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Post by soulzodiac on May 14, 2010 22:59:55 GMT -5
As I sat in a pew in Catholic church, I stared up at the enormous crucifix suspended from the ceiling on which a distinctly white man gazed theatrically toward the heavens. I looked around at the other black folks sitting around me in the pews, and realized that even then, in the heyday of the Civil Rights Movement, even as Martin Luther King used the language of Christianity to shame the majority into treating other men as men—I realized that, for black Americans, Christianity was like the atom. Tearing it apart might heat your house, but that doesn’t lessen its potential lethality. Arizona’s outlawing of ethnic education revived this memory. Just as black Americans have historically ignored the more toxic aspects of the Christianity foisted upon us by our former slave masters, that toxicity continues to infect not only us, but the descendants (literal and figurative) of those who enslaved us. Mainstream Christianity rests on the belief in an historical Jesus. By any American standards, this living, breathing man would have been classified as “white”—swarthy yes, but white. Of course, Europeans recreated him in their own image, blond and blue-eyed. But even when historical reality crept it and Jesus’ skin took on a bit of a taint and his hair a bit more curl that was strictly Nordic, it was not that much of a stretch. “White,” he remained. God chose a ‘white’ man to bear his image on earth. Thus, white men are clearly closer to God, dearer to God, more in his image than any black-skinned being with nappy hair. Christianity has always borne this toxic underpinning of white supremacy due to its historical pretensions. Jesus is not an allegory who can be effectively transformed to suit the occasion. He is both the son of the One True God and an historical fact—and he is white. Europeans used this aspect of Christianity to justify varying forms of brutality and enslavement. Americans used it in the founding of this nation, in drafting its Constitution, and in its official governance for most of her history. That history of violence is not easy for some white Christians (most of whom would call themselves “conservatives&rdquo to accept. The Godliness of their image precludes the possibility of centuries of monstrous behaviors. God has singled them out as most like Him and he has granted them dominion over the earth and its creatures. The idea that they lustily participated in butchery, rape, murder and dehumanization vicious enough to give most historical perversions a run for their money… that simply cannot stand. It is fine to dwell on the past of the confederacy, but off limits to dwell on the past of slavery and Jim Crow. The former is considered healthy respect for one’s forebears, the latter an incitement to resentment against white people. Clearly, shame and arrogance comingle here. It is the shame of those who know the facts paint them unkindly. It is the arrogance of those who believe themselves inherently superior in the eyes of their God; who believe that lesser men have no right to shame them, who believe somewhere deep down that they had the right to commit those heinous wrongs. If Arizona’s white legislators want to erase ethnic-specific education, they should close every school in the state, for most of their curricula are white-specific. But of course, the goal is to ensure that black and brown children continue to see the world only from the majority’s point-of-view, continue to see the majority through the traditional American Christian prism—closer to God, good and pure—clean and right. www.leoncegaiter.com/page1/page1.html |
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Post by homeylu on May 15, 2010 12:24:53 GMT -5
Very interesting article. The governor of Arizon is very conservative, and sometimes I feel some of these actions are punishment for Hispanics voting overwhelmingly for Obama.
Have you seen John McCain's latest AD in Arizona? Pay close attention to the "You're one of us" message at the end.
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Post by anansi on May 15, 2010 22:46:28 GMT -5
A lot of this has to do with the so-called "browning of America" a lot of people feel they are loosing "their" country that they were here first and it was "they" who built it others were merely observers that any talk of "ethnic" studies that showed participation by others is a threat they really want to go back to some fantasy 50ts America that never really was..I think black-people are the gate keepers of civil rights in this country if they just sit this one out we are at risk of loosing all that was gained check out this thread egyptsearchreloaded.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=pol&action=display&thread=233 |
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Post by franklin on May 16, 2010 12:09:08 GMT -5
Its highly ironic that many of these Hispanics are "Native Americans" or heavily "Native American" ancestry. If this fact is ignored then it will only cause great problems in sorting out current issues, someone coming into your country and then calling you illegal aliens
Everyone north of the border is magically "Indian" and southward they are something else, and this something else is alien. Simply an arbitrary division. This division is entirely unacceptable
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Post by soulzodiac on May 16, 2010 22:22:27 GMT -5
Thank you all for your feedback.
