Saturday June 27, 2009, 3:17 am

HERE IS THE ARTICLE:

Officials at a Texas public school have no right to force a Native American elementary school student to cut his hair, which he wears long for religious reasons, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Americans United today filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting student Adriel Arocha and his family. The family is challenging a grooming policy at the Needville Independent School District that bans long hair for male students.

“Public schools must never sponsor prayer or other religious activities,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “At the same time, they have an obligation to allow voluntary student religious expression that doesn’t interfere with the rights of others.

“Adriel’s decision to wear his hair long for religious reasons is a private expression of faith, and the school should respect that,” Lynn continued.

Needville’s policy does not allow boys to wear their hair past the collar or over the eyes. The Houston Chronicle reported last year that many rural school districts in Texas have similar rules.

Needville school officials met with Adriel’s family but refused to grant them a religious exemption to the policy. School officials did say Adriel could stuff his hair into his shirt, but the family said that was not enough.

A federal district court ruled in the family’s favor in January, but the school district has appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Americans United, which is joined on the brief by the Anti-Defamation League, is asking the 5th Circuit to uphold the lower court’s decision. The family is being represented by the Texas branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.

“Public school students have the right to engage in religious activities as long as they are not disruptive and don’t infringe on anyone else’s rights,” said Richard B. Katskee, assistant legal director of Americans United. “Adriel’s decision to wear long hair easily meets both of those tests.”

The case is A.A. v. Needville Independent School District.

The brief was drafted by attorneys David Gossett and Maria Glover of the Mayer Brown law firm with input by Katskee and AU Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 3:29 am

Thanks Tierney!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 4:01 am
Another example of the abuse Native Americans have to put up with. Why can't the school spend their time on giving children better role models. The administration of this school need stay in school for the summer and re-take history. This time though let them be taught by Native Americans so they get the truth! This really _ _ _ _ _ _ me off, leave the children alone!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 4:39 am
This is an outrage ! Too bad Adriel has to attend this backward, prejudiced institution. He deserves better.

I would argue that it is also a sexist rule. There is nothing wrong with choosing to have long hair, period. I thought this kind of conformist rot went out in the 70s !

Saturday June 27, 2009, 4:45 am
I was outraged when I read this! it is just hair for goodness sakes. Leave him alone! This should not matter.
Thanks Kat!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 5:08 am
Totally unfair!! This child is attending an institution for an education, not a gang rally for violence. What the *bleep* ! Don't they try to teach these kids to be proud of where they are from? Thanks Kat for sharing.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 5:31 am
This all stems back to the bibles story of Sampson, his hair was his strength!!! Societies phobia with men's hair, makes me believe that the story of Sampson, was actually a story of man in general, and that our hair is our antenna to receive Gods thoughts pertaining to our lives...
I had to serve 4 extra years on my 5 year sentence, for planting marijuana because I would not let the comply with the state of Missouri's scalp policy, in their mis- treatment centers...what was the bounty on chief wana dubies scalp??? This policy only applies to men, making this sexual discrimination, right off the flip!!! Women are exempt from that law
In prison they also had a two inch beard rule, than applied to all except Jews, making it religious discrimination!!! Jews are exempt from that law!!!
Laws that give special privilege because of sex or religion is fascism!!! Double standards, must need their own department of government, how in the hell can they sort out who has what right, without it???
Forcing men to cut their hair at all, is religious terrorism, fear of Sampson!!! If it was just hygienic, woman would be scalped also!!!
A hair cut is amputation of a body part, just like circumcision, a religious issue!!! Hair is sacred to many religions, some shave it all off, some never cut it at all, some only cut it when it weights a certain amount, some cover it, some uncover it, some Brade it...!!! Therefore anything to do with hair, has to do with religion, and that also means...keep your religion out of my hair, next they will want your nuts...!!!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 6:12 am
I think it's virtually unbelievable how mindlessly backward, insensitive and ignorant so many of the bureaucratic officials from Texas are. Maybe their progressive state of "dumbing down" has something to do with their having gone to Texas schools that are run by people who are harebrained. (Why isn't that word spelled "HAIRbrained" - instead of its dictionary spelling that seems to give rabbits a bad name?)

