American students shouldn’t upset Mexicans on holiday

To the editor:

Saturday's editorial complained about kids at a Bay Area high school being told to take off their American flag T-shirts and bandanas on Cinco de Mayo.

Well, it's not about being politically correct; it's about being polite and respectful. It's about a principal teaching kids about respect, tolerance and being non-confrontational. It's to stop bullying and "in your face" confrontations.

Would you go to New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade and start waving a Jewish symbol? How about a Martin Luther King Day celebration, waving a Ku Klux Klan flag?

I agree with the educators on this one. The school kids -- and you -- could learn something.

Jerry Sturdivant

Las Vegas

Disruptive action

To the editor:

In regard to the five students who wore American flag T-shirts and bandanas on Cinco de Mayo: To me their choice of apparel for that day was deliberately confrontational.

The assistant principal was correct in advising them that their attire could be disruptive. He was being cautious -- that's his job. In my high school, approximately one-third of the student body was Mexican-American. I can assure you that in my high school, there would have been more than one fight if such a provocative action took place.

I cannot understand the editorial's statement that "the kids could have worn red T-shirts with a gold hammer and sickle ... that would have been fine." That is quite a leap. The editorial also asked, "Do Irish-Americans take offense at display of the American flag on St. Patrick's Day?" Reverse the question: Do Americans take offense at the display of the Irish flag on St. Patrick's Day?

Mexican-American students wearing Mexican national colors is the same as Irish-Americans wearing Ireland's national colors on St. Patrick's Day. What is the harm?

David L. Sullivan

Las Vegas