Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The little Vietnamese flag story is out there

From Inside Higher Ed: 
“Irvine Valley College has removed the Vietnamese flag from an atrium display of flags from all over the world, in response to threats by Vietnamese immigrants in the area to hold a protest of what they view as an inappropriate honor for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, The Orange County Register reported. A spokeswoman said that the college was trying to be ‘considerate.’” 
See also: LA Times. The story’s on the AP wire. Saw it on MSNBC website, etc., yesterday. A brief video of IVC's SSC flag issue:

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

We're making history!

So to speak.

Anonymous said...

Rewriting history?

Rebel Girl said...

People are commenting on the flag issue on Inside Higher Ed. Here are 2 responses:

What is the point of Irvine Valley College displaying national flags from around the world, if they’re going to remove those of nations whose governments are deemed unworthy by various segments of the local community? Has the threat of protest deterred them from what is presumably a gesture in support of world peace? And I’ll be they’re flying the American flag, though a lot of people aren’t overly impressed with our government.

Mr Punch,
Why Flags?,
at 8:55 am EST on February 27, 2008

Mr. Punch is right
And Mr. Punch, what’s the point of becoming an American if you are going to continue to carry all the old world baggage with you? The fact is, the flag that was displayed was the one of the government that the United States recognizes.

Don’t like it? Vote accordingly and write your views to congress. Don’t try to impose the views of a special interest view on others.

Our education system should be helping to instill these standards — the role of consensus, voting, and acceptance at times of rules we may not personally like. These are pillers in a society of rule by law.

WillianYew, at 10:10 am EST on February 27, 2008

Anonymous said...

reinventing history?

Anonymous said...

We (at Irvine Valley College) are still waiting for ANY mention of the flag issue by the President of this college. I don't condemn him for his action; but I do object to "dealing" with this in a way that leaves the rest of the college community out. Let's get it out there! Let's bring others into the conversation!

It's a college! Ain't you noticed?

Anonymous said...

Senseless dribble among you academics about nothing. Piss on the flags! They're meaningless until you elevate them because of your stupid ideological leanings. Get real! Let your students out of class early and go to the beach and enjoy life for a change.

Anonymous said...

Chunk, evidently, you've accidentally removed the moron filter again. Reattach it, please.

torabora said...

11:57 70% of the 2 year students drop out. I'll bet you they're already AT the beach! You should go look.

Katherine said...

Thanks for the link. I can't believe the school hasn't commented on this issue yet (unless there is crossover time here).

I went to a school with a large international population that was diversity friendly. I was wondering about this: how about underneath the hanging flags, the students put up posters describing their experiences (both pros and cons of their countries)? That would make for an interesting cultural display AND statement, wouldn’t it?

Anonymous said...

Nope.

The admin has said nothing.

The flags were taken down last Thursday evening.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Punch,

Perhaps they are flying the American flag because we live in the United States?

Anonymous said...

Okay, continue to wallow in your self-centered psychosis. Maybe 70% of the community college students drop out because of you academic morans who argue over how many angels can tap dance on the head of a pin. How pathetic!

torabora said...

4:59 As a TAXPAYER you should be paying attention to the 70% problem.
the drop-out rate is caused by alot of different problems but the "academic morans" you refer to don't show up in the data.

This problem is centered on high school grads who shouldn't have been graduated. They're being failed by being passed on without the skill sets necessary to pass college level course work. They get frustrated, don't avail themselves of remedial course work, and drop out.

Others don't avail themselves of the correct discipline. Many should be in our CC vocational training but they don't realize the rewards. We've got nurses and welders going to work for $50k+/yr.

But don't blame faculty. As a whole, they are a damned dedicated cadre and give good service for their pay. It takes a dedicated student to make the relationship work.

Anonymous said...

Any updates?

Any word form the office of the president?

Anonymous said...

Thank you, tosta bosta, but you can keep your condescending opinion because as a taxpayer, I'm more concerned with the inefficient bloat caused by faculty unions than I am about community college students that fail to complete an already broken and bankrupt public education system. Faculty can't have it both ways by blaming students while they themselves avoid all responsibility for learning by gloating over a stupid issue like flags in a building. No wonder students drop out. Look at the example you demonstrate? How insignificantly boring and self-righteous you are in your haughty-taughty elitist ivory tower. Most of the faculty I’ve had the displeasure to meet at your little college can’t even turn on their own classroom computers. You’re an inept group of idiots who feed on students who are promised everything only to find disappointment.

torabora said...

8:34 Get a grip guy and here is a reality check. I am hundreds of miles away from Orange County and am not faculty.No ivory tower for me, no siree!

I am very concerned about the direction our country has been going for several decades. I have adopted education as an avocation and am looking for ways to help. Clearly our technologically driven economy has an educationally driven backbone to it. Our economy is in trouble and the educational SEGMENT of it is critical to correcting what has gone wrong.

So I have gone to great lengths to EDUCATE myself in education...with special focus on the Community Colleges since they are the most critical part of the system. Now you might feel that raising children is best left to the uneducated I believe otherwise. You have obviously been hurt somehow as your invective bleeds thru your words. Focus! Try to understand that your frustration is not in isolation. I feel it myself. The financial problem lies mostly in bloated Administrative salaries, effing consultants, and the damned lawyers. That combination of parasites sucks BILLIONS out of the classroom. Study, learn, and act on FACTS...not hyperbole. You have an audience here at DtB... don't come across as a crank. A sense of humor helps too.

Anonymous said...

Gloating?

Where's the gloat?

Since when is effective teaching equated with turning on computers?

Oh, maybe you got your degree where our chancellor and his toadies did - at one of those online diploma mills with the fancy coat of arms.

Oh yes, and everyone knows that teaching at IVC is exactly like climbing up a high and lovely ivory tower. Oh yes yes yes.

Now, back to grading papers.

Anonymous said...

Now, now now, 9:18 - you know that complainer (Mr. 8:34 - iT IS a Mr. ain't it?) MUST be one of our trustees!

You know how much store they put by in the ability to turn on a computer!

Why that's all you need to do to teach a class!

Just flip a switch!

On of course, the real message is the one that comes loud and clear from the board majority at every meeting: JUST SHUT
UP!!!!!

yes, that's why our accreditation is threatened: not US, them.

Anonymous said...

"I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence."

William F. Buckley

Anonymous said...

Face it folks, it's Orange County.

Anonymous said...

hmmmm, Buckley was not known for caving, especially silent caving - if anything he demanded public reasoning.

But that might be too much for our leaders.

Wednesday evening, still nada.

Silence is laden with disdain, fear.

Godd night, Bill. RIP.

Anonymous said...

Torabora,
Yet once again an excellent response (9:02pm) that I throughly enjoyed reading...thanks!!!

Anonymous said...

You see, 4:59, there's an amusing irony here in that the unhappy folk don't like dictatorial regimes that abuse human rights.

Now, really, you must admit that that describes the current administration perfectly.

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...