Freedom from thought...

Here, read this.

I don't get it. Why is Arizona trying to legislate thought and rewrite history?

Ok, perhaps that's a bit provocative to say. But, once again, I think Arizona has a basically decent idea, but one that needs lots of rewording and restructuring.

I like the idea of having classes open to ALL students in a public school, because there really shouldn't ever be a separate class closed off to anyone attending a public school. But, the part about ending classes that "ADVOCATE ETHNIC SOLIDARITY INSTEAD OF THE TREATMENT OF PUPILS AS INDIVIDUALS," is bothersome language. It seems almost to me that by asking someone to not have ethnic solidarity is like asking them to have national solidarity among their 'brethren,' and then labeling it 'individuality.'

People are never truly individuals, as much as we like to push the doctrine of individuality in this country. We all shop at the same stores that are stocked with the same items. We all see the same movies that are all shown at the same franchised theaters. We go to McDonald's and, with few variations, order off of the same menu. Television shows the same shows and most newspapers run the same stories from the AP.

But, here's the thing Arizona: Some people don't view a bleached, snowy white America, and would like to be taught some of its 'dirty' past - because, as the saying goes, if you don't learn from the mistakes of the past - you are doomed to repeat it.

Some would argue that, historically speaking, America is an imperialistic nation, bent on the subjugation of other cultures and lands to its own capitalistic ends, and that maybe America has a history of conquering and furthering its Republic on the weakened backs of people of different races. It's entirely possible that maybe America, in order to curtail the shortage of African slaves during the 1800s, shipped over slaves from China and India and South American countries. That maybe America passed something called the 'Foreign Miner Tax,' that targeted the Chinese culture specifically. It could also be stated that Chicano ancestry could be traced to before any European settlers entered this country, and that once they did, the Chicano population were forced to work as slaves. Maybe, just maybe, throughout history a lot of our endeared and enduring leaders were slave owners, or saw nothing wrong with the domination of 'foreign peoples.' I haven't even mentioned the 'Native Americans.'

These things, and all that go along with them, should never be forgotten.

But, by the same token, they should also never be taught separately. We have one history, it's true - but it's a history made up of a hodge-podge of various different cultures and peoples and those should never be discarded or ignored. Legislating individuality is futile, as is using legislation for legal racism, then hiding behind the words of Dr. Martin L. King to further your cause. It's a disgusting and insidious form of hatred, which is not so much racism as in the classical sense, but a different form in which people are manipulating key figures to help bleach the past of its impurity and yet hide behind word's of 'unity,' to excuse their behavior.