The central lesson for today, imho, is that the 1619 Project is a robust and enduring endeavor and .... This letter from McConnell and his tribe will most likely never have standing in our history,, save as a footnote of grievances . So I will not be alarmed by his penmanship.
However, the efforts of southern states to dictate their beli…
The central lesson for today, imho, is that the 1619 Project is a robust and enduring endeavor and .... This letter from McConnell and his tribe will most likely never have standing in our history,, save as a footnote of grievances . So I will not be alarmed by his penmanship.
However, the efforts of southern states to dictate their beliefs upon their educational curriculum is, well, their choice. Education, and much else of life, appear to be a right of the states, and the southerners do LOVE their states’ rights! So, we have a cultural war playing out, again. Let’s see, we have the values discord playing out with differences of “Liberty and Justice for All” pertaining to women and their full freedom of liberty; LGBTQ+ and all others who identify as they desire, in their pursuit of one’s liberty; all others who do not identify as WASP - and let’s include practicing Jews and Catholics, who btw, and deemed as ‘outsiders’ by conservatives, as they pursue one's own personal liberty .....
I’ve drawn my own conclusion here, that our culture war can be reduced to understanding one’s own perspective of “Liberty and Justice For All.”
To most people alive today, wherever one is alive, “All” means no one is left behind. From wherever one’s roots are planted, “all” means “no one is left behind”. So, I suggest we include our friends who cite McConnell, the Klan, authoritarianism, and even fascism, in our collective human family. They have their right to pursue fascistic values. But the tide of justice cannot be stopped, as it is simply a force of both human nature and mother nature.
I will be happy to call out one’s fascistic values, if they do not see that “all” includes, actually, themselves and EVERY brother and sister, in this human family.
Sure, let “southerners” teach how they like -as long as that means all adults in each state have a vote and a voice, not just a white supremacist subset.
I agree. One’s views ought to be challenged, if they are not inclusive, as well as adhering to our core principles. The right is attempting to define the very term “American” in 2021 to an outdated set of norms, established during slavery and continued throughout the Jim Crow era of the South. Tis no wonder the 1619 Project ruffles their kerfuffle!
I feel we are in a cultural struggle to define “democracy.” As Joe Biden exhibited in his recent address, liberalism is short on philosophy and morals, but long on legislation and policy. We certainly need a short-course on Locke and Montesquieu, as well as TR, FDR and JFK.
Many Republicans I have encountered recently and unfortunately, openly say that we are NOT a democracy and for them we should not be a democracy. From what I read they are pushing this in local curriculums. An example: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/07/us/usa-democracy.html
Christy, this is a telling tale of Michiganders debating the terms “republic” (conservative view) and “democracy” (liberal view).
But to me, this quote from the article is most telling:
I wanted to make sure there was a seat at the table for a conservative worldview,” Mr. Colbeck said. Colbeck is identified as a former Rep State Senator.
The fact that a local state senator speaks in terms of conservative world view tells me we have a looong road ahead to create a progressive world view, and then disseminate throughout the US. Say, 5 years, perhaps??? UNLESS, Joe Biden starts to speak in terms of a progressive worldview
Sad to say, it's not just southern states doing this sort of thing. NH's newly Republican majority in all branches of government (we actually have 4, not the typical 3-it includes the Executive Council, an advisory group to the Governor) have now passed an unconstitutional gag order forbidding ANY discussion/diversity training by pretty much ANYONE.
NH does all kinds of weird things. It's a wonder it even functions, even at the low level it does. I occasionally ponder on how two adjacent states of similar size, geography, and history can be so different from each other. It probably makes a difference that VT was an independent Republic for 10 years (while NY and NH each claimed it), but NH prior to 1776 was a Mass county run pretty much by self-serving governors. Sometimes things don't change much.
You're so right. I've lived here all my life and it just feels like we can never get anything done with our overly huge state legislature which tends to be majority GOP most sessions. When you don't pay your state legislators anything to speak of, who you gonna get? Old white guys who want to maintain the status quo from a couple centuries ago.
This thought has been ringing in my head for a few years now: the dilemma of the nation is just how to allow both Liberty and Justice for All! I tend toward justice, others tend toward liberty - and you have hit a nail on the head here.