Saturday June 27, 2009, 6:44 am
NOTED KAT

Saturday June 27, 2009, 8:06 am
This is ignorant for the school to do this.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 10:18 am
OUTRAGEOUS!!! Teach instead of harras!
Tx Kat

Saturday June 27, 2009, 10:19 am
Noted Kat and thanks.I'm with Tierney!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 10:53 am
IT'S NOT RIGHT THEM TELLING US TO CUT OUR HAIR IT'S ARE BELIFE AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE IT AS LONG AS WE WANT, I WILL NOT CUT MINE FOR ANYONE AGAIN IT WAS CUT WHEN I HAD TO GO TO PRISON

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:12 am
What is wrong with those people , some of my grandsons have long hair and I love them !!!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:14 am
There is supposed to be separation of church and state in this country. The problem is the old stereotype that Native Americans are savages and that the religious beliefs that are practiced are meaningless.The Trail of Tears had it's roots in greed, but this stereotype is what propelled this disgusting and unholy atrocity. It is infuriating that it stii is going on today. Thanks Kat.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:15 am
I know I am probably going to be very hated for what I am going to say -- but maybe he could wear his hair in a bun instead. I live in Texas and at our local school we do have a couple of boys that wear their hair long for religious reasons but they have to wear it in a bun when they are at school. They are both from the middle east - I know one is from India -not sure about the other because I don't know his parents.

There has to be some sort of compromise and even if it doesn't make both parties over joyed it would still prevent him from having to cut his hair and would still aide somewhat by the schools rules.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:22 am
I think we should have a petition for all public schools in America and it would be that all teachers and administration staff, school boards included be shaved head to foot no exceptions. We need to follow their rules and they need to follow ours. Since these people are very dismal in their thinking, teaching methods and outlooks they should dress appropriately.They should all dress alike, grey shirts, grey pants, no skirts could be encouraging students to look at their legs. No make up of course, that attracts attention off of their studies. The men of course would need to be buttoned all the way to the top, nothing hanging out and no tight fitting pants. They should not be allowed to bring fancy cars to work only beat up bangers that can barely pass the emissions tests and of course shuld be painted grey along with their personality.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:28 am
I personally would bring charges against the school board. The NA's are a sovereign nation and have rights and freedoms. Do they demand an Indian child not wear Sari's? They are acting like the Gestapo and should be treat like them!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:30 am
This story seemed so familiar that I did a search to see if this had happened to another child just last year. Sadly, it's happening a lot:(


http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/slidell_boy_will_be_allowed_to.html

Slidell boy will be allowed to keep his braid; religious custom trumps St. Tammany Parish school rules
by Christine Harvey, The Times-Picayune
Wednesday November 19, 2008, 3:00 PM
A Native American boy will be allowed to continue wearing his hair in a braid at school, after the superintendent of schools in St. Tammany Parish reversed an earlier decision that the child would have to cut his hair or wear his braid in a bun.

Superintendent Gayle Sloan has agreed to let 5-year-old Curtis Harjo adhere to his religious principles and wear his hair in a braid at Florida Avenue Elementary in Slidell, though the practice goes against the School Board's grooming policy with regard to hair length.



http://oyate-oti.com/news/?p=472

Native American high school student banned for hair length
April 15, 2009 by lookinghawk
Filed under In the News, Indigenous News, Southern

Is the Texas Education System opposed to Native Americans? In the second case this year, a Native American student has been punished for hair length and for a second time, won the right to wear his hair long by federal court.

Dress codes are often a bone of contention for those who believe students should be able to freely express themselves through hot pink hair spikes and multiple facial piercings. But when freedoms are taken away due to deep-seeded roots and students punished for their heritage, is it safe to blindly defend those zero-tolerance “codes?”

A high school senior named Jesus Figueroa who just happens to be Native American was placed in on-campus suspension because his hair violated a district policy that “bans males’ hair from touching the collar.” After a battle that included federal court proceedings, the student has been allowed to keep his hair and return to class, as explained by a San Antonio news report.





