Incoming attorney general Tom Horne has chosen as his first official target in combatting crime in our state the dangerous Mexican-American studies classes in Tucson schools. This would be laughable if it were not part of the larger social tapestry in Arizona. In the recent past, political honchos in Arizona — Pearce’s SB 1070, Arpaio’s crime suppression sweeps — have undertaken efforts that are, in fact, ethnically focused on the Latino community in our state.
Horne’s decision to foolishly spend our law enforcement resources on such silliness lays bare their true motivation. The reigning political conservatives in state government clearly feel embittered and culturally embattled by demographic and social shifts in our state, which they adjudge a danger to our historical American legacy. They are not alone. It appears that a majority of Arizonans — at least those being sampled in recent polls — share this concern. Our state leaders are poised to continue their backward-leaning efforts, be they true believers or cynical opportunists.
Tragically, the unintended consequence is a heavy smog of ethnic intolerance and racial bigotry which floats over our state. Arizona needs leaders who will follow Utah’s business, education and religious leaders and sign a compact of civil discourse and call on all to stop the ethnic/culture sniping. Even the Mormon Church in Utah — no liberal organization — has asked its members to subscribe to the principles of this compact. Where are our compassionate leaders? Where is our Arizona compact? Enough is enough!
Robert Decker, Tempe
Freethinker posted at 6:24 am on Sun, Jan 16, 2011.
" efforts that are, in fact, ethnically focused on the Latino community in our state."
No, they are focused on ending racism. Just because someone's skin is not pasty white does not mean they cannot be a racist. Have you even bothered to read the political rhetoric being used in those "studies" classes? If the classes were covering European-Americans and used the same language, it would be called racist.
"Tragically, the unintended consequence is a heavy smog of ethnic intolerance and racial bigotry which floats over our state"
Indeed, but probably not the kind of bigotry you're implying. There's a "Dos Gringos" down the road from me...how long do you think a restuarant named "Two Beaners" would last?
"Even the Mormon Church in Utah"
You are using as an example a group that is openly bigoted against gays and other minorities? Seriously??
Enough is enough!
Dale Whiting posted at 10:38 am on Sun, Jan 16, 2011.
Robert and "freethinker,"
You both walk a mine field on inconsistencies in our society.
Freethinker could have a valid point. But where non-latino teachers in Tucson laud this program, I tend to agree with Robert. And I thought that "Gringos" were North, not Central or Mexican Americans. Are Gringos beaners?
Where some organized religions may persue courses of action you question as being bigoted or racial, yet do have positions you ought to consider [i.e. the Utah Initiative], that broad roller brush you use to paint with might need to be trimmed back to a finishing brush.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 3:04 pm on Sun, Jan 16, 2011.
The Tucson Unified School Districts's Social Justice Education Project (aka =Ethnic Studies/Raza), to use their own course description, sets out to "Advocate for and provide culturally relevant curriculum for grades K-12", "Work towards the invoking of a critical consciousness within each and every student", and "Promote and advocate for social and educational transformation".
Does this sound anything, even remotely, like the History Classes that you took when we were in High School. Teaching this type of Ethinic ideology is bad enough to High School-aged students but as per the goals stated in this Program, the TUSD wants to teach this ideology to students from grades 12 down to Kindergarten-aged students also.... 5 and 6 year olds.
When you read where this "Pedagogy" ideology comes from, you find that the major contributor was Brazilian educator by the name of Paulo Freire born in 1920 and died in 1997. He was a member of the "Brazilian Worker's Party". His most famous book and one used as a major resource book in the Ethnic Studies program is "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" (1968). "In Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Freire differentiates between the two positions in an....UNJUST SOCIETY..., the oppressor and the oppressed".
Is this what you want your hard-earned State Income Taxes and other Arizona Budget revenues to pay for? Is it right that Arizona tax-payers are paying almost $5,000.00 a year for the Tucson area students in this Program to be taught from this book....."The Pedagogy of the Oppressed" in the TUSD's Mexican American/Chicano Ethnic Studies/Raza Program. Is this the "American" education that we want for our Arizona students?
I DON'T THINKS SO
Freethinker posted at 6:20 pm on Sun, Jan 16, 2011.
Dale Whiting wrote:
" I thought that "Gringos" were North, not Central or Mexican Americans. Are Gringos beaners?"
Gringo, like redneck, hillbilly, cracker, white devil, etc. is a racist slur for Caucasians.
Funny how racist slurs against one ethnicity are allowed without censor on these comments...but all others get deleted.
Actually, it's not very funny.
gringocatracho posted at 6:21 pm on Sun, Jan 16, 2011.
The overall point of silliness of the Attorney General's choice of targets for AZ's law enforcement is correct!! What about real crime!!!???
Please, are we Arizonans that gullible? Can't we see the mindless drivel that some of our politicians dump on us?
Let's see, we have Jan Brewer foisting obvious lies about beheaded bodies littering the desert in a clear effort to race-bait the AZ fear machine for political advantage.
Joe Arpaio swears on his career that his "crime sweeps" have nothing to do with ethnicity, but targets vehicles exclusively with Latino drivers and neighborhoods predominantly Latino.
Now we have the AG choosing a high school class as the first law enforcement effort for this administration!!??
EmperorSmith posted at 6:46 pm on Sun, Jan 16, 2011.
not making a statement on this article just the history of the rhetoric. gringo come from when the Us invaded Mexico after a raid Poncho villa made, Soldiers dressed in green so local Mexicans would Say green go, as in home. shortened gringo
elprofesor posted at 8:34 pm on Sun, Jan 16, 2011.
The word "gringo" originates in Spain, not the Americas. The "green go" folk explanation is very common, but not historically accurate.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=gringo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo
EmperorSmith posted at 12:33 pm on Mon, Jan 17, 2011.
I think it got the history channel, I'm not a historian it just sounded reasonable at the time. I know should not believe everything you hear. Like that saying, believe non of what you hear and half of what you see.