@ Homeylu
Subliminal messages indeed. I will certainly pay closer attention to these events.
If this new law in Arizona goes unfeathered I have the suspicion other states will implement similar policies to quell minority rights.
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Post by sttigray on May 19, 2010 18:44:32 GMT -5
One must remember that Christianity was not a white religion, for in Christianities earliest years its most successful adherents were in Africa, the Christian Church was in Nubia as well as modern day Ethiopia, and was ripped from our African fore bearers by Islamic extremist. Outside of Israel, Black Africa is one of the first places that establishes itself and came with us on the slave ships. Now I do agree this Western, Compartmentalized version has been shoved down our throat, but the Holistic, Orthodox roots of Christianity resided with us by our own choice shortly after its birth. I would further note that some of our greatest empires were Christian during the Crusades. Read of the heroic wars of the Christian Nubians against their islamic oppressors.
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Post by anansi on May 19, 2010 20:57:43 GMT -5
One must remember that Christianity was not a white religion, for in Christianities earliest years its most successful adherents were in Africa, the Christian Church was in Nubia as well as modern day Ethiopia, and was ripped from our African fore bearers by Islamic extremist. Outside of Israel, Black Africa is one of the first places that establishes itself and came with us on the slave ships. Now I do agree this Western, Compartmentalized version has been shoved down our throat, but the Holistic, Orthodox roots of Christianity resided with us by our own choice shortly after its birth. I would further note that some of our greatest empires were Christian during the Crusades. Read of the heroic wars of the Christian Nubians against their islamic oppressors. Yeah but you don't get it!!! get for although all of what you wrote is correct it is exactly what they don't want even if it is "Christian" for one it is "ethnic"="Black" and "foreign"= African they want a world view where their children and ours are thought that they are the ones who made any meaning-full contribution to the world all others be damned as a matter of fact I fear a beginning of an American anti-intellectualism which will lead to an American dark-age is a foot.. no one really reads and thinks anymore how else do one explain the FOX NEWS crowd? and sorry not to offend anyone but taking evolution out of school and replacing lt with creationism? you have public leaders and commentators who are not embarrassed by their ignorance...the world was created 6kyrs ago man and dinosaurs walk the earth together,the founding fathers intended America to be a "christian nation"..never heard of separation of church and state.. and that a lot of them were Deist. |
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Post by sttigray on May 20, 2010 21:13:38 GMT -5
Come again Anansi,
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Post by anansi on May 21, 2010 4:26:24 GMT -5
Like I said before we have people trying to roll back the clock back to some 50ts era..why are we even this discussing this today? we sit here on our haunches and look what they are doing to Hispanics on one hand while trying to roll back civil rights on the other all this is happening during the time of the first African American president..wake-up and get organize people those guys are not playing!!
It ain't over if you don't defend your rights you will loose them the midterms are important just as important as any general election you know what to do get out there and stop them pay attention to those running your local school boards also I know we have a few educators here.
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Post by homeylu on May 21, 2010 7:59:52 GMT -5
I honestly don't understand why 'Neocons' like the Governor of Arizona would want to supress "ethnic studies" what are they afraid of exactly? Why would anyone want to suppress the truth. Why do some of the most conservative European "immigrants" to America, want to keep 'natives' and people brought by 'force' from learning their own history. It is pure nonsense to argue that this education promotes hate against non "ethnics", a typical fear tactic.
