There have been many news stories about President Trump supporters claiming they were discriminated against because they are supporting Trump. Stories of discrimination based on wearing a MAGA hat or showing support for Trump include a man claiming he was thrown out of a bar for wearing a MAGA hat; and recently, the fake news that Goodyear had a dress code that banned MAGA hats, but allowed Black Lives Matter items to be worn.
The closer we get to Election Day, November 3, the heightened state of sensitivity on both sides of the political aisle is ramping up to the point where logic has given way to unconditional love or hate of President Trump.
The Fox News website is reporting that a teenager in New Jersey was ordered to remove a Donald Trump banner hanging behind him at home during his virtual class. The headline of the Fox News story read: “New Jersey high schooler says teacher ordered him to take down Trump banner at home before virtual class.” The secondary headline was: “The teen’s mother said the incident shocked her.”
Anthony Ribeiro, 17-year-old student at Toms River High School in New Jersey, explained that his teacher told him, “Anthony take the sign [Trump banner] down right now.” Anthony said he was on his cell phone and looked down “like I didn’t hear him.” The teacher repeated his order to take the Trump banner down or Anthony would not be allowed to participate in the class. Anthony said, “I waved goodbye, and I was gone.”
Anthony’s mother, Tara, said she was shocked by the incident and defended her son saying, “My son takes his academics very seriously, and for this teacher to kick him out of learning that day for something that was in my home...I don’t think he should’ve been kicked out of class for that.” Anthony’s mother further made that point, “It bothers me because it’s in my home. He is an honor roll student, and if it is in my home. For this teacher to tell him to take it down and then kick him out of class is absurd. I think they have to make an apology to my son.”
School district officials are investigating the incident and did not comment other than to release a statement saying that the student did have the right to hang the Trump banner and ordering him to take it down was not in line with district policy.
Could this be a case where a teacher who is anti-Trump crossed a line because of personal political beleifs? Yes! That appears to be the case at this point.
The political climate is so hot right now that a banner, a cap, a shirt bearing the name of Trump or Biden will be perceived as a message of hate, when in reality it is just a message of support for a candidate. But that’s where we are in the 2020 presidential election.
Whether you believe Trump must win re-election or you believe that Trump winning will be a disaster, isn’t it important for us to remember that this is America and that we should respect the rights of others to freely support the candidate of their choice?
The pandemic-inspired necessity of the virtual classroom has created a conflict between our right to privacy and appropriate classroom decorum. I have complete respect for our right to privacy, but it is also fair to reassess what rules should apply when our private settings become part of a virtual classroom.
There is a strong argument for banning all clothing items supporting candidates, but we should also learn to not be so affected by the sight of someone wearing a clothing item that supports a candidate we oppose.
If there are rules banning clothing that promote candidates, then it stands to reason that the rules could be extended to a banner hanging behind a student in their home during virtual learning. Most high school students are too young to vote and would wear clothing supporting a candidate to make a statement more than to actually influence potential voters.
Because of the tense political climate of 2020, I understand rules that ban the promoting of any candidate on campus or in the workplace; but the ultimate lesson, whether on a school campus or in the workplace, is to learn about the fundamental American right we have to support any candidate we wish to support.
Period!