Tags: Charter school, Colorado, Gadsden flag, Guns, Media Landscape, Media Miss, Republicans, Social Media
A CHARTER SCHOOL IN COLORADO HAS REVERSED COURSE AFTER BANNING A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT FROM CLASS BECAUSE A PATCH ON HIS BACKPACK OF THE GADSDEN FLAG WAS SEEN AS AN OFFENSIVE SYMBOL OF SLAVERY.
A VIDEO WENT VIRAL OF THE PARENT CONFERENCE WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS – WHEN THE MOTHER OF THE 12-YEAR-OLD STUDENT DEFENDED HER SON’S RIGHT TO HAVE THE BADGE ON DISPLAY.
HERE’S A FEW SNIPPETS OF THAT VIDEO, TAKE A LISTEN.
AFTER A HEATED DEBATE AND MUCH BACK AND FORTH IN AN EXCHANGE OF EMAILS BETWEEN THE PARENT AND ADMINISTRATION –
THE SCHOOL BOARD CALLED AN EMERGENCY MEETING AND – AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION – ALLOWED THE BOY TO KEEP “DON’T TREAD ON ME” ON HIS BACKPACK.
LET’S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT HOW THE MEDIA IS COVERING THIS STORY.
AS YOU CAN SEE – THE COVERAGE IS HEAVILY UNBALANCED.
LARGELY RIGHT LEANING NEWS OUTLETS – LIKE FOX NEWS – ARE REPORTING ON THE GADSDEN FLAG CONTROVERSY – WHICH ULTIMATELY WENT IN THE STUDENT’S FAVOR.
LEFT-LEANING OUTLETS – LIKE CNN, NBC AND OTHER MAINSTREAM OUTLETS — HAVE LEFT THE STORY OUT OF THE NEWS CYCLE.
WHEN A SCALE IS TIPPED THIS HEAVILY – IT CAN SHOW A MEDIA-BIAS IN STORY SELECTION.
SOMETHING WE POINT OUT WITH OUR MEDIA MISS TOOL THAT YOU CAN FIND AT S-A-N DOT COM.
THE GADSDEN FLAG, WHOSE ORIGINS DATE BACK TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR- WAS ADOPTED IN RECENT YEARS BY THE TEA PARTY –
AND NOW LARGELY ASSOCIATED WITH CONSERVATIVES AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
WHILE THE SYMBOL MAY BE A POLITICAL ONE –
IT’S NOT A RACIST ONE – ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL “EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION”.
WHO RULED – WHILE IN SOME CONTEXTS – THE FLAG IS SOMETIMES INTERPRETED THAT WAY –
THE FLAG ITSELF IS NOT A RACIST SYMBOL..
THE COLORADO GOVERNOR AGREED.
QUOTE – “The Gadsden flag is a proud symbol of the American revolution and an iconic warning to Britain or any government not to violate the liberties of Americans.”
WHILE THE FOCAL POINT OF THE STUDENT’S REMOVAL FROM CLASS WAS THE GADSDEN FLAG –
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTED THERE WERE OTHER BADGES PRESENT OF SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.
THOSE PATCHES WERE REMOVED BEFORE THE BOY RETURNED TO CLASS.
FOR THE BOY’S MOTHER –
HER RECORDING WAS SEEN MILLIONS OF TIMES ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WHICH STRUCK A NERVE WITH A NATION IN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION
OVER HOW SOME OF AMERICA’S MORE “CONTROVERSIAL” HISTORY SHOULD BE TAUGHT OR PORTRAYED.
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