The truth is, Arizona was NOT always part of the USA, and it has always been inhabited by Native Americans (some of whom are identified as "HISpanics") before the first Europeans "settled" into the area. "Settled" is the term most often used in mainstream history books, but the reality is they really did take the land by "force". They really did force some of the original inhabitants beyond the Mexican borders, and others on to reservations. I do not find anything wrong with the 'truth' being taught in our school systems, there is nothing radical about it at all.
The fact is, they cannot maintain the status quo so long as "ethnic" members of society learn the truth about their history. So even if it's not taught in school, the truth will come out eventually, trying to suppress it is a lost cause.
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Post by anansi on May 21, 2010 17:44:43 GMT -5
I honestly don't understand why 'Neocons' like the Governor of Arizona would want to supress "ethnic studies" what are they afraid of exactly? Why would anyone want to suppress the truth. Why do some of the most conservative European "immigrants" to America, want to keep 'natives' and people brought by 'force' from learning their own history. It is pure nonsense to argue that this education promotes hate against non "ethnics", a typical fear tactic. The truth is, Arizona was NOT always part of the USA, and it has always been inhabited by Native Americans (some of whom are identified as "HISpanics") before the first Europeans "settled" into the area. "Settled" is the term most often used in mainstream history books, but the reality is they really did take the land by "force". They really did force some of the original inhabitants beyond the Mexican borders, and others on to reservations. I do not find anything wrong with the 'truth' being taught in our school systems, there is nothing radical about it at all. The fact is, they cannot maintain the status quo so long as "ethnic" members of society learn the truth about their history. So even if it's not taught in school, the truth will come out eventually, trying to suppress it is a lost cause. You don't understand it's not about truth it's about raw "POWER" and who whiles it..I am sorry but a lot of those same folks who opposed our parents and even grand parents are still very much around and they still influenced their children and grand children to see the world through their eyes this is their death spasm...they are frightened and their fears are being fed by folks who want to keep the economic situation the way it is ...all else is an elaborate smoke screen..fueling the fake anger about change!!.. lets recap whats been happening 1.It is now possible to pull American citizen over and asked for their ID to prove their are in fact Americans by LAW2.Marenda rights is being discussed as a weakness and down the road is subject to change..in other words you have no choice but to incriminate your self without an attorney . 3.Being discussed is your citizen-ship being revoked if accused and charged with certain crimes ...ie terrorism ...some may say well what's wrong with that ? the answer is the phrase terrorism is a sliding scale ...bad mouth the officials and you maybe branded a terrorist. 4. Gains about civil rights are beings discussed as a states rights or a free market issue.. 5.The sense that America is a Christian nation rather than a nation with a lot of Christians..and it should be govern according to Judeo-Christian principles ...that the founding fathers intended. 6.A profound sense that if one looses an election it amount to tyranny..and the government should be driven from power by the gun if necessary. 7.that the history and contributions of Black~Brown people is irrelevant see Texas.. religion =science ..see Kansas I am sure there is a lot more but taken on a whole don't you all see where we are heading if we don't wake-up and pay close attention and get involved??...all the above is happening at break-neck speed....one Blk president can't save you even if he wanted to..only renewed action on your part can do that. |
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Post by anansi on May 22, 2010 1:01:30 GMT -5
Texas schools to get controversial syllabus
Page last updated at 0:03 GMT, Saturday, 22 May 2010 1:03 UK * E-mail this to a friend * Printable version Students in a classroom (file image) Texas' decisions could influence curriculums across the US Education officials in the US state of Texas have adopted new guidelines to the school curriculum, which critics say will politicise teaching. The changes include teaching that the UN could be a threat to American freedom, and that the Founding Fathers may not have intended a complete separation of church and state. Critics say the changes are ideological and distort history. However, proponents argue they are redressing a liberal bias in education. Analysts say Texas, with five million schoolchildren, wields substantial influence on school curriculums across the US. The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Los Angeles says publishers of textbooks used nationally often print what Texas wants to teach. Jefferson