Student's Shredded Flag Censored at U.S. High School

by julianw | May 22, 2008 at 01:37 pm

3627 views | 16 Recommendations | 89 comments

Official symbols of America have long been considered sacred and untouchable. In 1969, Jimi Hendrix enraged U.S.politicians by performing a distorted, fragmented version of the American anthem. Florida student Josh Hemingway recently drew the ire of high school authorities by using a torn version of the American flag in his artwork. Is the integrity of the flag more important than the principle of free expression?

Part of a controversial art exhibit was banned at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs.

The student who created it, Josh Hemingway, placed shredded pieces of the American flag between his photographs. He says combined with the pictures, it was supposed to show a message of hope even in a fragmented society.

But according to the school district, the principal was concerned the shredded flag could cause outrage, so the school took it down.

"I thought that's what this country was founded on, freedom of speech and expression. That's guaranteed in our first amendment," Hemingway said.

Hemingway says he meant no disrespect and claims the flag was already in bad shape when he found it.

527

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | Digg | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

1985Luke

at 15:19 on May 22nd, 2008

This flag has been flown for so long that it naturally shredded. A sign of true patriotism and should not be censored! God bless America!

1985Luke has contributed a photo to this story.

Joseph Allen Kohlhas

at 16:40 on May 22nd, 2008

Kum & Go fueling station in Mason City, IA. Only in America.

Joseph Allen Kohlhas has contributed a photo to this story.

Joseph Allen Kohlhas

at 16:42 on May 22nd, 2008

Batwing2135

at 17:22 on May 22nd, 2008

I thought this shot was interesting. Flags are usually shot from left to right and I thought it was fitting with the ends frayed to shoot it from right to left.

Batwing2135 has contributed a photo to this story.

geoman78

at 17:27 on May 22nd, 2008

This photo was taken at Milford High School in Milford, Massachusetts in 2004.

geoman78 has contributed a photo to this story.

Garza photography

at 17:33 on May 22nd, 2008

I am proud of this old flag everyone should remember Johnny Cash and his song about this old flag...

Garza photography has contributed a photo to this story.

Jaybird35

at 18:22 on May 22nd, 2008

Always glad to see the flag and take a picture whenever I can.

Jaybird35 has contributed a photo to this story.

lono1126

at 18:29 on May 22nd, 2008

This dumpster with the American flag painted on it was sitting on the north side of Armitage Ave. just east of California Ave. in Chicago IL. so i decided to take a snap shot of it. I sent it to a friend of mine who likes images of the American flag on all types of things to see what he thought of it. No word yet, but i will let you all know the reaction it gets when ever it gets one. Thanks.. Lono1126

lono1126 has contributed a photo to this story.

LillyYellow

at 20:03 on May 22nd, 2008

This of the Brooklyn Bridge

LillyYellow has contributed a photo to this story.

Ben Helton

at 20:05 on May 22nd, 2008

I found this slightly torn American flag in a cemetery and thought that the way the light was hitting it and where it was located was pretty beautiful in spite of its beat up condition.

Ben Helton has contributed a photo to this story.

knoxcop1

at 20:49 on May 22nd, 2008

My 15 year old son is in ROTC, and I made this flag for their year-end party. The flag is fondant, airbrushed with the stars and stripes, and the ROTC patch and Army logo. The ROTC mission statement is also written on the cake...

Thanks for allowing me to share my cake work with your viewers!
--Kn0xcop--
Knoxville, TN

knox_cop has contributed a photo to this story.

lubimaer

at 22:45 on May 22nd, 2008

America is a great place, american are great people
When you are great you exceed in good and bad
I know good american people have more power than bad ones
keep up the good work

lubimaer has contributed a photo to this story.

justarslan

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 23:58 on May 22nd, 2008

julianw, I like this story. It's good stuff.

gooshum

at 00:18 on May 23rd, 2008

This flag flies at the stern of a ferry that travels from Oakland to San Francisco. The Port of Oakland is one of the busiest in the nation.

pfeyh has contributed a photo to this story.

armalomb

at 01:03 on May 23rd, 2008

Hi Julianw, here is my personal contribution to your project. I'm very glad for choosing my pic. I'm italian but i love US flag and i love America!

armalomb has contributed a photo to this story.

Basha Pretsch

at 01:19 on May 23rd, 2008

I love the Flag , i live in the U.K right now but i was born in Fairfax county , Virgina. I hope to return to the US soon

Basha Pretsch has contributed a photo to this story.

JENNI-HUNLLEF

at 01:21 on May 23rd, 2008

JENNI-HUNLLEF has contributed a photo to this story.

FLLOVER2008

at 02:10 on May 23rd, 2008

I was born in India and came to the US to study. After graduation I fell in love with USA because what it stood for. I joined the US Army for 2 years. That was in 1974. In 2006 I was driving along US 26 near Trenton, Florida and spotted this beautiful American flag flying high with pride. I shot this photo with my newly acquired Nikon D-80 and result was this wonderful shot.

FLLOVER2008 has contributed a photo to this story.

Oliver Ruehl

at 03:12 on May 23rd, 2008

Oliver Ruehl has contributed a photo to this story.

blurvis

at 03:51 on May 23rd, 2008

This was the firs of many flag representations by the American artist Jasper Johns. This one is in the MOMA in New York City.

blurvis has contributed a photo to this story.

ByCoco Art for Everyday Enjoyment

at 04:12 on May 23rd, 2008

Thank you to all those that have defended the freedoms we enjoy. May their heroism inspire us to be heroes in our own families and our own communities.

ByCoco Art for Everyday Enjoyment has contributed a photo to this story.

starseeker59

at 04:18 on May 23rd, 2008

this was in frankenmuth at the height of the flag repression. i am holding the flag in disgust while my friends salute it with honor. i am uncomfortable. i think i had to pee.

starseeker59 has contributed a photo to this story.

Michele photos

at 04:52 on May 23rd, 2008

Flag flying in a east wind

Michele photos has contributed a photo to this story.

Peder

at 04:59 on May 23rd, 2008

Just wondering why the US flag was up high in Prague, Czech Republic. Found out that US and Czech had a small showoff with old US military cars. You can see more here: http://flickr.com/photos/psa/2469228549/
http://flickr.com/photos/psa/2468213955/in/set-72157604471721012/

Peder has contributed a photo to this story.

beccad_23

at 05:02 on May 23rd, 2008

This photo was taken from the pier leading up to the Yorktown WWII Museum in Charleston Harbor. The perfect weather allowed me to capture this amazing image of the American Flag with the Arthur Ravanel Bridge in the background.

beccad_23 has contributed a photo to this story.

channah428

at 05:07 on May 23rd, 2008

These flags were affixed to the front bumper of an antique car.

channah428 has contributed a photo to this story.

leafy

at 05:13 on May 23rd, 2008

... i guess the issue isn't free speech ... it's free speech for minors ... the rules are different when you're a minor in athe U.S. ... High school newspapers do not have the same rights as mass media, as the high school can regulate content ...

joelthoreson

at 05:17 on May 23rd, 2008

This slide was taken in 1945 off the back of a boat taking Norwegian Lutheran Church of America missionaries to the airport in Ketchikan, Alaska, to visit home mission stations on the Teller Peninsula of Alaska.

elcaarchives has contributed a photo to this story.

eye capture

at 05:39 on May 23rd, 2008

this is a homeless fella that apparently lives on the streets here in venice beach, ca - wearing the american flag is something i have never seen one do. to me, it said something - as well as it must to the man adorning it.

eye capture has contributed a photo to this story.