawing of President Obama is “praised?” Does this teacher know what the flag stands for? Does this teacher have a core understanding of the freedoms that are allowed under the flag?
Or does this teacher have an agenda to undermine the inherent values of America via our school system? Teachers are not in the business of political correctness they are in the business of educating. It is a disgrace that our public education system is, and has been, in decline for some time, but to have a teacher mock a work of art portraying “Old Glory” is even more repulsive. Parents should be alarmed by this story and should be demanding that the educators of our youth be responsible for deplorable actions such as this.
Progressive thinking has been destroying the moral fabric and patriotic understanding of this sacred nation for years. The educational leaders of the Santa Rita School District should be ashamed of this incident. They should remind this progressive teacher of all the men and women who gave their lives in order to protect our flag and the freedoms it represents.
The real hero in all of this is the student. She should be rewarded for her courage. Her boldness to defend her God-given rights deserve a public apology from the teacher and the superintendent of the school system as well. Both students had the right to create whatever they felt worthy. If the teacher finds fault with American flag, she shouldn’t be teaching in America, and be fired immediately. It is the teacher who is “offensive,” not the flag of the United States.
JOSEPH KEEGAN
North Wildwood