Quote:
Yearbook photo flap erupts in Stratford
STRATFORD — A photograph on the cover of the 2002 Stratford High School yearbook that shows two recent graduates in what some see as a stiff-armed Nazi-like salute is causing a stir in town and has led to an investigation by school officials.
The photo includes more than 200 graduating seniors with their hands raised in the air or waving at a pep rally in the school gymnasium.
But among the crowd of students are two males standing side-by-side with their right arms stretched forward in a straight-ahead, stiff manner.
Superintendent of Schools Raymond O'Connell and Stratford High School Principal Daniel Hatch said Wednesday they are planning to interview the two unidentified youths, who graduated this week.
Hatch said the graduates will be asked what their intention was in the photo. O'Connell said school officials will then take "whatever action we believe is appropriate." "What is clear is that the students are making some kind of gesture that is offensive to many individuals and groups, but what is not clear is what their intention was in making those gestures," said Hatch. "We are taking this very seriously and trying to determine what the students were doing and how the photo got past the yearbook editors and onto the cover."
Hatch said the issue was brought to his attention by a student after the yearbooks were distributed late last week.
"It's very difficult to tell what kind of gesture the students are making and what it means," said O'Connell. "It can certainly be interpreted in different ways." But long-time political activist Sylvia Guberman, who is Jewish, said it is "very clear" to her that the students in the photo are giving the infamous Nazi salute.
Guberman, coordinator of the United Democrats of Stratford, said she lost 84 relatives in the Holocaust.
She looked at the yearbook photo with disgust Wednesday in her home as she held another photo of seven relatives, including her grandparents, who were killed by the Nazis in Poland.
"Not only is it an outrage that we have students attending Stratford High School who would make such a gesture, it is unbelievable and unacceptable to me that this photograph could make it onto the cover of the yearbook," said Guberman. "I can't believe someone didn't catch it." Guberman said she was advised by O'Connell that the school administration has been monitoring alleged neo-Nazi activities among some students at Stratford High School.
O'Connell couldn't be reached later Wednesday for comment on that claim.
No matter what the results of his investigation are, there are efforts under way to make changes to the yearbook cover, and make available the revised version for anyone offended by the photograph, Hatch said.
"We don't want any of our students' lasting memory of their high school experience to be scarred by something on the cover of their yearbook they find so offensive," said Hatch.
David Waren, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in New Haven, said the group takes seriously any alleged form of anti-Semitism, bigotry or racism. He said that while he had not yet seen the Stratford High School photo, he would as soon as possible and then continue to monitor the investigation.
"But we have to be careful not to pre-judge this matter before we know all the facts and what the school investigation determines," said Waren. "However, if it can be determined that these were deliberate (Nazi) gestures, we would expect that some kind of corrective action would be taken."
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I'm not supporting the Nazis , but it seems like the first amendment in the U.S. only applies as long as you dont upset certain groups. One of the people in the article was quoted as saying that "Not only is it an outrage that we have students attending Stratford High School who would make such a gesture, it is unbelievable and unacceptable to me that this photograph could make it onto the cover of the yearbook," said Guberman. "
Why is it outrageous for people to express a belief, even if it is based on hate?? Just because it offends certain people? If you changed "gesture" to "religeon" she would sound exactly like the neo-nazis she is attacking. Talk about the pot calling the kettle!!
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the kids in question actualy DID throw up a heil hitler salute. They probably did it as a joke for being forced to go to some dumb pep rally and throw their hands in the air. Now it is going to get blown
WAY out of proportion. I also have to ask , would the "anti-defamation league" be all bent if an african american student was seen throwing up a black panthers clenched fist gesture in the picture?? If you claim to be against defamation , then you should either apply it universaly or quanify it with what particular defamation you are against.