The radical right has a notion of "liberty" as meaning their personal and collective right to do whatever they want, no matter how it may infringe on or harm the life or dignity of anyone else. "Religious liberty" is therefore their right to impose their religious choices on everyone else - be that insisting that states can make abortions illegal, or insisting that states cannot impose public health measures that treat religious gatherings the same as other gatherings.
I feel we need to call out this fascistic notion. What else would we do, Joan? But we need to name it for what it is - a hierarchical attempt to force a religious on others. A major tenet of America, and democracy, is ... freedom of religion.
I feel is vital to label the right’s attempt to force a view or morality as what is is - fascistic.
As a practical matter, I don't know, other than public discussion and supporting expansion of the Supreme Court.
The settlers of at least some of the original English colonies made the trip in order to be the ones in charge of establishing religion. There were multiple religions in the colonies, and eventually they agreed to leave each other in peace. One of the clear virtues of the writers of the Declaration and the Constitution (with Bill of Rights) is that they made it clear that religion is NOT the business of government...
Well, a bit more nuanced than that, I think, but I agree. It was actually more a desire to protect religion in general (and the right to choose not to be a believer), by keeping any religion or sect from establishing itself as a state religion. Fewer wars that way, and more attention paid to what they thought was the real provence of government: enabling acquisition of wealth.
I’m interested in hearing more, Margaret The Artist, as to how this phrase rings for you.
The two are wedded, to me, simply because they are a part of our “Pledge”. Here’s a bit more about "Liberty and Justice for All"
from Wikipedia:
"Included in our nation's Pledge of Allegiance, the phrase is supposed to represent the idea that each citizen is equal under the law. It represents the concept that every American is free and not to be “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” as indicated in our Bill of Rights”
I’ve long felt that this statement ought to be a core tenet of progressivism. The fact that it is from our “Pledge” to our democracy elevates the phrase to a moral certitude, if in this country there ever would be one.
Oh yes! They *should* be wedded and working as a team, the two concepts supporting and balancing society. It seems that in our current polarized country, the two are bifurcated. Divorced. One side screaming about their liberty, the other crying for justice. 2020 in a nutshell. I am hoping Biden can bring us back in balance. Some more tidbits about that pledge (love the juxtaposition of the Christian Socialist celebrating Columbus Day):
Pledge Timeline
September 9, 1892: The pledge is introduced in the magazine The Youth’s Companion as part of a program to celebrate Columbus Day in schools across the country. The words were written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister and Christian Socialist, and read: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all."
June 14, 1923: The National Flag Conference, sponsored by the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution, changes "my Flag" to "the flag of the United States of America," in part to ensure that recent immigrants had the US flag in mind and not the flag of their nation of origin.
June 22, 1942: Congress formally recognizes the pledge and includes it in the federal Flag Code.
December 22, 1942: Congress changes the official manner of delivery to placing the right hand over the heart; the previous stance, one hand extended from the body, was too reminiscent of the Nazi salute. The "Bellamy Salute" had directed that "the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag."
June 14, 1954: President Eisenhower approves the congressional resolution adding the words "under God" to the pledge. The Knights of Columbus and other groups, as well as Eisenhower himself, had lobbied for the change.
So glad you included the history of the "pledge", the wording of which was originally very different. The so-called "flag code" is not a legal thing, btw: merely an advisory thing. It has no legal ramifications. You can salute or not, say the pledge or not. As a Quaker, I do neither (though I stand in respect to the people I am with if the circumstances are formal). The pledge is not one of our founding documents, and should not be confounded with them. It is about a piece of cloth that is a symbol with varying meanings to different people.
Greetings TPJ. Thanks for the vibe. Yes, the “Mrs” and I took time to pack-out of our winter rental, and then a week to drive across our plains and byways. And I simply don’t have the energy to engage here in much dialogue, but I find my two cents on occasion to share my opinion.
It's not just Southern states. Here in NH, and in many other states where Republicans control state government, there are bills moving forward that will make the teaching of anything "controversial" illegal in public schools. If the First Amendment is to mean anything, those laws cannot stand. Given the Trump/McConnell court-packing schemes, though, I'm not sure the First will survive this onslaught.
The central lesson for today, imho, is that the 1619 Project is a robust and enduring endeavor and .... This letter from McConnell and his tribe will most likely never have standing in our history,, save as a footnote of grievances . So I will not be alarmed by his penmanship.
