In an article I wrote two years ago, I expressed my concerns about worldwide religious and political fanatics trying to rewrite history and science books in order to model them after their own narrow agendas. Much of my expressed unease was scoffed at. Apparently those fears however are now coming to fruition in Texas.
Being one of the largest purchasers of kindergarten through 12th grade textbooks in the country, the Texas State Board of Education with its nearly five million students has a large influence on what is published in not only its own state, but nationwide as well.
Where that becomes a problem for the rest of us, is when a lame-duck session of the BOE has now succeeded in twisting history, science and social studies primers in order to conform to their right-wing notions, knowing full well that they’re about to be booted out of office and that the soon-to-be-published texts will be used for at least ten years down the road.
In a move toward the GOP’s political center, Dr. Don McLeroy, a dentist and leader of the board's far-right conservative faction, was voted out of office during Texas' Republican primaries. Seeing the end of his considerable influence drawing to a close soon, he seems determined to turn socio-political studies in his state into a training ground for Southern Christian thinking with possible overtones of racism.
Maybe he and his seven ultra-conservative associates can explain the following questions:
Obviously Texans don’t know nearly a century and a half after the event, that the South lost the Civil War. Why else would a demand be introduced that defeated Confederate General Stonewall Jackson’s leadership skills be taught alongside and in contrast to President Abraham Lincoln’s?
Why would his committee push for an amendment to remove all mention of such men as Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, and then demand that in their place such people as Phyllis Schlafly, and influences such as The Contract with America, the Moral Majority, the right-wing Heritage Foundation and the National Rifle Association be taught in their place? Others at the meeting also insisted that even though their very first “convention” was held just recently, that the Tea Party’s influence on American History be included in the new schoolbooks?
In a move that seemed to try to eliminate or minimize any mention of the civil rights movement’s influence on U.S. History, they proposed removing any references to the contributions of race in our national identity. On the second day of meetings it was proposed and rejected that the names of two Hispanic and one Black Medal of Honor winner be included in a World History book.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Glen Boyd
Well written article that makes its points very well Jet. I just hope that you aren't that angry at all Christians.
Believe it or not, there is an equally committed group of progressive Christians out there who stake their beliefs on matters of conscience, charity and social justice. They may not be as loud as the righties in voicing their deeply held convictions, but believe me they are out there. Much as the conservatives would like you to believe that they alone speak for the Almighty, there are different schools of thought among the Christian community.
You might be surprised to learn that some of us are on your side.
-Glen
2 - Jet Gardner
Thanks for the vote of confidence Glen... much appreciated
3 - Glen Boyd
The fact is a fair number of conservative politicians who wrap themselves in piety and self-righteousness do so mainly to get votes. The reasoning is that by doing so, they can reach the great unguarded white middle, who in reality exist in a world that is about as far away from the yachts and the country clubs of the Republican party as could possibly be.
By wrapping themselves in a bible they are able to reach working class folks in a way that otherwise would be near impossible to do. If these people voted on economics and in their own interest, they would see that supporting right-wing politicians works directly against their best interests, and that is pretty much the point I think. That's why the smarmier Mitt Romney used car salesman types do what they do.
To my way of thinking, true Christianity feeds and clothes the less fortunate, rather than simply robbing them blind or trampling them down even further. It also recognizes that sending young men off to die in unnecessary wars is murder every bit as much as abortion is.
-Glen
4 - Jet Gardner
Yes, calling a fetus an "unborn" child is about as twisted as calling a used car "pre-owned" and just as misleading.
I'm looking forward to seeing how many actually read the article and how many just crib based on the comments...
I'm going to have to call the doctor tomorrow and ask how one goes about recharging a defibrillator battery...
5 - Glen Boyd
Don't get me wrong here, because I also think abortion is a pretty nasty business...just ask any woman who has had the "procedure" done...
But I also don't think it's something which belongs in the legislative arena, but rather should be up to the individual. The idea of government making moral decisions for the individual to me is a just too much of a stepping stone towards much more frightening applications of the legal system for comfort.
-Glen
6 - Glen Boyd
Good luck with the heart gadgets, and good night.
