Mexican Flag Battle
by Jeff Davis
Last week Robert Pambello, the principal of Reagan High School in Houston–the PRINCIPAL, now, not some gang of cholo gang-banger “students”–was ordered by the school district to remove a Mexican flag that he had hoisted on the flagpole in front of his school. At nearby Hamilton Middle School, a “student” was asked to wipe off a Mexican flag painted on his face. Hundreds of other “students” carried Mexican flags during walkouts and demonstrations all across the city, acts of protest that they vow to continue until Congress rejects legislation that would further restrict immigration. The Mexicans are finally learning the lessons that blacks learned in the 1960s–if you don’t get what you want, threaten to riot.
Ever since the introduction of a few mild, too-little-too-late immigration enforcement laws and policies on the state and national level began several months ago, Latinos all across America have been rallying around the Mexican flag. “Students” say the flag represents their pride in the contributions Mexicans make to this country. The old idea that immigrants assimilate and become Americans seems to have disappeared entirely from the national discourse. It would seem that the “Melting Pot” is no longer melting and the salsa sauce is bubbling over.
A few right-wing Republican cranks in Houston have demanded that Reagan High principal Robert Pambello, who hoisted the Bandito Banner over his institution of alleged learning, be fired. Lotsa luck, guys. School district leaders said “no decision has been made about possible discipline against the principal.” One can well imagine what would have happened had Pambello hoisted a Confederate flag over his school; he would have been dragged out in chains and under arrest, within the hour.
Texas isn’t the only high-Hispanic state experiencing Mexican flag actions. Sometime last Saturday night, according to Chasewood North Community Board member Sue Miller, someone put a Mexican flag, like the one above left, on the complex’s flagpole in Jupiter, Florida. It may be several weeks before the Stars and Stripes once again fly over Chasewood North, according to the manager. “We tried to get the flag down but couldn’t, so we need to hire a company with a boom truck to get up there and replace the rope and put up the American flag,” she said. “I would guesstimate that this would cost $500 or more to do.”