U.S. history textbooks could soon be flavored heavily with

[xrayzed]

Yep, Texas is a fucked up state. Trying to elevate Jefferson Davis to the same level as Lincoln is absurd. Even Shelby Foote, a Southerner, has said Jefferson Davis wasn't in Abraham Lincoln's league. Foote said if Lincoln were president of the confederacy the South would have won the Civil War.

This sort of thing is where optimism should come in. Despite what a textbook may imply, there isn't a schoolteacher in the country (well, maybe just a few) who would paint the north and south as mere opposites on a similar moral level..

You haven't been on some of the forums I've been on. I've read far too many posts about "The War of Northern Aggression" and how it had nothing to do with slavery and everything to do with "state's rights".

Not only are there people who would put the North and South on a similar moral level, there are many who would put the South on a higher moral level.

Welcome to the alternate reality that is the United States of Jesus.

[AshtonBlack]

What really surprises me, is that the US doesn't have federally mandated educational standards. Soon, a degree from Texas won't be worth the paper it's written on (in crayon.)

[Ronja]

... Heavy emphasis is also to be placed on the founding fathers having been guided by strict Christian beliefs.

Aquinas and Calvin CALVIN ! FFS

Hindsight is of course often 20-20, but in light of the developments within and around the US "evangelical" movement in the last few decades, Calvin seems to be one of the worst influences on humankind ever. It is ironic that his predestination touting religious offspring call themselves "evangelical" when it is pretty clear that they do not study the "good news" (evangelia) themselves. There is deep intellectual and cultural shame in that Calvin took ideas that originated with Luther and twisted them (further) into something pretty much unrecognizable. Luther wanted every xian (man and woman alike) to be able to read the bible in their own vernacular, because each person should take responsibility of their own faith, and at least the (older) men should be able to discuss critically in public about how the bible should be understood. From where I'm standing, these "evagelicals" seem to have gone full circle back to medieval catholicism: believe everything coming from the pulpit, question nothing, obey and don't read the scriptures yourself. Zeesh!

[PairOfFeet]

Moved to news-Pluto2

Texas conservatism

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1253

[FBM]

One step closer to being 'Duh-merka, duh Byoo, beu, bue Real Purty-like'.

[Martok]

You haven't been on some of the forums I've been on. I've read far too many posts about "The War of Northern Aggression" and how it had nothing to do with slavery and everything to do with "state's rights".

Not only are there people who would put the North and South on a similar moral level, there are many who would put the South on a higher moral level.

Welcome to the alternate reality that is the United States of Jesus.

Its not just the ultra religious that have expressed those views. Libertarians are also sympathetic to the confederacy.

[xrayzed]

You haven't been on some of the forums I've been on. I've read far too many posts about "The War of Northern Aggression" and how it had nothing to do with slavery and everything to do with "state's rights".

Not only are there people who would put the North and South on a similar moral level, there are many who would put the South on a higher moral level.

Welcome to the alternate reality that is the United States of Jesus.

Its not just the ultra religious that have expressed those views. Libertarians are also sympathetic to the confederacy.

Which is a marvel in itself. I guess the liberty of gun-totin' white men outweighs the liberty of black people in chains.

[Boyle]

What really surprises me, is that the US doesn't have federally mandated educational standards. Soon, a degree from Texas won't be worth the paper it's written on (in crayon.)

The biggest problem is that Texas and California are the two largest buyers of textbooks. Texas mandates at a state level, Cali at a district level. With the budget cuts in California, Texas will be that largest buyer, so many states will also get some Texas books as a result of so many being printed. Odds are they'll get them at a discounted rate as well.

This has the potential to ruin more than just one state's education system.

[charlou]

Yep, Texas is a fucked up state. Trying to elevate Jefferson Davis to the same level as Lincoln is absurd. Even Shelby Foote, a Southerner, has said Jefferson Davis wasn't in Abraham Lincoln's league. Foote said if Lincoln were president of the confederacy the South would have won the Civil War.

This sort of thing is where optimism should come in. Despite what a textbook may imply, there isn't a schoolteacher in the country (well, maybe just a few) who would paint the north and south as mere opposites on a similar moral level, let alone Lincoln and Davis as apples and oranges on the same intellectual level. The same will go for plenty of the other new wordings.
And if things go far enough, far enough to really piss of teachers and parents, that's when the backlash really happens.

They're going further than they should right now. Bring on the backlash.

[Hermit]

"academia is skewed too far to the left."

Reality has a left-wing bias you retarded, conservative, right-wing, reactionary, religious, xenophobic, brain dead, moronic, loud, obnoxious, homophobic, American Taliban, Sarah Palin worshipping, tea-bagging, gun toting, intolerant, anti-intellectual, slack jawed, easily led, bible humping, hypocritical, warmongering, fascist

Cunts!

Fuck you and goodnight.

Please, Red Fox. This is not the time to hold back. Just say exactly what you think of them.


Most of what I could contribute has already been said, so I'll just confine myself to mention that while reading the article I felt rage welling up, to the point of my forehead feeling hot and my skin crawl. It was very physical.


And Ronja, thanks for your contribution, but would you please edit out the '/derail' bit? It wasn't.

[charlou]

Yes, The Red Fox summed up my initial response. Still finding it difficult to put anything more coherent into this. Infuriating.

[Ronja]

And Ronja, thanks for your contribution, but would you please edit out the '/derail' bit? It wasn't.

Thanks for the encouragement. It seems I cannot edit that one anymore, though.

edit: just testing - yes, this one I still can edit.

[anthonzi]

Wait, how is this news? Texas standards for school textbooks have always been a great influence on what the rest of the country gets from publishers.

[Hermit]

Wait, how is this news? Texas standards for school textbooks have always been a great influence on what the rest of the country gets from publishers.

The news is that this is about to change.