http://life.familyeducation.com/bullies/depression/41440.html


Seven-Year-Old Tries to Hang Himself

Toddler and Teenager Expert Advice from Carleton Kendrick, Ed.M., LCSW
Question: My seven-year-old is being made fun of because he wears a long braid as part of our Native American heritage. I've gone to the principal, who suggested that my boy cut his hair. My son should not have to cut his hair, because this would strip away our culture. Last week, he was teased so much that he fought back and got in trouble. The next day I found him trying to hang himself. He said that he didn't want to live because the kids call him names. He goes to a counselor to help him deal with his problems. I don't know how to make things better.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:55 am
I live in Tonasket,Okanogan County, Washington state. It is the largest county in the state of Washington, with a small population. 1/4 of the County is occupied by the Colville Confederated Tribes, which includes many tribes, such as the Okanogans, and Nez Pierce. As a people, they preserve their individuality and traditions. They meet in Omak every summer for the World Famous Suicide Race, and camp in tipis, dance in the central tent, and wear traditional, colorful clothing. They wear their hair in the tribal tradition, some with eagle feathers. They can be seen walking year around in Omak, in Walmart, and all over the reservation, with long hair, and sometimes with eagle feathers. It is their tradition, and they are a sovereign nation. No person should try to interfere with their sovereignty, or their tradition.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 12:06 pm
Native American belief is that there hair is a direct link to there Soul, This should never be done to any native american or person, everyone has a right to grow there hair to the floor if they wish,this is still unfortunately a plan to manipulate and to take the native children from there culture and heritage.The ignorance started Aeons ago,with the missionary schools kidnapping, beating,cutting off all hair, and brain washing methods.Is this 2009,or are we still devolving instead of evolving as we should be?The humiliation is enuff for any child to have to live with daily,when will the red man live in Peace, for he is the Peace keepers sons and daughters of our cosmic mother.Take away a childs language, art,religion and land, and you are left with a fractionated Soul.I pray with each and every heart today, that this suffering shall end,may man kinds heart open up to living a gentle way of life on our journey here,join us for we are truly the Ghostdancers,The return of the Ancient Ones lives on thru us today,Peace Keepers and protectors of all living creatures,Anumpeshi

Saturday June 27, 2009, 12:21 pm
Lajana P. Traditional elders of the Navajo Nations wear their hair in a bun both men and women,It was the norm in those days and its still practiced today,among young people and elders..

Saturday June 27, 2009, 12:24 pm
This is another example of an institutional "hate crime" against indigenous American heritage. As Chief Dubie has pointed out the Needville School policy does not allow boys to wear their hair past the collar but allows girls in the same school to wear their hair any way they choose. This is obviously a tradition that is discriminatory and stems from Euro-american cultural heritage and the United States governments federal Indian policy of assimilation and/or extermination.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 12:50 pm
Brian Niles and other Native Americans on this site your indignation is totally justified. Cheif Dubie, you make an excellent point. Contrary to the progaganda peddled by the pseudopatriots in the United States....most of whom are really disguised Nazis....there are actually many parallels between the US government and fascist ideology.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 1:10 pm
This is suppose to be a free Country we are suppose to be able to wear what we want and grow our hair as long as we want this Country is changing for the worse and I do fear that we are becoming a communist Country. We no longer can speak out against Government Bush prove that when he had someone arrested fro speaking out against him saying they were probably terrorist. One community I think in Washington State were carrying signs protesting against Bush when his motorcade was driving down the road and the police were chasing them and hitting anyone that did not want to get out of there and a senior citizen fail down so a lady tried to help him up and the police started hitting both of them and they arrested a whole bunch of them. And it was a peaceful demonstration they had no right to do that. This Country is turning out to be a non free Country. Because of the Corrupt politicians that are in office. Do you know that the Government knows a cure for cancer, but are being paid from the Pharmaceutical companies to keep it secret? Yeah cause they make more money when people use chemo than the cure. I signed a petition(on care2) so they would let the people have it. And I have talked to a lot people that know this already.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 1:23 pm
Thanks Kat for sharing. You know this same thing happened to one of my best friend's sons who was starting school. There was a difference, though, because it was more of a heritage issue than a relgious issue but nonetheless a child's heritage is important to them and it still wasn't right that he had to cut his hair. What message is that sending to the child? His Apache heritage is something to be extremely proud of.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 2:53 pm
This is another miscarriage of justice against the Native people of this country. Why do we have to continuously endure the ignorance and prejudicial imcompetence of these Public Schools Officials discrimination against our people. This the year 2009, when will this stop, why must our children still be ridiculed in their own Country of origin, for being who they are, in their own natural way. This is appalling and it wouldn't have been done to any non-Indian, or even considered to be done to anyone else besides a minority child. It is time to stop all this backward's thinking and trying to stop Native people of being proud of their Tribal Rights as Native American's in this Country. THE LAND OF THE FREE, FOR WHO, YOU BUT, NOT ME! That's what it should really say on the Consitituon. Not for Indians only non-Indians. We should have a seprate Declaration of Independence if it doesn't apply to us. Thanks for posting this wrong doing to Native children in America.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 2:57 pm
I agree that it should be his choice to grow his hair long. No school has the right to tell Native Americans to cut their hair! I wish he could attend a different school that would understand his religious needs to keep his hair long. O, Great Spirit please intervene and help these misguided administrators understand his need to keep his hair long! In Jesus' name, ahmen!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 4:28 pm
I saw the original article sometime ago and in an effort to force the family to cut the boys hair he was excluded from the class. It was ongoing and illegal. Texas appears to think that it is above federal law and that Native Americans have no right to their beliefs. I think that a lot of people think that they do not have a religion. It is an old religion which does not make itself formal by only praying in a building, this is what most people do not understand or want to accept.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 4:44 pm
Even setting aside the hhuuggee aspect of this case re the victim's culture,religion etc,this whole affair also contains a big element of gender role fascism,with it's primitive and draconian enforcement of male and female appearance.This district isn't alone in this..but surely there is no natural reason, why men must have short hair and women long hair..It is amazing how many freedom stifling actions, take place in the land of the free.

