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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Eighteen-year-old Tommy DeFoe is wearing his Southern pride on his Confederate battle flag belt buckle into federal court in Knoxville.
He's arguing his free-speech rights were violated by a dress code that banned inflammatory articles of clothing from Anderson County schools.
Anderson teen battle's schools' Rebel flag ban - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger (http://www.oakridger.com/breaking/x1246331039/Anderson-teen-battles-schools-Rebel-flag-ban - broken link)
I say he should be allowed to wear it. If it caused disruption or was distracting, then you could have him leave it at home, but I don't think it should be forbidden because it could cause a problem.
Kind of ironic since Knoxville and east Tennessee were very pro Union during the Civil War and over 30,000 white east Tennesseeans fought in the Union army. I wouldn't doubt the kid's ancestors fought for the Union rather than against it.
So, if I had a Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate on my car, with the Confederate Battle flag on it, would I not be able to park in the school lot?
So, if I had a Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate on my car, with the Confederate Battle flag on it, would I not be able to park in the school lot?
Doubt it. I can't smoke in my own car on school property. So who knows.
The confederate flag is historical heritage with multiple meanings. A white hood or the letters, "KKK" are more uniform in meaning and should be banned from a school as advocating "hate."
Not to hijack this topic, but why is display of a confederate flag more offensive to the african american community than the use of the "n" word. Both represent the same history? Why can a word be adopted and adapted as a group’s sign of strength, making it their own... while the other is just considered bigotry? My guess is that it depends on using the word or display... the historical oppressor or oppressed.
I am originally from Ohio and don't have really any ties to this issue other than currently teaching in Virginia. Just playing devil's advocate here, what do you think about splitting a class when studying VA history into Union and Confederate groups? The kids make the corresponding flags and hang them on the front of their desks. I wonder if that would be allowed?
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