In the wake of the controversy surrounding Arizona's racial profiling bill, S.B. 1070, Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law yet another bill designed to divide the people of Arizona for political gain. In what has been described as the "ethnic studies bill," H.B. 2281 prohibits schools from having courses which "promote the overthrow of the United States government," "promote resentment toward a race or class of people," "are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group," or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of treatment of pupils as individuals." This law has the serious potential to deprive students of the opportunity to learn about Arizona's and this nation's rich and diverse cultural history, based simply on the personal whims of government officials.
This new law raises serious First Amendment concerns about government censorship of certain viewpoints, and threatens to chill the robust and free exchange of ideas by students and teachers. Rather than fostering the intellectual growth of its students, Arizona is attempting to dictate which political, cultural, and national views are orthodox. Will students not be able to learn about our nation's history of slavery? Or if slavery is taught, will teachers be prohibited from teaching that slave owners were predominately white because it may cause some sort of resentment? Could students be prohibited from learning about Cesar Chavez and his efforts to improve the working conditions of farm laborers who were predominately Latino? As evident from the endless number of uncertainties created by this law, it is hopelessly vague and leaves far too much to the discretion of politicians.
But in debating what courses are proper for a school curriculum, it is easy to overlook that the fundamental function of our schools is to teach our young people to think. Over 40 years ago, the Supreme Court explained the critical responsibility our schools have:
The classroom is peculiarly "the market place of ideas." The Nation's future depends upon leaders trained through wide exposure to that robust exchange of ideas which discovers truth "out of a multitude of tongues, [rather] than through any kind of authoritative selection."
Arizona should be reminded of its duty to instill in its students our nation's democratic values, including freedom of speech and a respect for other cultures, religions, and viewpoints.
H.B. 2281 paves the way for an endless series of attempts to ban certain courses or books found objectionable by one faction or another. Ultimately, a school's curriculum becomes a quarrel among various groups rather than a program thoughtfully tailored to educate our youth. Arizona should spend more time celebrating its rich history, instead of taking steps to erase it.
I haven't yet had time to research and consider the latest batch of immigration laws but if I ever see an illegal immigrant or a legal one or a citizen being subjected to a violent crime based on their race and presumed legal status - I will defend them.
And so history repeats itself... again, and again, and again.
While there was no one to speak for the Celts... descendants of those Celts should be defending those being oppressed, and not defending -- or being -- the oppressors.
The rest of us don't dare to.
First of all these are Mexicans we are talking about and they are here illegally. They have a country. Its called Mexico. They can go and live there and its a great nation. Its corrupt but they need to fix that. If they are cowards and unwilling to fix Mexico then why would we want them here?
And the problems in Mexico are largely due to NAFTA which the liberal's hero, Bill Clinton, signed into law. What liberals are really upset about is the idea of losing cheap exploitable labor.
What this is really about is liberal elitist wanting to have some guy with no rights mow their lawn and cook their food for them. What this is about is liberals wanting to live beyond their means by exploiting these people first with NAFTA and secondly by using them for cheap labor.
Your last two paragraphs seem actually to be pretty accurate, but I think that those who want "some guy with no rights mow their lawn and cook their food," are a group of offenders, who don't have any specific party affiliation... It's true, the REAL problem is, that no one seems to want to punish those who HIRE illegal immigrants, and THAT is what will FIX the problem... but why do you seem to think that these people are all "liberals"?
You may think I'm being intentionally argumentative, but I'm not - I really would like to know and understand. (I'm an "independent," through and through, myself... in fact, I'm so independent, that I don't like being associated with the political group known as "independent voters," because that's too much like party affiliation, for me... I can see getting annoyed with Republicans, or Democrats, over failing to address immigration honestly and proactively, but I don't see what "liberals" have to do with the problem... though Clinton did certainly deserve your jab regarding NAFTA, all the actual liberals I know, are still angry at Clinton for that, just like you are, and no liberal I know would call Clinton a "hero." So, I'm curious... about what you're getting at... isn't hiring illegals something that certain employers will do, not certain types of voters?
But the bigger problem with this law is that ethnic studies courses should be encouraged, but probably limited to one or two per high school student. I taught ethnic studies to a junior high class years ago. I had some kids who were not really functioning at grade level. But it turned out that once they were introduced to a really interesting subject, they dove in, began checking out books, doing research, writing papers. Many of these students were hispanic, some were black, and it was the first time they'd heard about all the important and valuable contributions by members of their group to our nation's history.
Arizona has a high school graduation rate of around 67%, and only 61% for hispanics. They should do more to get these kids interested and involved, not punish creative teachers who are trying to do just that.
See how "free" speech is on Planet California: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwotty4W1WU
Would you let Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam take black students for an hour or two everyday at school and teach them that Judaism, the first of the great monotheistic faiths, "a gutter religion?" And, in a gross insult to and distortion of Islam itself, he peddles the bizarre and racist notion that whites are the evil descendants or mutant creations of ancient aliens from outer space placed on earth to oppress and exploit blacks.
Why would you support La Raza in the schools radicalizing Hispanics? They already have the highest drop out rate in the country, why add to that an attitude of being a victim?
the latter is no different than any separatist political group.
the NCLR is no where close to being a hate group that I could point to>
Group does good work bad choice of name
This is totally opposed by MEChA for the hordes of illegal immigrants pouring across our borders, to whom they say:
"Chicano is our identity; it defines who we are as people. It rejects the notion that we...should assimilate into the Anglo-American melting pot...Aztlan was the legendary homeland of the Aztecas ... It became synonymous with the vast territories of the Southwest, brutally stolen from a Mexican people marginalized and betrayed by the hostile custodians of the Manifest Destiny." (Statement on University of Oregon MEChA Website, Jan. 3, 2006)
La Raza 's secondary organizations is the radical racist group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan (MEChA).
Their plan is what is referred to as the "Reconquista" or reconquest, of the Western U.S.
http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/2010/04/26/video-interview-with-a-young-reconquista/
http://www.mixx.com/videos/14124241/youtube_reconquista_aztlan_separatist_speech_by_ron_gochez
http://wethepeopleofamerica.org/?p=210 Conspiricy theory my a** the list could go on and on.
Oh, and not a youtube site.