Reason.com
Russell Pearce: American Hero
Rep. Russell Pearce, the excitable Arizona legislator who called McCain's immigration bill "treasonous," has a new idea:
Arizona public schools would be barred from any teachings considered counter to democracy or Western civilization under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by a legislative panel.
Additionally, the measure would prohibit students of the state's universities and community colleges from forming groups based in whole or part on the race of their members, such as the Black Business Students Association at Arizona State University or Native Americans United at Northern Arizona University. Those groups would be forbidden from operating on campus.
Pearce, a Mesa Republican, said his target isn't diversity instruction, but schools that use taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate students in what he characterized as anti-American or seditious thinking..
SB 1108 states, "A primary purpose of public education is to inculcate values of American citizenship. Public tax dollars used in public schools should not be used to denigrate American values and the teachings of Western civilization."
Which values count as American, you ask? Let's consult Rep. John Kavanaugh:
"This bill basically says, 'You're here. Adopt American values,' " said Kavanagh, a Fountain Hills Republican. "If you want a different culture, then fine, go back to that culture."
Well, that clears things up. Obviously, this proposal comes packaged as an amendment to a "homeland security" bill.
Hat Tip: Kip Esquire.
|4.22.08 @ 6:19PM|#
The people who push this sort of legislation always seem to
labor under the idea that they're the ones who get to determine
what "American values" are. In all likelihood, the people currently
setting the educational standards will be the ones who end up
determining which values are "American".
As usual, I'd prefer a system where schools are largely free to
teach what they want, and parents are free to choose which schools
their kids should attend. That way, the "values" decisions can be
made by the consumers, rather than by some educrat whose values
will be a poor fit for a great many consumers.
|4.22.08 @ 6:36PM|#
Of course, denigration of Western Civilization is a primary
component of modern Western Civilization. Therefore any teachings
of Western civilization must be purged from our schools to preserve
the teachings of Western civilization.
Kudos!
|4.22.08 @ 7:00PM|#
What's so great about western civilization? Hell, what's great about any civilization? All civilization gives us is endless war, oppression, and fear, and then it has the nerve to take credit for the labor and ideas of individuals. I reject your civilization, Mr. Pearce.
The Wine Commonsewer|4.22.08 @ 7:08PM|#
There is an easy solve. Dismantle public education
entirely.
Pass the opium please.
The Wine Commonsewer|4.22.08 @ 7:21PM|#
it's the State legislature drafting it into law and it's not
backed up with expulsion, it's backed up with guns.
Kwix, shame on you, it's all backed up with guns. All of it. From
the bullshit textbooks my kids bring home from school to what
happens when the boy shows up to school having forgotten to remove
the Swiss Army pocket knife from his jeans.
The rules about what is taught are decided by the politically well
connected without regard to what you or I or Jerry Falwell's ghost
would like to see taught.
I'd put my kids back in private school, but they seem to have
gotten drunk on the same Kool-Aid.
The Wine Commonsewer|4.22.08 @ 7:23PM|#
but they seem to have gotten drunk on the same
Kool-Aid.
Not the kids, dammit! :-)
highnumber|4.22.08 @ 7:31PM|#
I haven't read the link but IIRC Kip Esquire is a douche bag
who thinks the most important principle of liberty if Federal
recgnition of "gay marriage".
I'd like to take this moment to remind everyone that "SIV" is short
for "Single Issue Voter."
One man's gay marriage is another man's cockfighting.
|4.22.08 @ 7:36PM|#
The Pope and the President and the big rock star who made a lot of money, all got one thing in common...
Naga Sadow|4.22.08 @ 7:49PM|#
What exactly constitutes Western civilization? Not bashing my ancestors but western civilization as a whole is pretty bloody. Western culture is more or less a history of intolerance and genocide. Cato's speechs were pretty typical of western civilization. When giving a speech he would end with "Delenda est Carthago".
SIV|4.22.08 @ 7:52PM|#
One man's gay marriage is another man's cockfighting.
One man's "positive liberty" is not another mans negative
liberty.
GILMORE|4.22.08 @ 8:09PM|#
SIV | April 22, 2008, 7:52pm | #
One man's "positive liberty" is not another mans negative
liberty.
What was the issue in question again? Gay marriage?
How is forbidding gay marriage positive liberty for anyone?
Maybe i missed the issue.
As far as Americana, I'd say we'd have to teach people to realize
that the US was formed as a society that was essentially polyglot
and had no national 'culture'.
I mean, which is it = were puritans or quakers or catholics or the
freethinkers the REAL americans ?
