Readers Respond -- Symbols draw differing responses

I read Byron de Arakal’s column about the three students at Newport

Harbor High and their campaign against hate on campus (Between the Lines,

“Protest of three reveals content of hearts,” June 12). I am proud of the

actions of these young men, as I am sure are their parents and most, if

not all, of our community.

I know it took courage to take these actions in the face of the

extreme peer pressure that exists in every high school, and I applaud

them for seizing a leadership role. I hope their campaign spreads and

that we can reduce, and some day eliminate, this kind of divisiveness

from our schools.

MARC FRANKLIN

Newport Beach

This is regarding “Company pulls logo after Sailor protest” (June 11).

A couple of years ago, some black residents of Boston proclaimed the

shamrock a hate symbol.

Palestinians might consider the Star of David a hate symbol.

Israelis might consider the Palestinian flag a hate symbol.

What about Brown Power T-shirts that are seen in the local schools?

Are they hate symbols?

The real hate seems to be coming from people who wish to keep other

people from freely expressing themselves. This situation was anticipated

by our Founding Fathers, who made the First Amendment pretty clear that

people may express their views freely even if others don’t like these

views or symbols.

The real and immediate problem is not hate as evidenced by words or

symbols, but the hate that is coming from certain petty tyrants who want

everyone to think and express themselves in certain approved (by the

petty tyrants) ways.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District will be hard pressed to craft

a dress code that does not violate the First Amendment right of free

speech.

H. MILLARD

Costa Mesa