out Students in Texas will now be taught the benefits of US free-market economics and how government taxation can harm economic progress. They will study how American ideals benefit the world but organisations such as the UN could be a threat to personal freedom. And Thomas Jefferson has been dropped from a list of enlightenment thinkers in the world-history curriculum, despite being one of the Founding Fathers who is credited with developing the idea that church and state should be separate. The doctrine has become a cornerstone of US government, but some religious groups and some members of the Texas Education Board disagree, our correspondent says. The board, which is dominated by Christian conservatives, voted nine-to-five in favour of adopting the new curriculum for both primary and secondary schools. But during the discussions some of the most controversial ideas were dropped - including a proposal to refer to the slave trade as the "Atlantic triangular trade". Opponents of the changes worry that textbooks sold in other states will be written to comply with the new Texas standards, meaning that the alterations could have an impact on curriculums nationwide. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10141121.stmBill would block Texas textbook changes from California By Robin Hindery Associated Press Posted: 05/16/2010 10:19:22 PM PDT Updated: 05/16/2010 10:19:23 PM PDT SACRAMENTO — California may soon take a stand against proposed changes to social studies textbooks ordered by the Texas school board, as a way to prevent them from being incorporated in California texts. Legislation by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, seeks to protect the nation's largest public school population from the revised social studies curriculum approved in March by the Texas Board of Education. Critics say if the changes are incorporated into textbooks, they will be historically inaccurate and dismissive of the contributions of minorities. The Texas recommendations, which face a final vote by the Republican-dominated board on May 21, include adding language saying the country's Founding Fathers were guided by Christian principles and a new section on "the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s." That would include positive references to the Moral Majority, the National Rifle Association and the Contract with America, the congressional GOP manifesto from the 1990s. The amendments to the state's curriculum standards also minimize Thomas Jefferson's role in world and U.S. history because he advocated the separation of church and state, and require that students learn about "the unintended consequences" of affirmative action and Title IX, the landmark federal law that bans gender discrimination in education programs and activities. States that place the largest textbook orders have traditionally held Advertisement significant sway over the materials used in American classrooms. Texas is the country's second-largest textbook buyer, behind California, which has more than 6.2 million public school students in grades K-12. Under Yee's bill, SB1451, the California Board of Education would be required to look out for any of the Texas content as part of its standard practice of reviewing public school textbooks. The board must then report any findings to both the Legislature and the secretary of education. The bill describes the Texas curriculum changes as "a sharp departure from widely accepted historical teachings" and "a threat to the apolitical nature of public school governance and academic content standards in California." "While some Texas politicians may want to set their educational standards back 50 years, California should not be subject to their backward curriculum changes," Yee said. "The alterations and fallacies made by these extremist conservatives are offensive to our communities and inaccurate of our nation's diverse history." But some publishing industry experts say worries that the Texas standards will cross state lines are unfounded. "It's an urban myth, especially in this digital age we live in, when content can be tailored and customized for individual states and school districts," said Jay Diskey, executive director of the schools division of the Association of American Publishers. www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_15100785I hope other states follow and people in Texas and Arizona raise almighty hell!!... these folks are mucking about our kids education.. that is unacceptable!!... don't stand for that... 
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Post by homeylu on May 22, 2010 7:39:53 GMT -5
Actually Anansi, I consider my political views "independent" and although I am against most of the right wing conservative agendas being pushed through the Texas school system, I am also against the left-wing liberal agendas being pushed as well. By this, I mean that fundamentalist Christian ideologies should be kept out of the school curriculum, and by the same token, Darwinism has no place in our schools as well. If you're going to teach one, you have to teach both, or don't teach either, and this is where our state remains on the issue; neither are taught.
