Tancredo Asks the ACLU to Represent Illinois Student

****UPDATE 10/27/05*****

At the request of my readers, I have located the name & contact information for the Principal of Larkin High School. His name is Richard Webb, and here's what is listed underneath his photo:

"As the principal of the building I oversee all programs at Larkin High School including school climate, campus operations, school improvement, and student programming. I can be contacted by calling (847) 888-5200 xt. 5205 or by emailing webb_r/lhs@dns.u46.k12.il.us.

Together We Achieve...Together We Succeed"

What's this about "togetherness?" Is he speaking about his obvious loyalty to Vicente Fox?? Gimme a break! WRITE AWAY, people!

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Yeah, we'll hold our breath on this one. Republican Congressman, Tom Tancredo, has asked the ACLU to represent a student who refused to stand for the Mexican National Anthem at his public high school. Apparently Larkin High School in Elgin, Chicago, Illinois, was holding a "cultural awareness" program, and the school officials are none-too-happy with the son of Robert Bedard, who spoke for his son because he is a minor. Bedard:

"...complained that his son was being coerced into showing support for a foreign government, arguing, "I would be happy if they will not try to force students to honor patriotic elements of another culture unless they also honor our flag, our anthem as well."

Tancredo also wrote to the President of the ACLU requesting that they step in and help this minor who was target by the school's administration for his personal choice to not participate in this event. Tancredo's letter in full:

Ms. Nadine Strossen

President

American Civil Liberties Union

125 Broad Street

18th Floor New York, NY 10004

Dear Ms. Strossen,

As you may know, a student in an Illinois public school was recently disciplined by school authorities for choosing to stay seated during the playing of the Mexican National Anthem. According to press reports, the student was concerned that paying homage to a foreign government by standing may have jeopardized his upcoming enlistment in the military.

The case has received some attention in the media, and I was wondering if your organization plans to take any action on behalf of this student, or any of the other students who may have felt coerced by the "officially sponsored" nature of the activity.

As recently as 2003, the Colorado chapter of the ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal district court challenging the constitutionality of school sponsored recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance. The ACLU's state legal director at that time told the media, "Public expressions of belief in the ideals of liberty and justice should be voluntary, not coerced." If the ACLU feels that asking students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance constitutes "coercion", I would imagine you would be equally concerned when students are compelled to pay homage to a foreign nation.

Additionally, one verse of the Mexican Anthem starts with the following words:

For in heaven your eternal destiny, has been written by the hand of God. The ACLU is well known for its ongoing effort to banish religious references from every corner of the American public square, and these lyrics are at least as religious as the Pledge. After reading the words, I was doubly surprised that your group has not already sprung into action to characterize the event as an unconstitutional "establishment of religion." I look forward to hearing from you on the ACLU's plans as they apply to this case. Thank you in advance for your time.

Gotta love the zinger at the end! He really gives the ACLU no chance but TO respond, but now, really... are any of us out there who are realistic about what to expect from the ACLU going to hold our breaths over this one? Don't bet on it. The ACLU cares more about representing the rights of foreign illegals and criminals than they do the rights of American citizens.

I'm anxiously awaiting to see how far this one goes... but again, I'm not holding out high expectations on this one. I think Tancredo is onto something. In fact, it might be a good idea for all of us in the future to demand the ACLU get involved ANYTIME a citizen of the United States has their civil rights violated.. and that includes Christians, Republicans, Conservatives, etc., whenever we are "oppressed" by the looney Left.