I thought it was Ben Franklin. An adulterous semi-deist who liked
kites. And makin' money. All about the Benjamins baby.
Among those who ran away from the intolerant orthodoxy of
Boston was Franklin. He ended up in Philadelphia, a place unlike
much of the world. There were Lutherans and Moravians and Quakers
and even Jews, as well as Calvinists, living side by side in what
became known as the City of Brotherly Love. Franklin helped
formulate the creed that they would all be better off, personally
and economically, if they embraced an attitude of tolerance.
Franklin believed in God and in the social usefulness of religion,
but he did not subscribe to any particular sectarian doctrine. This
led him to help raise money to build a new hall in Philadelphia
that was, as he put it, "expressly for the use of any preacher of
any religious persuasion who might desire to say something." He
added, "Even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a
missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at
his service."
Mike Laursen|4.22.08 @ 8:31PM|#
Hell, what's great about any civilization? All civilization
gives us is endless war, oppression, and fear...
Hey, hey, hey. Watch it. Western Civilization also gave us fish
tacos, ice-cold Coronas, and scantily-clad babes on Telemundo. Of
course, Rep. Pearce no doubt has a barbarian-like obliviousness to
these remarkable achievements of Western Civilization.
|4.22.08 @ 8:40PM|#
Russell Pearce can take his anti-American "democracy" and shove it up his ass sideways. No wonder the Republic is dead.
Yahoo Answerer|4.22.08 @ 9:01PM|#
"scantily-clad babes on Telemundo"
I watch Telemundo even though I do not understand most of what they
are saying. I suppose I am not the only one.
Kolohe|4.22.08 @ 9:28PM|#
"Arizona public schools would be barred from any teachings
considered counter to democracy..."
Isn't republicanism a philosophy counter to democracy?
The Wine Commonsewer|4.22.08 @ 10:58PM|#
TWC makes a comment about (somebody) getting drunk.
Coincidence? I think not!
In a staggering druken slurred voice... I love you man, you're my
buddy!
24 beers in a case. 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? Stephen Wright
thinks not.
One man's gay marriage is another man's
cockfighting.
OMIGOD! Settling arguments the old fashioned way?
LarryA|4.23.08 @ 1:12AM|#
Arizona public schools would be barred from any teachings
considered counter to democracy...
Which should first bar teaching about Pearce's law.
|4.23.08 @ 8:39AM|#
joez Law of teh Internetz: when you write a comment insulting
someone's intelligence, you will make a spelling error that makes
you look like an idiot.
e.g.: Get a Brain, Morans!
Taktix®|4.23.08 @ 9:09AM|#
A legislator dictating campus policy is like me directing a shuttle launch...
|4.23.08 @ 11:19AM|#
Would the Role-Playing Nerds at the University of Arizona still
be able to meet at the Student Union if they promote gnome-orc
relationships? Is man on centaur love appropriate for America?
Which alignments fit in with American values?
I'll miss the women's soccer team: too European in origin, though I
guess Western civilization may give it a respite. But I don't want
to, because basketball is still Canadian, so Lute Olsen can take a
fucking hike, especially after last season's bullshit.
But I digress.
And where do the Native Americans go home to? Usually it's Arizona,
you fuckwit.
|4.23.08 @ 12:13PM|#
"A primary purpose of public education is to inculcate
values of American citizenship."
And here I thought the primary purpose of education was to teach
skills like readin', writin', and 'rithmetic.
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Episiarch|4.22.08 @ 5:13PM|#
in what he characterized as anti-American or seditious thinking
Like opposition to freedom of association, right? Wait...
Neil|4.22.08 @ 5:15PM|#
This is exactly what is needed.
|4.22.08 @ 5:20PM|#
Kavanaugh. Such a nice Apache name.
lunchstealer|4.22.08 @ 5:24PM|#
When Kavanaugh goes back to 1950, I'll be happy to go back to my culture. Oh, and since my culture happens to be early 21st Century suburban America, it won't be such a long trip.
|4.22.08 @ 5:24PM|#
Given that universities routinely deny student the right to form university recognized groups based on any number of arbitrary criteria I don't see why one more arbitrary criteria should make much difference.
Plurailism-has-its-limits Nazi|4.22.08 @ 5:29PM|#
many criteria
one criterion
Old Spelling Conservative|4.22.08 @ 5:35PM|#
Plurailism-has-its-limits Nazi
It helps, when correcting other people's grammar, to spell your own name correctly.
|4.22.08 @ 5:35PM|#
Except that this isn't a particular university's board of regents making the rule, it's the State legislature drafting it into law and it's not backed up with expulsion, it's backed up with guns.
