An administrator at Roger Williams Middle School has  been placed on paid leave after an incident where he allegedly took a Dominican flag from a student and stomped on it.  After students found out about the incident, unruly behavior occurred.  The Providence School Department is conducting an investigation in order to get a better handle on what happened and decide what action needs to be taken.  As I read the account of the incident, read quotes in the newspaper, and comments on the Providence Journal's site, several other things popped into my mind.

     I can understand the anger those of Dominican heritage feel.  Not long ago, my neighbors sold their home and left an American flag hanging outside the front door.  Within minutes of my new neighbors arriving on moving day, they removed the flag from the holder and threw it in the garbage with the pole sticking up.  Another neighbor also saw this, walked over, and asked if he could have it.  The new neighbor smirked and said, "I don't care, I'm not American."  Think about your first day moving into a new house: There is cleaning to do, furniture to move, and many other things, but the first thing you do is remove and dispose of the American Flag.  By the way, a few  months later, he was outside sitting on his lawn with his children.  Each of them was proudly waving a small Dominican flag.

      I'm glad to see the uproar over the incident at Roger Williams Middle School.  I hear people from all sides criticizing the actions of the administrator, and his lack of respect for the Dominican flag.  It makes me hopeful that people will be as respectful and protective of the American flag.  After all, I'm sure all of the people who oppose the troubling display at Roger Williams are also vehemently opposed to burning and other disrespectful treatment of the American flag.


http://www.projo.com/news/content/dominican_flag_03-05-09_A4DHS5B_v30.39402aa.html