However, the efforts of southern states to dictate their beliefs upon their educational curriculum is, well, their choice. Education, and much else of life, appear to be a right of the states, and the southerners do LOVE their states’ rights! So, we have a cultural war playing out, again. Let’s see, we have the values discord playing out with differences of “Liberty and Justice for All” pertaining to women and their full freedom of liberty; LGBTQ+ and all others who identify as they desire, in their pursuit of one’s liberty; all others who do not identify as WASP - and let’s include practicing Jews and Catholics, who btw, and deemed as ‘outsiders’ by conservatives, as they pursue one's own personal liberty .....
I’ve drawn my own conclusion here, that our culture war can be reduced to understanding one’s own perspective of “Liberty and Justice For All.”
To most people alive today, wherever one is alive, “All” means no one is left behind. From wherever one’s roots are planted, “all” means “no one is left behind”. So, I suggest we include our friends who cite McConnell, the Klan, authoritarianism, and even fascism, in our collective human family. They have their right to pursue fascistic values. But the tide of justice cannot be stopped, as it is simply a force of both human nature and mother nature.
I will be happy to call out one’s fascistic values, if they do not see that “all” includes, actually, themselves and EVERY brother and sister, in this human family.
“Liberty and Justice for All"
Sure, let “southerners” teach how they like -as long as that means all adults in each state have a vote and a voice, not just a white supremacist subset.
I agree. One’s views ought to be challenged, if they are not inclusive, as well as adhering to our core principles. The right is attempting to define the very term “American” in 2021 to an outdated set of norms, established during slavery and continued throughout the Jim Crow era of the South. Tis no wonder the 1619 Project ruffles their kerfuffle!
I feel we are in a cultural struggle to define “democracy.” As Joe Biden exhibited in his recent address, liberalism is short on philosophy and morals, but long on legislation and policy. We certainly need a short-course on Locke and Montesquieu, as well as TR, FDR and JFK.
Many Republicans I have encountered recently and unfortunately, openly say that we are NOT a democracy and for them we should not be a democracy. From what I read they are pushing this in local curriculums. An example: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/07/us/usa-democracy.html
Christy, this is a telling tale of Michiganders debating the terms “republic” (conservative view) and “democracy” (liberal view).
But to me, this quote from the article is most telling:
I wanted to make sure there was a seat at the table for a conservative worldview,” Mr. Colbeck said. Colbeck is identified as a former Rep State Senator.
The fact that a local state senator speaks in terms of conservative world view tells me we have a looong road ahead to create a progressive world view, and then disseminate throughout the US. Say, 5 years, perhaps??? UNLESS, Joe Biden starts to speak in terms of a progressive worldview
Sad to say, it's not just southern states doing this sort of thing. NH's newly Republican majority in all branches of government (we actually have 4, not the typical 3-it includes the Executive Council, an advisory group to the Governor) have now passed an unconstitutional gag order forbidding ANY discussion/diversity training by pretty much ANYONE.
Catch me up. Did it pass? I thought it had gotten inserted in the budget and Sununu was threatening to veto it if they left it there.
NH does all kinds of weird things. It's a wonder it even functions, even at the low level it does. I occasionally ponder on how two adjacent states of similar size, geography, and history can be so different from each other. It probably makes a difference that VT was an independent Republic for 10 years (while NY and NH each claimed it), but NH prior to 1776 was a Mass county run pretty much by self-serving governors. Sometimes things don't change much.
You're so right. I've lived here all my life and it just feels like we can never get anything done with our overly huge state legislature which tends to be majority GOP most sessions. When you don't pay your state legislators anything to speak of, who you gonna get? Old white guys who want to maintain the status quo from a couple centuries ago.
:(
This thought has been ringing in my head for a few years now: the dilemma of the nation is just how to allow both Liberty and Justice for All! I tend toward justice, others tend toward liberty - and you have hit a nail on the head here.
The radical right has a notion of "liberty" as meaning their personal and collective right to do whatever they want, no matter how it may infringe on or harm the life or dignity of anyone else. "Religious liberty" is therefore their right to impose their religious choices on everyone else - be that insisting that states can make abortions illegal, or insisting that states cannot impose public health measures that treat religious gatherings the same as other gatherings.
I feel we need to call out this fascistic notion. What else would we do, Joan? But we need to name it for what it is - a hierarchical attempt to force a religious on others. A major tenet of America, and democracy, is ... freedom of religion.
I feel is vital to label the right’s attempt to force a view or morality as what is is - fascistic.
