RedState's coverage of a kid named Jaiden and the fight between him and his school over a Gadsden Flag patch on his backpack was the most important story of yesterday. It wasn't just covered by us. The entire conservative sphere was monitoring the story, and for good reason.
For a quick recap, Jaiden attends The Vanguard School in Colorado Springs, CO., where he was kicked out of class for having a Gadsden Flag patch on his backpack. When the school called his mother in to explain the issue, they told her the patch was offensive because of its beginnings in slavery and the slave trade. The mother quickly pointed out that the flag had nothing to do with slavery but was a flag flown during the Revolutionary War as a symbol against tyrannical rule and unjust laws. This caused the school's staff member to switch tack and simply say she was following policy.
(Watch: School Attempts to Kick Out Kid for Sporting a Gadsden Flag Patch and His Mom Isn't Having It)
The video went viral, prompting nationwide coverage of the incident and turning Jaiden into an instant hero. Moreover, the school clearly became afraid of parental backlash and canceled a "Back to School Night" that was planned, knowing that the event would go from meet and greet to impromptu angry town hall with parents asking why their children are being taught anti-American lies.
(Update: The Gadsden Kid Is Undefeated, Has His School Running for the Hills)
As Bonchie reported, before the day was up the school was already backing down from its position and the school board announced that they're actually all about patriotism and pro-American attitudes and that Jaiden is more than welcome to wear his Gadsden flag patch.
We won! #JusticeForJaiden pic.twitter.com/Y8dX43e9Sp
— Connor Boyack 📚 (@cboyack) August 30, 2023
All's well that ends well, right?
I'm not so sure. This is definitely a decisive win and if this was an isolated incident I'd let it go, but it's not. This incident is a very common issue, and while it doesn't always look like a reaction to a patriotic patch, it's always an incident involving leftist thought vs. American thought.
There's a scene in Doctor Who (when it was still good) involving the 10th Doctor played by Matt Smith where The Doctor saves the planet from an alien law enforcement agency who threatened to burn Earth if an alien prisoner who had escaped wasn't handed back to them in time. The Doctor manages to locate the prisoner and turn him into these galactic wardens, but as they're leaving The Doctor calls them back to the astonishment of his companions.
"Did you think no one was watching?" he asked the aliens over the phone. "You lot, back here. Now."
His companions reminded him that the aliens were leaving to which The Doctor replied "Leaving is good. Never coming back is better."
He met the aliens on the roof where he proceeded to remind them who he, The Doctor, was and that this world was important to him. He warns the aliens that they threaten it at their own peril.
This is the attitude we should have at this moment when it comes to The Vanguard School and its school board. Yes, they gave us what we wanted, but there's still a threat lingering in the air that could come back if the conditions are right.
Parents need to be looking at the school board and saying "You lot, back here. Now."
The questions need to be asked about why there was a policy against the Gadsden flag in the first place and why the director of the school was using very weak reasoning to enforce this rule from the start. Why was school staff so comfortable spreading the lie that the Gadsden flag had its roots in slavery and racism? Who originally put that policy in place and decided that lie should be spread?
Moreover, what would have happened if Jaiden's story hadn't gone viral? Would the school still be enforcing this policy? Why did they believe they could get away with such flagrant discrimination? Why were they so comfortable spreading lies about American history? Had they done something like this before?
Did they think no one was watching?
Jaiden's victory is great but the conditions from which this battle arose are still present at this school. The policies that were crafted and those that were willing to enforce them still remain, allowing them to return to cause more trouble at a later date and this time more furtively.
Them leaving Jaiden alone is good, but them never having the ability to bother another patriotic kid again is better.
Parents should demand answers and solutions, and not let up until they get them. They should not be placated by a single post declaring that Jaiden wins the day. The school has just proved that it can't be trusted to do the right thing and that it will directly lie to the faces of both students and parents if it thinks it can get away with it. This breach of trust shouldn't be taken lightly by the community.
Parents should come down on the school and strike fear into the hearts of the board and the staff alike. They should know their jobs are on the line and their seats are being eyed for replacement. The Vanguard School shouldn't just be made safe for children but it should be made an example for anyone watching.
You mess with America's kids, things are going to get ugly.
These parents won the battle, but the war is far from done.
