What the Hell Is Going On In Arizona?

So obviously we all know about this whole immigration law bullshit that Arizona governor Jan Brewer signed slightly less than a month ago. I'm not going to rehash this argument about the racist undertones and poor decision making which went into that bill.

Now Gov. Brewer has signed a new bill. According an LA Times article, "HB2281 bans schools from teaching classes that are designed for students of a particular ethnic group, promote resentment or advocate ethnic solidarity over treating pupils as individuals. The bill also bans classes that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government."

Just like the first bill, I get what the inspiration was. Brewer and the state of Arizona has an agenda to maintain American values, but at what cost?

I understand there needs to be immigration laws put into place. And not just in Arizona but nationwide. But giving cops the ability to profile immigrants wasn't the answer.

I understand they want to eliminate potential anti-American teachings within American schools. But that doesn't give the state the right to suffocate ethnic studies. Brainwashing them by preventing them from learning about their culture and history through arts and literature is NOT the answer here, either.

Teachers in grade schools and high schools are going to be looking over their shoulder at all times, worried that if they teach a book written by a Latino or Chicano author might end up getting them fired or losing the school part of their state budget money.

Are there books or movies or other forms of media that are negative towards America? Yes, of course. And maybe there should be a list of the truly evil ones that are banned from the schools. I get that. But eventually these students are going to begin thinking for themselves. Eventually they should be able to read those books and be allowed to have a discussion in the intentions of the author.

Eventually the students are going to read them anyway, shouldn't we be trying to provide the proper environment to maximize they're ability to understand them?

Ethnic studies have increased in popularity nationwide over the last couple of decades. Colleges and high schools everywhere, especially in ethnic-rich neighborhoods and cities, offer education in the relationship between their particular social structure and the nation they call home. 

That home has an infamous past. America has persecuted many different races over the last three hundred years. We've pushed the Native Americans as far west as possible and we've used slaves from Africa and cheap labor from China. We are not a perfect country.

Teaching these students a White-washed education is another step in Arizona adding to the list.

What's next? Are we going to eliminate gender studies as well before the women can read books about how chauvinistic our country is?

Elena Kagan: Why Does It Matter?

It all started by what was a horrible mistake (or a deliberate bad joke) by the Wall Street Journal. Showing Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan in a seventeen year old picture playing softball, the WSJ has now created a wave of "Is she or isn't she?" questions all over the nation.

Kagan and the White House has done nothing but ignore the topic and rightfully so. This is one of those topics that regardless of one's response to the question, both sides will get upset about it.

If they say she is a lesbian, the conservative groups will probably try to secede from the Union again based on their ability to overreact to every little detail and on the other end of the spectrum will start throwing parties in the streets that we finally have someone proud enough to say "Yes I am" while holding one of the most important positions in our nation.

If they say no, most people will believe she is anyway, just because that's how non-trusting our society is nowadays. But at least the reactions won't be over-reactions.

So what's the point in responding? It only makes people angry or judgmental no matter what is responded.

And that's the problem with this country. We preach acceptance and freedom but we make people afraid to earn both. Both sides (liberals and conservatives) are guilty of this, as well as all those in the middle. Whether you agree with the gay or lesbian lifestyle should have no bearing on whether or not Kagan deserves to be a justice on the Supreme Court.

It should be about her credentials as a judge. Tell me what's in her employment and ruling history, not her taste in men or women. I don't care about that.

The conservative response is predictable. "But she'll get to rule on topics like gay marriage and if she's gay she's going to be biased!" Well duh. But so will Bubba Jo from Alabama. It's a liberal president nominating a liberal judge. Most liberal judges are going to rule in favor marriage equality. Her being gay or not won't change the way she rules.

Remember when people used to emigrate to America from countries which persecuted them for their beliefs or their lifestyles? Isn't it a little scary to realize that we're one of those countries now?