March 20, 2009
Last Word on the Flag Incident
The official last word - what, if any, disciplinary action the Providence School District will take against Mr. Robert Perkins - is now a week overdue, hopefully because the district is reconsidering a bad initial decision.
In the meantime, David Quiroa had a pretty balanced take in Tuesday's ProJo.
First and foremost I have to make clear that I believe that every flag that represents the people of a country must be given the utmost respect because it’s the reflection of the soul of a nation. By now everyone reading this note may be aware of the incident that took place at Roger Williams Middle School, in Providence, the other week when Assistant Principal Robert Perkins allegedly stepped on a flag from the Dominican Republic. I do not condone the action of stomping on any national flag — yes, including our beautiful red, white and blue.After reading all the reports about this issue in The Journal and hearing the extensive testimony by Mr. Perkins on WPRO’s Dan Yorke Show, I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Perkins did need to give a sincere apology. However, everyone else should let the school authorities wash their own clothes and there is absolutely no need to have the U.N. issue a resolution.
I have five kids and I can tell you that if my kids are running around our living room breaking things and having a food fight and they happen to be holding a Guatemalan flag I would probably take the flag and throw it on the floor — not out of hate to the flag but out of stress. We must analyze every situation in its proper context for justice to prevail.
DAVID A. QUIROA
Newport
I have to disagree about Perkins needing to apologize. The man was alone, he threw the flag on the floor, and stepped on it after a frustrating and demoralizing day--that's all--end of story. Period. You can't make a political statement if no one is there to profit by it, now can you? No apology necessary. None. Those who need to apologize are Brady (who let the guy find out he was suspended from the ProJo), Diaz, Pacheco, and, of course, Cicilline, for their collective PC knee-jerk idiocy. Note Bene: The Perkins debacle was on the front page of the ProJo, while the story of the mother who bit Rudy Moseley, was buried many pages removed from page one.
Posted by: Tanya at March 20, 2009 6:08 PMApologize? For what!! If anything, those kids, Moseley, those illegal aliens advocates, Pisschardo and Diarheaz, Tom Brady, Chick-a-weenie and the Dominican Republican consulate should be apologizing to Perkins for all the stress they've caused him!!!
Since when does this country have to bow down and kiss the *sses of another country because they might be offended?
I will be so p*ssed if Perkins apologizes.
Posted by: Roland at March 20, 2009 7:36 PMTanya-I totally agree with you,and don't take this the wrong way,but I should correct you-it's Pichardo,not Pacheco.The only reason I'm pointing this out is that there is a legislator named Pacheco and he's not involved in any way in this controversy.
Posted by: joe bernstein at March 20, 2009 9:15 PMThanks Joe--I don't want to trash the innocent!
Posted by: Tanya at March 20, 2009 9:24 PMYou don't even have to trash Pichardo because he does a pretty good job of it himself.
Posted by: joe bernstein at March 21, 2009 1:06 PM