As a practical matter, I don't know, other than public discussion and supporting expansion of the Supreme Court.
The settlers of at least some of the original English colonies made the trip in order to be the ones in charge of establishing religion. There were multiple religions in the colonies, and eventually they agreed to leave each other in peace. One of the clear virtues of the writers of the Declaration and the Constitution (with Bill of Rights) is that they made it clear that religion is NOT the business of government...
Well, a bit more nuanced than that, I think, but I agree. It was actually more a desire to protect religion in general (and the right to choose not to be a believer), by keeping any religion or sect from establishing itself as a state religion. Fewer wars that way, and more attention paid to what they thought was the real provence of government: enabling acquisition of wealth.
I’m interested in hearing more, Margaret The Artist, as to how this phrase rings for you.
The two are wedded, to me, simply because they are a part of our “Pledge”. Here’s a bit more about "Liberty and Justice for All"
from Wikipedia:
"Included in our nation's Pledge of Allegiance, the phrase is supposed to represent the idea that each citizen is equal under the law. It represents the concept that every American is free and not to be “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” as indicated in our Bill of Rights”
I’ve long felt that this statement ought to be a core tenet of progressivism. The fact that it is from our “Pledge” to our democracy elevates the phrase to a moral certitude, if in this country there ever would be one.
Oh yes! They *should* be wedded and working as a team, the two concepts supporting and balancing society. It seems that in our current polarized country, the two are bifurcated. Divorced. One side screaming about their liberty, the other crying for justice. 2020 in a nutshell. I am hoping Biden can bring us back in balance. Some more tidbits about that pledge (love the juxtaposition of the Christian Socialist celebrating Columbus Day):
Pledge Timeline
September 9, 1892: The pledge is introduced in the magazine The Youth’s Companion as part of a program to celebrate Columbus Day in schools across the country. The words were written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister and Christian Socialist, and read: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all."
June 14, 1923: The National Flag Conference, sponsored by the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution, changes "my Flag" to "the flag of the United States of America," in part to ensure that recent immigrants had the US flag in mind and not the flag of their nation of origin.
June 22, 1942: Congress formally recognizes the pledge and includes it in the federal Flag Code.
December 22, 1942: Congress changes the official manner of delivery to placing the right hand over the heart; the previous stance, one hand extended from the body, was too reminiscent of the Nazi salute. The "Bellamy Salute" had directed that "the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag."
June 14, 1954: President Eisenhower approves the congressional resolution adding the words "under God" to the pledge. The Knights of Columbus and other groups, as well as Eisenhower himself, had lobbied for the change.
So glad you included the history of the "pledge", the wording of which was originally very different. The so-called "flag code" is not a legal thing, btw: merely an advisory thing. It has no legal ramifications. You can salute or not, say the pledge or not. As a Quaker, I do neither (though I stand in respect to the people I am with if the circumstances are formal). The pledge is not one of our founding documents, and should not be confounded with them. It is about a piece of cloth that is a symbol with varying meanings to different people.
Hello Frederick, hope all's well with you and years. We haven't heard much from you in a while.
Greetings TPJ. Thanks for the vibe. Yes, the “Mrs” and I took time to pack-out of our winter rental, and then a week to drive across our plains and byways. And I simply don’t have the energy to engage here in much dialogue, but I find my two cents on occasion to share my opinion.
I love "hope all's well with you and years." I celebrate years every day.
"Yours" of course. Are you a retired teacher, Andrea?
I'd edit the original, but don't want to lose the Likes that my ego relishes.
Retired two years ago, finally.
Gotcha!
Oh no, I suppose that Frederick appreciates the malapropism, as do I.
Oooo, a looming culture war: Malapropism vs. Autocorrect. That is all my dyslexic brain needs to work on!
Quickly looking up the definition of "malapropism." Ahh yes, I have done such myself enough times. I took on a new editor for my writings.
I love malapropisms for what they are, or what they aren’t, even
Frederick, I should have read this before I posted. You say here exactly what my brain and heart believe. Thank you!
Little did we know during our elementary school years that, at the beginning of each day, how powerful that recitation would ring decades later
It's not just Southern states. Here in NH, and in many other states where Republicans control state government, there are bills moving forward that will make the teaching of anything "controversial" illegal in public schools. If the First Amendment is to mean anything, those laws cannot stand. Given the Trump/McConnell court-packing schemes, though, I'm not sure the First will survive this onslaught.