I don't believe in shoving the theory of evolution down our youth's throat, even if some "believe" it is based on scientific fact, while in reality most of it is based on "working hypothesis" that are in constant conflict with each other. For instance, the multi regional view vs the OOA theory, these scientist are in as much disagreement as say a Catholic vs Protestant, and ALL should be left out of our former textbooks. There are many parents that don't want their children being taught "ATHEISM" in the schools, and believe it or not, this is exactly what the theory of evolution leads up to; Atheism.
Other than this, I understand your frustrations, but most text books can be altered according to different state standards. You don't have to worry about one state influencing the education across the nation.
Unfortunately we don't have control over the policies issued in individual states. We can voice our opposition, but in the end, the people who put these officials in office, have the final say. But the wonderful thing about the USA, is that one can always move to another state. Maybe some of the surrounding states can welcome some of the "illegal immigrants" with open arms, if you're suggesting they have the right to be here. Personally I feel that they drive 'real wages' down for the average American, as they are exploited for their cheap labor by "Big Business" due to their illegal status. I have very strong opinions about illegal immigration, but I will keep them in check for now
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Post by anansi on May 22, 2010 15:47:21 GMT -5
Actually Anansi, I consider my political views "independent" and although I am against most of the right wing conservative agendas being pushed through the Texas school system, I am also against the left-wing liberal agendas being pushed as well. By this, I mean that fundamentalist Christian ideologies should be kept out of the school curriculum, and by the same token, Darwinism has no place in our schools as well. If you're going to teach one, you have to teach both, or don't teach either, and this is where our state remains on the issue; neither are taught. I don't believe in shoving the theory of evolution down our youth's throat, even if some "believe" it is based on scientific fact, while in reality most of it is based on "working hypothesis" that are in constant conflict with each other. For instance, the multi regional view vs the OOA theory, these scientist are in as much disagreement as say a Catholic vs Protestant, and ALL should be left out of our former textbooks. There are many parents that don't want their children being taught "ATHEISM" in the schools, and believe it or not, this is exactly what the theory of evolution leads up to; Atheism. Other than this, I understand your frustrations, but most text books can be altered according to different state standards. You don't have to worry about one state influencing the education across the nation. Unfortunately we don't have control over the policies issued in individual states. We can voice our opposition, but in the end, the people who put these officials in office, have the final say. But the wonderful thing about the USA, is that one can always move to another state. Maybe some of the surrounding states can welcome some of the "illegal immigrants" with open arms, if you're suggesting they have the right to be here. Personally I feel that they drive 'real wages' down for the average American, as they are exploited for their cheap labor by "Big Business" due to their illegal status. I have very strong opinions about illegal immigration, but I will keep them in check for now What I am talking about is not a simple matter of Creationism vs Evolution..but the fact that science is NOT DOGMA!!it is self-correcting... religion is not..after some one said... most likely god's spokes-person..your priest!! [.said "GOD" said it's over!!..no discussion no nothing..for it is written..go no further..swallow what ever your Priest or Pastor says..they cannot be questioned so called new evidence means nothing ..that's my main problem of religion vs a scientific approach .. I am against illegal immigration..I said before that if one wanted to put a clamp down on illegal workers then have stiff penalties for those companies and individuals hiring illegals..say at $10 .000 A POP..what you have now is a law that says anyone including "American Citizens " ..9 or 10 generation deep who "look"a certain way can be pulled over for walking or driving while brown/black..?? you know that's coming just look at the trends I pointed above. And come on homeylu how many people with Kids,Jobs and property want to pull up stakes and move some-where else unfamiliar?? the only folks who do that on a consistent basis are military families with great difficulties I might add. And the problem is as stated in the video Texas books are adopted whole -sale ..into other states.. |
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Post by homeylu on May 23, 2010 8:34:26 GMT -5
