HmtPD2
13 October 2001, 15:06
I read an interesting article from the Press Enterprise here in So Cal talking about the American Flag. The Article was done at Univ of Calif Riverside.
The article talked about increased patriotism in the nation, but not really at this school. Proffessor of Filipino studies, Dylan Rodruiguez is troubled by all of the flags he is seeing.
"Rodriguez, who teaches at UC Riverside, said the flag is something that symbolizes a government whose policies have trampled people in places like the Philipines, where the U.S. has been accused of exploiting the islander. His point of view is not unique on campus where most students identify themselves as Americans, but also with their ancestors, African American, Latino, Asian, etc.
While some on campus have wrapped themselves in red, white and blue for comfort, Rodriguez and others have not. Part of their anger, expressed in a teacher-in, organized by faculty members, is directed at the US government which they believe invited the tragedy with its actions abroad.
For example, Rodriguez cited the deaths of thousands of children in Iraq by actions taken by the US.
At this specific moment, alegedly, the flag means a free way of life. But he considers it a symbol of military might."
"The US flag, now more visible than it has been on the 4th of July stirs emotions for Earl Sisto, director of Native American Indian Studies. Sisto stated, You striped material standing there, Why are you flying over us? He said Native Americans sang this song after the US forced them onto reservations, which Sisto called concentration camps. "It angers me that the US can point to China for rights violations when they are doing the same thing here."
Professor Maria Anna Gonzalez, a researcher in the Humanities department said she is also angry. She does not wave any flag. She said she was in Mexico for Independence Day last month and the parades featured military troops while the poor continued to be ignored.
"If we want to wave a flag it should stand for something good. The focus should be on preserving lives. How can we be humane when we are now taking the lives of other human beings.
Another student, Brett Turnage, a sophomore from Moreno Valley has felt the sting of injustice in this country. Police have pulled him over because he is black and drives a 99 Mustang. Turnage once had a bumper sticker opposing George Bush."
All book smarts and no common sense.
Press Enterprise, 10-13-01
The article talked about increased patriotism in the nation, but not really at this school. Proffessor of Filipino studies, Dylan Rodruiguez is troubled by all of the flags he is seeing.
"Rodriguez, who teaches at UC Riverside, said the flag is something that symbolizes a government whose policies have trampled people in places like the Philipines, where the U.S. has been accused of exploiting the islander. His point of view is not unique on campus where most students identify themselves as Americans, but also with their ancestors, African American, Latino, Asian, etc.
While some on campus have wrapped themselves in red, white and blue for comfort, Rodriguez and others have not. Part of their anger, expressed in a teacher-in, organized by faculty members, is directed at the US government which they believe invited the tragedy with its actions abroad.
For example, Rodriguez cited the deaths of thousands of children in Iraq by actions taken by the US.
At this specific moment, alegedly, the flag means a free way of life. But he considers it a symbol of military might."
"The US flag, now more visible than it has been on the 4th of July stirs emotions for Earl Sisto, director of Native American Indian Studies. Sisto stated, You striped material standing there, Why are you flying over us? He said Native Americans sang this song after the US forced them onto reservations, which Sisto called concentration camps. "It angers me that the US can point to China for rights violations when they are doing the same thing here."
Professor Maria Anna Gonzalez, a researcher in the Humanities department said she is also angry. She does not wave any flag. She said she was in Mexico for Independence Day last month and the parades featured military troops while the poor continued to be ignored.
"If we want to wave a flag it should stand for something good. The focus should be on preserving lives. How can we be humane when we are now taking the lives of other human beings.
Another student, Brett Turnage, a sophomore from Moreno Valley has felt the sting of injustice in this country. Police have pulled him over because he is black and drives a 99 Mustang. Turnage once had a bumper sticker opposing George Bush."
All book smarts and no common sense.
Press Enterprise, 10-13-01