Editor,
Now that the flag incident is over, we believe it is a good time to look back and reflect on what really occurred.
Clearly, this was an incident that polarized most people into siding with Peter Lynch or El Centro de la Raza.
Looking back, I find it hard to fault Lynch for his patriotism in not wanting the flag of another country to fly alone.
Why is it that people make such a big issue out of Lynch's respect for the laws of our country, yet can sit at home and watch people in almost every country that has a grouse against America burn our flag in the street?
While the center claims that flying its flag is a freedom granted to them by virtue of being in America, why is the same consideration not given to Lynch as his right to support the law of our nation?
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We are sure the center is offended that someone tore down the Mexican flag, but there is a much larger group of us that is just as offended that the center is supporting the disrespect and desecration of our national symbol.
While we think it is fine for different groups to explore and enjoy their cultural origins, they need to remember that the only reason they have that right is because of the country they live in. This, in turn, makes it very obvious that if you live in America, your first allegiance must be to America instead of an ethnic agenda.
It is America that gives you the freedom to celebrate your ethnic background, not your ethnic background that gives you the right to be an American.
We believe it is public knowledge that after this incident first occurred, Lynch apologized for over-reacting and agreed to pay for the damages to the flag. The center, however, refused his offer as it wanted to make a racial issue out of it. How pathetic that the center wants to call attention to itself this way.
Obviously, Lynch was trying to make a legal and patriotic statement, and the center has done everything to make it a racial issue.
Is this why we are spending money to send our kids to school? To learn how to subvert the system and make a racial issue out of whatever doesn't suit our particular beliefs?
The simple question this issue throws up is that while America gives its citizens the right to celebrate their ethnic and cultural beliefs, should this allow groups to use these rights to subvert the country that provides them those rights?
We say no. A person's first allegiance should be to his or her country and not his or her personal agenda. If you do not agree with that, then you live in the wrong country.
The University states that it wants to promote ethnic diversity. If so, it should fly the flag of every nationality represented by a student on this campus.
How do we settle this? The answer is obvious. The University needs to enact and enforce a policy that only the University flag, the state flag and the U.S. flag will be allowed to fly on University property.
This would allow students to concentrate on gaining knowledge instead of taking political positions on ethnic backgrounds.
Larry H. Crum
and Paul Chacho
UNM staff
