In your article titled "Burning the flag" printed on April 9, the author stated that, while it "alarmed some people, it shouldn't have."

Los Gatos High School is a public school, government-run and -funded, where by law our children must spend five days a week, six hours each day. An entire 50 minutes of this are spent looking at an image of our American flag—a symbol of hope, freedom and independence—being callously desecrated. I find this forced viewing of anti-American actions by public schoolchildren very alarming.

If you do not find this alarming, I ask you to read this and carry on your day as if nothing had happened. Do not dwell on the disrespect being aimed at our country, the disrespect being aimed at our American troops that are dying in defense of our country as you read this, nor of the disrespect being aimed at our ancestors who fought, died and braved the most harrowing conditions imaginable to ensure a better life for us. Do not dwell on the lessons that are being assimilated by our town's future leaders as a result of this daily viewing.

If you do find this alarming, I urge you to visit the website I have created [http://www.geocities.com/archer_girl2000/Flag_Burning.html] and sign your name to a letter asking Ms. Trudy McCulloch, the current principal of Los Gatos High School, to remove from our school walls the photo of the American flag being burned.

—Robin Flury, Los Gatos

(Editor's note: Robin Flury sent an email to all Los Gatos High School parents stating her position. What follows are two responses to that email that were also sent to the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.)


Saddened by 'overreaction' to flag photo

I am saddened and ashamed by your email. A picture of a flag burning has provoked this overreaction? You may have forgotten that freedom of speech is one of the things guaranteed us as citizens of the United States, although our attorney general appears to be bound and determined to change all that. When actual flag-burning begins, you may have real cause to worry, but fortunately for those of us who believe in the essential role of public dissent, so far the right of protest is also protected by our Constitution.

"Disrespect" is very often a function of the beholder's lack of confidence in the entity in question. Our U.S. flag is an indisputably powerful symbol—one protected by inherent values far sturdier than mere fabric—and it will continue to inspire the citizens whose freedoms it represents regardless of pictorial mistreatment; indeed, perhaps in part because of it. Nor is this venerable symbol any more vulnerable in a time of war.

Opposing views are the key ingredients of the democratic process that help to slow a rush to war and/or restore peace as soon as possible; that serve the critical function of keeping young people of our armed forces out of harm's way unless absolutely necessary, as determined by the majority. Surely discussion of just this sort of issue is vital training for all these soon-to-be-voters in the Los Gatos High School student body. Education, as I understand it, involves presenting a variety of viewpoints, not just the party line—teaching us how to think and come to thoughtful conclusions rather than how to parrot someone else's.

Clearly you have barked up the wrong tree here. Hopefully the bulk of your mailing list of LGHS parents will respond similarly and resist your shortsighted crusade. There may be plenty of things wrong with the educational system in California—funding not being the least of our problems—but with any luck, freedom of expression is not on the "cut" list yet. Restriction of our ability to question and criticize our government would be a truly devastating blow to democracy.

Your efforts would be better spent defending substance, such as all American children's right to a decent education, rather than fussing about a symbolic gesture such as this. And have you even discussed the issue with the teacher involved or are you fomenting trouble behind her back without giving her a chance to address your concern before this personal firestorm engulfs the situation? (I don't know of whom you speak, but assume your reference to 'her' was not idle.) As far as I am concerned, this kind of thing represents the sort of "witch hunt" whose consequences should have been indelibly etched on our hearts and minds by the examples of Salem and the McCarthy era.

I can only hope you will rethink your misguided endeavor and attend to more meaningful action.

—Patricia K. Eastman, Monte Sereno

P.S. And might I ask how you came by email addresses for LGHS parents? The apparent ready availability of such access is almost as troubling as your message.


Schools should make cuts in administration

I recently read an editorial in your paper that called for people to oppose Gov. Davis' ideas to cut school spending, but I noticed that you mention nothing about cutting the salaries of the "administrators" in the district offices or the county education office, which does nothing for students. Why don't you call for those cuts?

—Bill Becker, Los Gatos


Flury's views not shared by all parents

I'm very disturbed by a recent email I received from a Los Gatos High School parent who was up in arms about one of the LGHS history teachers having a picture of an American flag being burned, and I'd like to share my own response to her ridiculously biased concerns. The following is a reprint of an email I sent this woman:

I'm a patriot, and I personally don't agree with burning the American flag, but let's not get our panties up in a bunch about it—after all, it is only a symbolic gesture, and this country has a long history of citizens protesting egregious acts of aggression.

I find it both distasteful and disrespectful of you to assume that many parents would agree with you on this matter. This is a free country after all, and a picture of a burning flag in a history classroom, in my opinion, is truly an accurate depiction of the kinds of activities that took place in the late 1960s as citizens (many of them my peers) protested the war in Vietnam. I think a more mature and appropriate way to handle your own private concerns is to sit your children down and explain to them your views about the picture and what it represents to you, but keep in mind that it is your own opinion and not necessarily the views of every parent who has a child at Los Gatos High. I encourage you to instill in your children your "own" political beliefs; however, do not commend yourself for trying to get the rest of us Los Gatos High School parents to agree with your views, for that is exactly what this is all about: your views.

I was in high school when people were protesting the war in Vietnam, and my history teacher had photographs of citizens around the country exercising their freedom of expression (and yes, flag-burning was one of the ways that was expressed). I learned a great deal in that history class and those lively discussions didn't "warp" me into some kind of subversive individual; rather, I learned we don't have to share the same political beliefs. In fact, I came to respect the differences of political opinion that make this country the truly free place it is.

Allow our children a chance to use the picture to generate discussion on exactly why citizens might choose to express their political beliefs by burning an American flag. Don't diminish their rights to learn, challenge and develop their own ideas.

This is a free country, Robin. Perhaps you should enroll your children in private schools that tend to support your opinions better, but as for my family, we're very glad our children are free to discuss such important political issues in their classrooms.

I find it disrespectful of you to try and "rally the troops" to your opinion without allowing those of us that represent a different opinion to be included in your "open" letter to Principal McCulloch. Remember, Robin, it is only your opinion and not necessarily the one shared by every parent.

—Denise Carter Wells, Los Gatos


Happy to see that DeCinzo's work is now online

Congratulations on finally getting DeCinzo's insightful depictions online. For an ex-patriot trying to keep up with his hometown but missing the spice DeCinzo brings to the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I thank you for moving the mountain I think it took to get this done.

—Joel Gambord, Pebble Beach

CORRECTION

On the "Taste" page in the April 9 issue, the photo caption incorrectly identified the Juice It! staff. They are Larry Barella, his son, Terran, 8, and his daughter, Breanne, 10.