Whose Country?

Yesterday, on the fifth of May (Cinco de Mayo in Spanish), some high school students in the Bay Area of California were sent home for wearing clothing with flags or flag-like designs. The clothing was considered offensive to the school's Mexican population since it was a Mexican holiday. The school district has since stated that this is not school policy. Some Mexican students have asked for an apology but the students' families responded, "Fat chance."

There is an implied dig at illegal immigrants by the flag-wearing students but this could become a slippery slope. If wearing a flag on a Mexican holiday is considered offensive then can wearing a flag at any time also be considered offensive if it is worn where the wearer knows that illegal immigrants will see it? This could easily become a situation similar to Christmas where people often refer to it as "the holidays" for fear of offending people who do not celebrate Christmas.

To put things in perspective, let's contrast Cinco de Mayo and Saint Patrick's Day. Both of these are bigger holidays in the US than in their native country and have been adopted as a day to celebrate an ethnic heritage, and both are mainly celebrated by drinking large quantities of beer.

I play Irish fiddle so I am around a lot of Irish Americans. They tend to be proud of their American citizenship and their Irish heritage. The slogan of the local Saint Patrick's Day Parade here was "America First/Irish Always". I have seen a number of Irish Americans wear buttons with similar sentiments.

There are two big differences between the two groups. The Irish came legally (when it was easier) and have assimilated. Obviously, many Mexicans are here illegally and have not assimilated.

The big question is what will happen next? Will we, as a society, start downplaying our country and patriotism for fear of offending a growing minority and will the Mexicans (and other Latins) assimilate?

Our culture is so averse to offending anyone (except Christians and Tea Party members) that it will not surprise me to see flag-wearing discouraged in the near future.