On Monday, September 28, 1992 3:44:00 AM UTC-6, Chris Long wrote:   
   > >From clari.news.interest:   
   >    
   > 	MESQUITE, Texas (UPI) -- The school district in Mesquite, near Dallas,   
   > has temporarily suspended an Apache Indian boy from kindergarten school   
   > because he wears his long hair in a braid in the traditional American   
   > Indian style.   
   > 	Itsa-Lichii Gomez had been granted a waiver of the school district's   
   > policy in August so that he could start the academic year at the   
   > McWhorter Elementary School. But the waiver was good only until school   
   > officials decided whether to grant exceptions to students who had   
   > religious reasons to keep their hair long.   
   > 	The suspenison came Friday after the school board earlier in the week   
   > decided that there would be no change in the district's 25-year-old   
   > grooming code. That code requires boys' hair to be ``neatly trimmed or   
   > styled to stay out of the eyes and above a dress shirt collar.''   
   > 	The young boy was suspended for three days. But Mesquite schools   
   > spokeswoman Dixie Parris declined to speculate on what would happen if   
   > Itsa-Lichii's hair wasn't cut by that time.   
   > 	``I hope it doesn't go that far. I hope the parents choose to comply   
   > with the dress code by that time,'' she said.   
   > 	But Gregory Gomez, the child's father, said his son's hairstyle won't   
   > change.   
   > 	``We have discussed it with him, and he doesn't want his hair cut,''   
   > the father said.   
   > 	``We are not withdrawing our son from school. If they choose to, they   
   > will have to expel him.'' He said he doesn't know what his family would   
   > do if Itsa-Lichii is expelled. He said litigation is a possibility.   
   > 	Like his son, Gomez also wears a long braid.   
   > 	The child's mother, Cathy Gomez said she informed Richard Havercamp,   
   > the school principal, that the action against her son was wrong.   
   > 	``I told him this is just not right. This is racist, this is   
   > discrimination,'' she said.   
   > 	John Horn, superintendent of Mesquite shools, said he understands the   
   > mother's feelings but that making one exception would open the way for   
   > others to challenge the policy.   
   > 	Long hair is an integral pat of the cultural and religious beliefs of   
   > traditional American Indians, said Barbara Ash, an administrative   
   > assistant at the native American Rights Fund in Boulder, Colo.   
   > 	``For many Native Americans, the only time they cut their hair is   
   > when they're in mourning. It's not insignificnt,'' she said.   
   > --    
   > Chris Long, 265 Old York Rd., Bridgewater, NJ  08807-2618   
      
      
      
      
   Hello everyone. Not sure this is still up, operational, or working, but I   
   wanted to give an update of...well, me. I am still doing well, my parents are   
   still fighting the good fight for me and so many others, and my hair is still   
   long. Google me if you    
   can, should be a couple pics of me with my hair still long and down by now. I   
   am so blessed to have parents with the intelligence and heart to fight for me   
   and other's beliefs. I am so honored to carry with me, my traditions, my   
   family, my convictions,    
   morals, and ethics, and I have done it all, with my hair traditionally long,   
   and with my honor, intact. To all, love and prayers, and thanks for the   
   support.   
      
   Itsa-Lichii Gomez    
      
   28 years old, attending UNM, Majoring in Psychology and Sustainability.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)