Saturday June 27, 2009, 5:00 pm
They didn't do this when I was in school. There were a lot of boys with long hair, matter of fact MOST of them had long hair, past their shoulders. Nobody would have dared to tell them to cut it. Just another sign of how far gone in the wrong direction our society is...

Saturday June 27, 2009, 6:10 pm
noted thank you

Saturday June 27, 2009, 6:33 pm
We had an incident in Canada in a Thunder Bay school back in May. A teacher's aide cut a seven-year old boy's hair at school. He had been growing it long to participate in traditional First Nations dancing. The teacher was suspended and no charges have been laid. The parents are rightfully very angry.

It's outrageous that someone in a position of trust can take liberties like this due to their ignorant biases. I'm just going to guess this does not happen to female students. As far as I'm concerned, there should be no reason for a male student to put his hair in a bun or tie it back unless he is operating machinery or something where there could be a safety concern; and then the rule should apply equally to female students and students of every ethnic background. I sometimes wonder if we are evolving or devolving!!!

Saturday June 27, 2009, 11:10 pm
This is just totally ignorant--and a persecution of Native Americans who were here in this country long before any of the rest of us!

Sunday June 28, 2009, 3:55 am
This is an other example of gross self opinionated beurocratic interference in a person's civil rights and freedom of expression.This sort of interference by these self appointed guardians, need to be piloried and ridiculed.Adriel's right to freedom of expression should and must be defended.In Scotland at the moment we have devolved government and amazingly the Scottish National Library banned it's staff form displaying the Saltire Scotlands national flag in their offices saying it was racist.I ask you where on earth do these people come from.We also have another case when a nurse of many years standing working in a UK hospital was told she must remove a Christian Cross form around her neck.At first the reason given was it was against the hospital rules regarding the wearing of religeous symbols which may cause offense to other religeons.When it was pointed out that this rule was discriminatory on the grounds that Muslim members of staff and Sikhs were not banned form wearing head scarves and turbans which were an expression of there religeous faith.When this was pointed out rather than retreat gracefully the beaurocrats changed their story and made the ridiculous asumption that they had to take this action becouse the Cross could be used as a weapon !!.The nurse has now resigned as is in the prosses of suing the hospital for breach of her human rights and deniying her right to free expression.I think these people show a remarkable propensity for insanity.They should be sacked.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 6:38 am
I went through the same thing with my son. They said he would cut his hair, I said he would not.That was before he was beaten by a teacher. The hair stayed, the son stayed and the teacher left. The principle never opened his mouth again. People just can't get it through their heads that their are other religions beside Christian. We do not and will not follows their rules or laws

Sunday June 28, 2009, 7:08 am
This is outta outrage, an infringement on ones demorcratic rights, boys especially indian boys should be allowed to have their long, it is their tradition, and they look so coooooooool with long hair... please let them choose their own hair styles, they don't come and tell us evr what to wear so lets be fair.
r

Sunday June 28, 2009, 9:55 am
Back in the day -- the late 60s and early 70s (before disco broke out like the swine flu) long hair was THE signal of protest against authority . . . This current crackdown is MUCH worse because it also carries the stench of racism. I thought we were in the 21st century in the USA, but I see we are sliding backwards as quickly as the Earth is being poisoned. So maybe we need to address ALL these problems as one. Personal and institutional GREED!!!! Oh yeah, and living with a deluded state of mind (my problem too) -- ; /