You're right, same-same.
Rimfax|4.22.08 @ 5:37PM|#
plurailism: the practice of laying multiple sets of tracks in parallel to each other; also, getting busted on your own grammar or spelling while being a pedant
Rimfax|4.22.08 @ 5:40PM|#
"A primary purpose of public education is to inculcate values of American citizenship."
What's the world coming to when you can't tell the difference between the Republicans and the radical socialists?
|4.22.08 @ 5:41PM|#
Wow, the doublespeak is strong with this one.
"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, ... or the right of the people peaceably to assemble". I am not sure how much more "unamerican" you can get than passing a law that runs directly counter to the first Amendment.
|4.22.08 @ 5:42PM|#
State Universities are creatures of the State. Whether it is the regents deciding on their own, or being told by the Legislature, it is still backed up by guns. I hope this passes. It helps make clear to those who support it the most the folly of government education. Full, open war between competing forms of indoctrination is much preferable to our cause than the current, fly under the radar form of indoctrination.
SIV|4.22.08 @ 5:42PM|#
The Social Security provision in McCain's immigration bill made treason look pretty good by comparison.
I would prefer to abolish public education outright but if I was an Arizona taxpayer I'd prefer public schools teach Western Civ with a positive spin.
I haven't read the link but IIRC Kip Esquire is a douche bag who thinks the most important principle of liberty if Federal recgnition of "gay marriage".
Firefox spellcheck informs me that douchebag (as well as fire fox and spell check)should be spelled as two words.
|4.22.08 @ 5:42PM|#
"This bill basically says, 'You're here. Adopt American values,' " said Kavanagh, a Fountain Hills Republican.
And just what are these "American values" this racist fucktard is talking about... besides beer-swilling, flag-waving, wife-beating, race-baiting, and gay-bashing?
|4.22.08 @ 5:44PM|#
Oh! I nearly forgot:
...bible-thumping...
you guy\'s are s\'low on the u|4.22.08 @ 5:46PM|#
Old Spelling Conservative - You failed the requirement of joes' law.
|4.22.08 @ 5:47PM|#
"A primary purpose of public education is to inculcate values of American citizenship."
A healthy appreciation for the values of diversity and dissent are bedrock values of American citizenship.
Captain Kirk could make androids shut down with shit like this.
lunchstealer|4.22.08 @ 5:50PM|#
The Social Security provision in McCain's immigration bill made treason look pretty good by comparison.
Objectively pro-traitor.
|4.22.08 @ 5:53PM|#
Who says Objectivists can't get elected to office.
|4.22.08 @ 5:57PM|#
WTF are "American values and the teachings of Western civilization."
Slavery? Genocide? Darwin? Hobbes? Marx? Fascism? Colonialism? Mercantilism? Unjust war? Christianity? Democracy? Limited Government? Monarchy? Affirmative Action? Roe v. Wade? The drug war? FLDS?
Fuck, this is so stupid I'd be ashamed to have any part in it.
Ken Hagler|4.22.08 @ 5:58PM|#
"Public tax dollars used in public schools should not be used to denigrate American values and the teachings of Western civilization."
So does this Pearce character decline his (paid with tax dollars) salary for the time he puts in proposing laws which denigrate American values and the teachings of Western civilization?
Rimfax|4.22.08 @ 6:01PM|#
SIV,
No wonder I like vinegar so much!
spur,
Oh, I think that his morality is exceptionally relativist, quite the opposite from Objectivist.
you guy's are s'low on the uptake,
And what the hell is "joe's law"?
lunchstealer|4.22.08 @ 6:01PM|#
"Public tax dollars used in public schools should not be used to denigrate American values and the teachings of Western civilization."
Of course, denigration of Western Civilization is a primary component of modern Western Civilization. Therefore any teachings of Western civilization must be purged from our schools to preserve the teachings of Western civilization.
We had to burn the school down to save it.
lunchstealer|4.22.08 @ 6:03PM|#
Oops, joe beat me to it.
|4.22.08 @ 6:08PM|#
And what the hell is "joe's law"?
joe's law essentially states that when pedantically pointing out another poster's spelling, punctuation or grammatical error, one will appear in your own post.
It's bit me.
|4.22.08 @ 6:11PM|#
It even bit SIV above when he pointed out spelling errors in the spellchecker!
...requisite Persion flaw...
Rimfax|4.22.08 @ 6:18PM|#
Okay, saved for posterity...