American Student Punished for Refusing to Recite Mexican Pledge
Feb 27, 2013
A Texas high school student has filed a federal lawsuit against her school and her teachers after she was punished for refusing to salute and recite the Mexican pledge of allegiance.
The Thomas More Law Center filed the suit on behalf of Brenda Brinsdon alleging the McAllen Independent School District violated the 15-year-old girl’s constitutional rights when she was forced to recite the Mexican pledge and sing the Mexican national anthem.
Click here to read the lawsuit.
Brinsdon, who is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and an American father, refused. She believed it was un-American to pledge a loyalty oath to another country.
Ironically, the school district has a policy that prohibits a school from compelling students to recite the American Pledge of Allegiance.
The district also has a written policy that excuses students from reciting text from the Declaration of Independence if the student “as determined by the district, has a conscientious objection to the recitation.”
“There is a sad trend in public schools across our nation to undermine American patriotism,” said Richard Thompson president of the Thomas More Law Center. “But it’s encouraging to see students like Brenda stand up for America despite pressure from school officials.”
The TMLC told Fox News the district ignored its own rules when Brinsdon refused to recite the pledge of a foreign country.
What’s most troubling is the different treatment for someone wanting to opt out of reciting the American Pledge of Allegiance compared to someone as a matter of conscience wants to opt out of reciting the Mexican pledge,” spokesman Erin Mersino told Fox News.
A spokesman for the McAllen Independent School District told Fox News they had not seen a copy of the lawsuit.
The recitation of the Mexican pledge and the singing of the Mexican national anthem was part of a 2011 Spanish class assignment at Achieve Early College High School. The teacher, Reyna Santos, required all her students to participate in the lesson.
When Brinsdon refused to back down – she was punished, the lawsuit alleges. She was given an alternative assignment on the Independence of Mexico. The teacher gave her a failing grade – and then required the student to sit in class over a period of several days to listen to other students recite the Mexican pledge.
The lawsuit states Brinsdon offered to recite the American pledge in Spanish but the teacher refused her request.
“It’s astonishing that this Texas school would deny Brenda her right of conscience and free speech not to pledge allegiance to a foreign country,” said Thompson. “Too many Americans – including those of Mexican descent – have suffered and died protecting our nation.”
And while she is fluent in Spanish and English and is proud of her Mexican heritage, Brinsdon is a “true-blooded American,” Mersino added.
Mersino said it was especially troubling to watch video of students in the class standing up, extending their arms straight out, palms down and reciting the pledge of a foreign country.
“It’s disturbing – it truly was troubling,” she said.
Comments
It seems that those taking these actions feel their allegiance lies south of the border. Ship them down there where they belong!
The teacher needs to be fired and the board of education replaced. It is time for all of us to let these liberals know they are not the majority. They just talk louder and most times rude because they don't know the real facts. Thanks for your thoughts. Ron
Mrs. Diane L. Logan, you said a mouthful! I couldn't agree with you more! You hit the target smack-dab in the middle of the bull's eye.
What needs to be done in answer to these anti American teachers and school administrators is for the parents to instill in their own children the values that made this nation great. That means holding their children responsible for their behavior; giving them patriotic values; teach them not to be subservient when they know someone is telling them lies. If the parents don't teach their own children then they have no reason to be surprised when that child comes homes and spiels off some communist message.
America, is it time for action yet?
What, no burqa? Do you ever feel like you're caught in mixture of "Groundhog Day" & "The Twilight Zone"? I mean, I wake up EVERY FREAKIN' MORNING thinking it was all just a bad dream and it's all gonna go away but it never does. It just seems to get worse by the day!!!
Semper Fidelis
Skip,
You are my kind of guy.
As I posted earlier, let's see how many more live in McAllen; if any.
If citizens of McAllen don't recall the whole School board and fire Ms Mexicano's aXX,
THEN, they too must be ok with the whole stinkin deal.
Standing by for news from McAllen TX
I am so damned sick and tired of this frigg'in government trying to stop our kids from showing love for this country ,that if that had been my kid they would have had the cops there the next morning ,because when this bitch showed up even though she is a woman I would have spun her damned head around on her sholders and then went looking for the princible of the school then the superintendent
If that happened to my child, I would have been home schooling the next day..Outrageous. Anyone have any questions as to where our country is going (or gone)..BP
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