Sunday June 28, 2009, 12:12 pm
They could not have successfully done this where I was at because if they had, there would not have been any students left to teach and the drop out rate was very high already, especially in the junior high and high school age but even in my grade school this was not done. The kids had long hair, it was the style. Now I know lot of people who home school their children altogether to keep them away from the negative consequences that come along with a "public" education or even the "private" ones which are not better and sometimes worse, one of the chief ones being discrimination in one way or another, bullies that nobody does anything about, shootings, lack of quality or caring and no individual attention given to the ones who more often need it the most. Teacher's pets being the only ones paid attention to, being forced to do something in gym class that the kid can't do for whatever reason - not being respected. Being treated like objects instead of human beings. The list just goes on and on and on. Teachers humiliate and ridicule certain students. All sorts of abuses. I don't know if I had children how I would handle their schooling, but I would not subject them to this kind of treatment. If I had to teach them from home by myself because there were no better alternatives, this is probably what I would do. I would involve them in activities with other children for socialization. Kind of goes back to the "Children live what they learn...if they are treated with ------, they learn to be -----, etc... I hear of too many people who just tell their kids when they come home from school upset about something happening to them during the day that was inappropriate that "Well, life isn't always fair - you might as well get used to it" Poor advice, poor parenting and poor schooling. What kind of kids do you think this turns out in the long run? What kind of society does this lead to? Not a good one, that's for sure. People have lost their way. Too many don't know what is right or wrong anymore, or they don't care. Not much love and not much peace either. Whatever happened to the come together thing? Oh yeah, it was the me, me, me thing that followed. High time we got back to the WE... I really feel sorry for this poor kid. I hope by the time he is out of grade school that they have finally got his case resolved through the legal system. As long as they've been batting it around, I'm sure it has had quite an effect on him already.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 12:51 pm
I think that this young man's religious traditionfor long hair should be respected.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 4:37 pm
It is a discouraging commentary on the so-called educators that their minds have not evolved enough to celebrate, or at the very least tolerate, expressions of spirituality & culture. Perhaps they are the ones who need more education.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 4:38 pm
it is about time America honors the True Americans- the Native Indians! That boy has every right to wear his hair according to his native heritage. It a da.. shame we let muslims in this country when we are in a war fare against them yet the real American is still held under government bondage! Something is really wrong with this picture! this boy should get a public apology .

Sunday June 28, 2009, 4:54 pm
Of course he should be allowed to have long hair (tied up maybe?)Native Americans have a continuous fight to get any justice in their own land though don't they.
But.....
Why bring Muslims into this? and in a negative way..seems there's no end to racism and religious intolerance. There's no WAR only western imperialist invasion!

Sunday June 28, 2009, 5:11 pm
Here we go again with insaneness. I am a supporter of the Native American Indian and a decendent. No you don't need to try to make them give up any more than they already have. How long do they get told what to do,where to do it, and so forth. If anyone has been more punished for who they are as a people I don't know. Native Americans are the true Americans like it or not . Please help support them in any way you can, it is greatly appreciated by all. If you have Native Americans in your state, stand up and support them. I am so passionate about their rights. Thank you.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 8:32 pm
This is just one more reason to close the public schools once and for all, and replace it with a home based computer oriented educational system, that does not include social programming, and belittling!!!

Sunday June 28, 2009, 8:50 pm
I went thru this in the 60's My Parents Fought on Personal Freedom of Choice; The School Got a Change of Venue to a Racist backwater town with a Ancient Judge Then exagerated an Incident Where I was trying to Get 89cents Back For him Breaking Something of mine; They made it Sound Like I stole his Wallet (I did not. He Acctualy Stayed my Friend)..
They Won My Parents Believed ther accusations and Stopped Fighting (it was also a Cost Factor) I HATED Authority Figures after that Cut my Hair went back to that school and Got Suspended For Clicking my Heels at a teacher that was Harrassing me (for talking to a friend in the hall between classes) and My Parents sent me to live with some friends that Taught at a Free School Unfortunately they didn't take time to motivate me so I basicaly Stopped Doing School work evn though me parents Moved and Took me to a New School the next year; they got chased out of The other school district with threats of Truancy Charges (cause I wasn't attending an acredited school) and Threats of Su8ing them for $5,500 1,500 for Court Costs; and $4,000 for Phsyoclogical Damadges to the Principal of The School;
I Told him infront of the whole Cafeteria (when he was Harrassing us While we were supposed to be eating) that anybody that had to Demand to be called Sir Didn't deserve it (it is earned) Thats When it all started He Put me into a Room Behind his Office and Harrased Me for Days untill my Parents to The School to Court To Get Me Free'd From Solitary confinement.....
So it Realy Wan't Started about My Hair (I had a friends Who was a Pickpocket and had hair Longer than Me who Just Told The Principle Yeah Ok Whenever he told him to cut it But NEVER did..
Justice HA Not in AmeriKa Where Children Are Denied Eqaul Rights But Forced into the Adult Courts and Prisons System When they Fight BACK...
and yeah I do have Native Blood and Beliefs But That wasn't the Issue Then

