2010 May, 1st

Phil Butler

Update from the Editor: Millions are expected to participate in rallies in opposition to Arizona’s recent legislation according to The New York Daily News. Across America, people are joining May Day rallies in support of Hispanic Americans, all Americans. Celebrities from Shakira to Ricky Martin are up in arms over this perceived civil rights obscenity.

In recent news, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed into law the toughest stance on illegal immigration in United States history. Well, that is once the measures associated with this law are fully realized. In connection with this law, another sits on the good Governor’s desk which could allow racial and ethnic profiling not seen since the Nazis rounded up Jews before and during WWII.

This new bill targets ethnic studies programs at the Tucson Unified School District, but what’s even more alarming are “liberties” being taken by education boards with a relative “blank check” to enact local rules designed to “homogenize” not only education’s students, but their instructors as well. Governor Brewer’s intentions are quite clear to anyone with eyes. She, and the legislature there, have already cut off insurance benefits to over 40,000 children under KidsCare, can you imagine which kids?

The new bill, HB 2281 – prohibited courses; discipline; schools, uses broad sweeping and nebulous terms like; advocacy of ethnic solidarity, individualism over ethnicity, class, race, overthrow, and others ostensibly aimed at contravening hate and conflict – while actually imposing the worst kind of “profiling” seen since the civil rights movement. The bill, in an of itself, does not appear particularly grievous, but on closer scrutiny stomps on Constitutional rights and the very foundations of the Republic of the United States of America.

This bill, supposedly designed to curb something called “Ethnic Chauvinism,” in effect makes it illegal to teach classes about “selected” ethnicities, cultures, perhaps even nationalities if construed in a broader sense. The law does make provisions to “deal” with sensitive ethnic groups such as Native Americans, but is obviously designed to “profile” Hispanics. The news gets worse, believe me.

Precedents for Broader Action

Meanwhile, school districts in Arizona have already begun to act on a much broader scale, having received the Arizona Legislature’s implied permission to go forward with more aggressive measures to apparently ensure what amounts to an ethnic cleansing of Arizona’s education system.

The latest caveat in the direction of the Hispanic community? A Spanish accent (or any other kind of accent for that matter) prohibits a teacher from teaching. Will Governor Schwarzenegger be next on the list because of his Austrian accent? The first step having already been taken, State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tom Horne (who has been pushing these issues since 2007 – mashed up at right in appropriate attire) told Fox News:

“Traditionally, the American public school system has brought together students from different backgrounds and taught them to be Americans and to treat each other as individuals, and not on the basis of their ethnic backgrounds. This is consistent with the fundamental American value that we are all individuals, not exemplars of whatever ethnic groups we were born into. Ethnic studies programs teach the opposite, and are designed to promote ethnic chauvinism.”

As is the case with just about any such broad reaching policy, the leading proponents generally begin from an intellectual and often a viable philosophical perspective (this can be seen even in early nationalistic movements, including the Nazi party). Tom Horne is apparently now exception. In his inaugural speech (PDF), he broadly outlined his plans as far as English immersion for foreign language speaking children (Spanish to start with). On this count he is probably right with regard to studies conducted therein. But, despite Horne’s acumen or even his intent, like so many who have intentionally or unintentionally imposed such sanctions, Horne shoots himself and his utopia in the foot in quoting philosopher Bertram Russell.

…the good life is one that is inspired by love and guided by knowledge. By love, here, he means good intentions. Good intentions without knowledge is ineffective. But knowledge without good intentions, without character, is dangerous, and can do more harm than good.

Philosophy of Timely Wisdom

In the infinite wisdom of Russell on such matters, perhaps Mr. Horne’s readings leaned toward a law school term paper, or at best extracting as much needed “biblical” dogma to suit a sectarian religion of sorts. He, and others, should take note of those the philosopher termed “cocksure prophets” or worse “ignorant fanatics and dishonest charlatans.” In the case before us, these people appear as extremists who have irrefutable and empirical evidence that depriving people of their civil liberties will achieve some American state of Nirvana.

Just as Bertram Russel would have suggested, acting as if not knowing “profiling” Hispanic teachers negatively effect English learning is infinitely more desirable than creating a precedent where ANYONE can be extricated from ANY system. This is what we are talking about here any way, the setting of precedent where America becomes even less of a dream, and more of a nightmare for the powerless.

If President Obama, the Congress, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme  Court of the United States do not somehow act on this crucial issue, you are first hand witnesses to the beginning of the end of the United States of America as a viable idea. The agenda here is clear. The video below of an English teacher who speaks perfect English shows how impotent Arizona’s ideas are, vividly I might add.

Historical Repetitiveness

The Governor of Arizona, and all those involved in this insidious plan, can now erradicate the careers of teachers who do not “speak” this way, or come from “that” place. Just whom do you think will be next? They have excluded the Native American’s because the American people are enamored with that heritage. They have excluded the Jews as an ethnic group involved, because that one is too powerful. They have “targeted” Hispanics because they are powerless. Let me leave off with a quote from another modern philosopher intent on a “homogenized” citizenry:

The black-haired Jewish youth lies in wait for hours on end, satanically glaring at and spying on the unsuspicious girl whom he plans to seduce, adulterating her blood and removing her from the bosom of her own people. The Jew uses every possible means to undermine the racial foundations of a subjugated people. Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf, Book 1 Chap 11

Now that’s education. The teacher is using ancient mating ritual language to express how literature derived itself from pagan dances?

• 2010/07/15 -- Arizona and the Alamo Have Nothing in Common
• 2010/05/10 -- Lena Horne, an Expression of What Being American Is
• 2010/05/05 -- America’s Part in Cinco De Mayo History
• 2010/04/30 -- How “fluffer” Turned into News when Arnold Schwarzenegger Said the Word
• 2010/04/30 -- Late Nite News, Everyone From Expedia to Chelsea Handler Gets Plugged
• 2010/02/25 -- Bloom Energy Reveals More 21st Century Power
• 2009/12/20 -- World Leaders Proclaim Their Bravery At Copenhagen

About the Author

Phil Butler is editor-in-chief of Everything PR and senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. He’s a widely cited authority on beta startups, search engines and public relations issues, and he has covered tech news since 2004. Phil wrote in the past for ReadWriteWeb, Mashable, Profy, SitePoint, Search Engine Journal, AltSearchEngines. Follow Phil on Twitter or send him an email at phil [at] pamil-visions [dot] com.

See All Posts by This Author