If the representation of Muslims as normal people is a shock to your worldview, it's because you're probably prejudiced against Muslims. If merely being exposed to ideas that are inconsistent with your worldview is troubling to you, then you are the product of a successful indoctrination program. Beavis and Butthead made fun of this attitude about being exposed to different ideas in "Dumb Design."
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill passed Friday by the Tennessee Senate would forbid public school teachers and students in grades kindergarten through eight from discussing the fact that some people are gay.
Opponents deride the measure as the "don't say gay bill." They say it's unfair to the children of gay parents and could lead to more bullying. Supporters say it is intended to give teachers clear guidance for dealing with younger children on a potentially explosive topic.
The bill isn't likely to be taken up by the House before lawmakers adjourn this spring, but the sponsor there has said he would push it forward in 2012 when the General Assembly comes back for the second year of the session.
Passage would make Tennessee the first state to enact such legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2003, Washington defeated a proposal similar to Tennessee's, as did California in 2005 and 2006. A Louisiana law forbids the use of sexually explicit materials depicting homosexuality in sex education classes.
Under the proposal, any instruction or materials at a public elementary or middle school would be limited to age-appropriate lessons about the science of human reproduction.
The legislation was amended from the original version, which said no elementary or middle schools will "provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality."
To review. Do not talk about homosexuality, but be sure you "teach the debate" over Evolution. As another critic of the law points out, it may have other consequences.
However, a critic said the new wording could create other problems.
Sen. Roy Herron, D- Dresden, said it "may inadvertently prevent the teaching of ethics, morality and abstinence."
It's been an interesting couple of weeks in identity politics. David Barton and Prof. Richard Beeman were each on The Daily Show discussing religion, the Founders, and the Constitution. Some basic Dead White Male stuff regarding what the Founders intended regarding the sepeartion of church and state. Cornell West made some, er, suprising, criticisms of Obama. And, a Black Studies Professor and a Harlem activist debate black history and black consciousness on Democracy Now. Check out some highlights below the fold.
Continue reading "Identity Politics: From the Founders to Malcolm X and Obama" »
Malaysia is sending their effeminate boys to masculinity/straight camp.
Sixty-six Muslim schoolboys in Malaysia identified by teachers as effeminate have been sent to a special camp for counselling on masculine behaviour.
They are undergoing four days of religious and physical education.
An education official said the camp was meant to guide the boys back "to a proper path in life".
Gay rights groups have criticised the measure, saying it promotes homophobia in the Muslim-majority country where gay sex is still illegal.
The schoolboys allegedly displayed "feminine mannerisms" - though educators in the conservative state of Terengganu did not detail what they were, says the BBC's Jennifer Pak in Kuala Lumpur.
State officials say that, if left unchecked, the students - aged between 13 and 17 - could end up gay or transsexual.
The state's education director, Razali Daud, said the students were invited to join the camp and were not compelled to do so.
Yeah, I bet there was no pressure put on them at all.
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If you think Glenn Beck is on to something or smart, you're not. Period. There are reasonable conservative commentators and pundits, but Beck is not among them. The reasoning displayed in this segment - where he links Homer Simpson among other pop culture male figures to a liberal conspiracy to destroy America - is a perfect example of his twisted mind.
It's amazing that somebody can complain about indoctrination while engaging in it, but then again that's exactly what we should expect if indoctrination has been successful. When I see my friends on Facebook have "liked" Glenn Beck it saddens me because I know it means that there's probably no way to have a reasonable discussion about politics with them. Any objection I offer is interpreted as a product of liberal bias because, you know, there's just no way that Beck could be wrong about anything. Just look at how sincere he is and how much conviction she has! What does it mean for democracy that facts don't matter when it comes to reasoning through these things?
I think two clips from The Colbert Report are a good way to introduce an important distinction in philosophical inquiry and its rival the "unexamined life." The first clip is from the very first episode of The Colbert Report where Colbert introduced his now famous neologism, "truthiness."
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| The Word - Truthiness | ||||
| www.colbertnation.com | ||||
| ||||
The key distinction is the one between a persons attitude towards a proposition or belief and the evidential and logical grounds for the truth of that belief.
Continue reading "Colbert, Truthiness, and the Unexamined Life" »
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On the contrary, it looks like they teach revisionist, right-wing Christocrat history there.
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