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.
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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...
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