-Glen
7 - jeannie danna
Jet,
influences such as The Contract with America, the Moral Majority, the right-wing Heritage Foundation and the National Rifle Association be taught in their place? Others at the meeting also insisted that even though their very first “convention” was held just recently, that the Tea Party’s influence on American History be included in the new schoolbooks?
These are all very dangerous organizations that share one sad fact with each other; they are all intolerant of others who do not lock step with their narrow and limited belief systems.
The Heritage Foundation took Ronald Reagan’s presidency and manipulated it for their own purposes; we see those purposes and what they have done to this country every time someone mentions the phrase," trickle down economics."
The NRA would rather die holding a gun in their hands than to help bring some regulation and sanity to gun control laws. I suppose automatic assault riffles bring in a hefty profit.
The Contract with America and the Moral Majority folks are non-inclusive with anyone not themselves, and the Tea Party…well their just wakos with a lot of money controlling and manipulating many people who just want someone to help them.
I heard last night on the news that there is a group now calling themselves the "Coffee Party."
Have we all lost our minds in this country?
I am not a member of a gang no matter what their intentions are!
We need to realize that we are the government and we are this nation. We come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. When I look at America, I like what I see.
Why can't this be brought before the Supreme Court and Why is the State of Texas the controlling factor as to what our children are taught in school?
:)Good to see you writing Jet, hope that you are feeling well.
8 - Ruvy
I'm glad to see you made through your operation and are now on to details about machine tinkering. A lot of folks prayers were answered. Good!
I remember that original article, and told you it was good - except that it was not broad enough in scope. Nevertheless, one does see that your fears in the States seem to be on the way to being realized. Given that Dave Nalle lives in Texas, I'd be curious to see what his point of view is on all of this.
9 - jeannie danna
Jet,
One more point, the federal government would like to bring some consistency to the teaching standards in this country and raise them up so that our children will all be prepared to compete in this world market some day. Is anyone surprised learning that the States of Texas and Alaska are blocking this program?
10 - Clavos
Is anyone surprised learning that the States of Texas and Alaska are blocking this program?
As well they should be. It is no accident that the Founders set the government up the way they did, with the states all retaining significant autonomy in the management of their affairs.
We were, and are, a federated republic. Washington already has far too much power over the states, adding more can only be detrimental to the Republic, and to the well-being of its citizens.
Welcome back, Jet. Glad to see you back and feisty as ever!
11 - Arch Conservative
Yes we should place all our faith in the federal government to repair our schools.
Especially in light of the ubiquitous evidence that catholic and other private schools routinely produce students that perform better on standardized test in every subject than their public school counterparts.
"Yes, calling a fetus an "unborn" child is about as twisted as calling a used car "pre-owned" and just as misleading."
How right you are Jet. That's why we ask pregnant women "when's the fetus due," rather than "when's the baby due?'
It ceases to become a baby and becomes a fetus only when it's deemed unwanted. How convenient.
12 - jeannie danna
We were, and are, a federated republic. Washington already has far too much power over the states, adding more can only be detrimental to the Republic, and to the well-being of its citizens.
This is why we ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Because, if we hadn't amended, then those pesky little literacy tests, poll taxes, and the Grandfather Clause would still be disenfranchising a large number of our voting population.
No, we need our federal government for many reasons and this is just one example.
13 - Silas Kain
The problem is if literacy tests were implemented in the right to vote, 75% of Americans would lose the right.
Insofar as Texas goes, I hope Perry wins and has the balls to begin secession.
14 - jeannie danna
Yes! we should place all our faith in the federal government to repair our schools.
Especially in light of the ubiquitous evidence that catholic and other private schools routinely produce students that perform better on standardized test in every subject than their public school counterparts.
Today, catholic and private schools have more resources so that they can pay more to draw in better teachers.
Keep fighting all of the school funding and taxes and this is what you'll get, poorly prepared adults that draw on this society.
15 - jeannie danna
Silas,
You sound as if you want to leave with them, is this true?
I hope not!
16 - jeannie danna
The second paragraph in #14 should have been in italics.
17 - Jet Gardner
Jeanie #7-Why can't this be brought before the Supreme Court and Why is the State of Texas the controlling factor as to what our children are taught in school?