What I am saying to you is that textbooks can be designed to cater to the interest of specific states. I’ve been in charge of ordering textbooks for quite some time, so what I’m telling you in actual facts, NOT media hype. Check out this well know textbook publisher’s website; www.glencoe.com , on the first page you notice 2 things immediately “Texas Treasures” and “California Treasures”, what this means are these 2 literature programs have been designed ‘specifically’ for the 2 states above, it doesn’t mean EVERYONE else is using the same text book. On this page you will also note a drop down list, that specifically ask for ‘state’ so that the appropriate books for certain subjects are offered for your particular state. Now notice this site for Texas Social Studies Curriculum; www.glencoe.com/sites/texas/teacher/socialstudies/index.htmlNote the follow “state specific” course; “7th Grade Social Studies-Texas Study” “Economics with Emphasis on the Free
Enterprise System and Its Benefits” Now check out the Social Studies Curriculum for the state of Georgia, notice the above courses are NOT included; www.glencoe.com/sites/georgia/teacher/socialstudies/index.htmlNow as far as Arizona, what they are doing is probably unconstitutional and can be expected to be challenged maybe in Federal court, as the constitution has always left the immigration and naturalization process in the hands of the federal government. So even if they arrest citizens, they have to be turned over to the federal government for processing, the states aren’t allowed to send back illegal residents on their own, from my understanding of the naturalization process. With regard to the racial profiling, it has been occurring in ‘our’ meaning African American communities for decades. Where were these Hispanics then? Did any of them take a stand in our defense? Why are minority groups always expecting AA to stand up for causes for issues suddenly affecting them. I see this with the homosexual movement, the recent profiling of Arabs/muslims after 9/11, etc. The first thing they do is run to AA for support, then turn their backs on us once they realize the U.S. census recognize them as “Caucasians”, so we can’t expect any support from the same groups, when it comes to issues that affect us like Affirmative Action. I’ve witnessed how the Jewish community are so against this, yet they needed us to march on Washington with them during the racist Jim Crow era, because it affected them as well. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stand up for human right causes, but we don’t have to get involved in every political struggle for people who don’t give a damn about the causes that affect us. Personally I take a back seat to such issues. Ask any Haitian how racist the Dominicans are towards them, and how difficult it is for them to cross their borders. So don’t expect me to fight for them to have the rights to cross our borders illegally either. The federal government is not doing enough, our system is a failure. This is probably why Arizona took this into their own hands, and went to such extreme measures, maybe as a way to get the federal government’s attention, to say to them, if you don’t do something soon, we will. Obama is sleeping on the issue for political reasons; he needs Hispanic support for other upcoming elections. It’s all politics in the end. Basic scientific principals are taught in the schools. Darwinism is not one of them. Government funded schools are not a place to argue creationism-vs-evolution. Educators should not enforce one belief or the other, no matter what one’s personal beliefs are. Period. Several textbooks are more inclusive now than they have ever been before. Literature from African American, as well as Latino authors can all be found in our textbooks. What parents need to focus their energy on is emphasizing bilingual education more. Pretty soon, our youth will not be able to get certain jobs, unless they are bilingual in Spanish. Mark my words on this. It’s already beginning to take place. The demographics of America is changing at record speeds. Some of this is due to our ‘easily’ accessible borders, and the fact that illegal immigrants can give birth to “legal” citizens of the U.S. Now this is from CBS news, not FOX news; So as you can clearly see, we have one of the “weakest” immigration policies of any developed nation in the world. You can be sure if 2 American gave birth to a child in Japan, that child would NOT become a citizen of Japan, the UK,and many other places. This amendment in our constitution was originally designed to give ‘freed slaves” full citizenship by birthright, now it’s become a mockery. You say they can fine the companies that hire them, well this has been a law for some time now, nothing new. But how can they possibly know who is working legally or illegally when it becomes a problem randomly coming to a job site to check I.D.’s . The same people who are complaining about the new Arizona law, were the same one’s complaining when police were able to randomly go to construction sites and requests identification; they claimed racial bias then. So nothing seems to work, and personally I don't think it's fair to people that want to immigrate legally, and put on long waiting lists because of all the illegal residents here. |
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