Sunday June 28, 2009, 9:31 pm
I don't consider the Indians, the true Americans, nor do I consider our English oriented government, true Americans, they are the pre-Americans, but I do consider those that have been molded in this melting pot, with multiple heritages, and excluded, to be the true Americans...i.e. the Hippies, of which are the breads of both cultures...part Cain, part Able,,,spiritual beings, stuck in a capitalistic monopolized world!!!
I have Indian roots, as well as Royal English roots, amongst others, and it appears that my blood has been at war against it's self!!! My roots are only blood deep though, because I was not taught about any of my ethnic roots, but taught to be American, by our school system, of which boils down to being a generic conformist, that obeys the masses!!! These true Americans, that I speak of, are the non-conformist, rebels of conformity, those who carved their own roads of individuality, knowing deep down inside, that there is more to life than the plastic sermons at church, and our plastic society, with our plastic educations, and we just can't truly conform our souls to this plastic lie!!! WE ARE TRULY THE 7TH GENERATION BLACK SHEEP, of our ill conceived nation, not knowing how to return to the ways of our ancestors, and not wanting the future presented by our so called leaders!!! It's those of us that are "RED" on the inside that our the true Americans, yes we may be lost, and disconnected, that is what division does to a nation!!!
Division, is how the Indians lost this nation, to a united force, but their unity faded also, leaving us with a united farce!!! These true Americans, are of the roots of the Indians, with the stocks of remnants of the Roman empire, but it will be our fruit that will bring the two into harmony, creating the best of both worlds!!! Those born between 1955 and 1965, appear to be this driving force, not blood lines, for the blood lines are divided, but our generation has experienced, and learned, but best that blood has to offer, are we learned the hard way that spilling more blood is not the answer, division is not the answer, hate is not the answer...UNITY IS THE ANSWER!!! They was why we were called the " UNITED STATES"!!!
We need to learn to embrace our differences, because it is our diversity that makes us unique and great...melted, but refined, tempered by intolerance, one from it all!!!

Monday June 29, 2009, 2:43 am
One thing that needs to be kept in mind here is that our government has intentionally oppressed Native Americans so they would have less influence and power in our nation. This truth needs to be recognized for what it is. Oppression is worse than discrimination. Native American culture has much to offer the world and especially our country. Their culture needs to be respected and yes embraced. We could do better by adopting a bit more of their ways instead of the other way around. Where there is oppression, there is no freedom, with no freedom there can be no peace. Without peace, there is no compassion which translates into love. Love is the essence of life and what brings people together. Without it, we will all cease to exist at some point in time. What may seem like a small case to some is actually quite important. We need to do everything we can to fight the oppression and destructive force bearing down on us. The first step is seeing it clearly for what it is and facing it head on. As long as anyone here is oppressed, none of us are free.

Monday June 29, 2009, 2:59 am
why can.t he just have long hair ? its just racist

Monday June 29, 2009, 7:42 am
Noted and read. Thank you Kat.

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 10:59 am
What can I say? This just pisses me off! I saw this in the 60's in Flagstaff AZ when they forced the Native kids to live in dorms and attend public school. It angered me then and it angers me now. Tradition is tradition for all Natives. Religion is religion for all including Natives. OHHHH, God this makes me so mad.

Thursday November 5, 2009, 5:33 pm
Whats the big deal? he's an indian thats what the deal is. If it were any other reason rich kid on the block pulled back in a pony tail it would have never been mention. Its called preduice putting it right up front I don't hold punches what is is. Thats the problem they still want to run them in the ground, Its the Native American way period to have long hair. My Great great Grand mother never cut her hair she was 101 when she passed she braided it and used cloth ties. Just leave him alone and let him learn also the true history and all he wants and desires to learn. Thanks Kat

Friday November 6, 2009, 3:18 am
What a disgrace. A predominately Right Wing Christian State telling a native too do something contrary to his faith?

Hmm, I wonder what would happen if we imposed a rule that stated no student is allowed to wear a necklace of the crucifix or anything Christan? Please, these people make me ill!

For the record, I am a proud Christan, but just like to put the facts as I see them.

I hope this issue is rectified for the poor guy.

Thanks,
Nick J Davis
Toronto ON Canada