A. Someone would have to sue the BOE to stop the changes, then go through a lenghty appeal process-meanwhile the texts would've been taught from for years before it ever hit the supreme's which are led by Bush's appointee-and we've already seen where his head is at.
B. The controlling factor is that texas is the largest purchaser of text books in the nation with over 5 million students. Rather than reset to publish a different version, the publisher saves money by distributing books they've already set up for/printed to other states/school districts.
18 - Jet Gardner
Ruvy #8 Thanks again for the prayers you said-now if only I had an easy bank to rob in order to pay the bills.
19 - Jet Gardner
#9 Well I've just given an example of what's going on in Texas-hopefully it's a minority sect.
As for Alaska; Palin fucked it up, then quit for greener pastures to become the keynote speaker for the Tea Baggers-having failed that, she's now an embarrasment shopping an Alaska-based reality show to Hollywood...
Same shit-different day.
20 - Jet Gardner
#10 Thank you Clavos-Yes I'm glad the founding fathers set up our government the way they did.
The problem as I see it is that just as the religious right has mangled and re-interpreted the bible for their own purposes, they've also taken on the Constitution and the Founding Father's motives for their own ends as well.
Sometimes mangling logic in the process-as Pat Robertson did by blaming the Haiti earthquake on a centuries-old treatie with France. Apparently God is so busy, he just didn't get around to reacting to it until then.
Re-read my quoted first sentences of Article 11 in the body of my article of the Treaty that both Washington and Adams not only worked on but approved-along with the U.S. congress. If that isn't the most crystal clear indication that our government was NOT set up as a Christian theocracy-I don't know what is.
However McLeroy apparently skipped that part.
I have two favorite quotes which I'll paraphrase rather than look up the exact wording...
Churchill- He once stumbled over the truth. Fortunately he had time to pick himself up, dust himself off and continue on as if nothing had happened.
Simon & Garfunkle- A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest
21 - Jet Gardner
Arch-My definition of fetus vs baby is simple. When a fetus is able to sustain life on it's own if it were removed from the womb, at that stage it becomes a baby.
By your remark, I can twist that to read "We issue birth certificates-not conception certificates."
22 - Jet Gardner
Our govenment was set up to protect the rights of it's citizens-not take rights away.
That is why blacks can now vote and own property-though many in the south still to this day cling to the notion that they shouldn't (Ku klux Klan) If it weren't for the U.S. Government granting those rights to those who didn't have them, we would still have slavery of negroes.
That is why interracial marraiges are legal and recognized in all fifty states-though some justices-of-the-peace in the south refuse to perform them to this day. If the U.S. Government didn't intervene against the majority at the time, they wouldn't have that right either.
The Government was set up to protect the minority against the Majority. that's why so many fled England in the first place to escape the persecution of the religious majority to come to the new land to worship-OR NOT-as they saw fit.
However the religious right-would set up the Church of America modeled after the Church of England of the 16th century. The southern evangelical church wants to perform their own "crusades" in order to cleanse and take power over their peers.
It's a power trip that's also very very financially profitable too.
23 - Jet Gardner
12-The communist state of China is a Republic too isn't it? The GOP lovvvvvvves to call our country a republic because it sounds so... Republican.
Our country is also a democracy... which sounds so Democratic.
anything to twist a word around eh?
In god we trust... but which religion's god?
That fight won't come to a head until they try to replace it with "in Jesus we trust" which, believe me, is coming.
As for the southern states refusing to believe they lost the bloody Civil War... Look at all the southern attempts to replace U.S. Grant on our currency with someone else?
24 - Jet Gardner
For those of you who only read the comments and not the article the most important section of this piece is on page three...
Near the end of George Washington’s term on November, 4, 1796, the Treaty of Tripoli was written under his supervision. In Article 11 we read:
"As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility...
...it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
In 1797 the Senate ratified the treaty with no public objections, despite it being published for all to read, and Washington’s successor John Adams signed it without reservation.
25 - Clavos
In god we trust
Therein lies the principal problem. You can't sustain a great nation by trusting in a mythical character.