Giving my name a bad name

I guess Russell Pearce got worried Joe Arpaio would usurp his spot as "most racist jerk in Arizona public office." He just trotted out this new legislative gem.

Briefly, Pearce just introduced a measure (and he tacked it onto a Homeland Security plan, so that people who object can't vote it down without it blowing up in their faces) that bars Arizona public schools from "any teachings considered counter to democracy or Western civilization." In addition, it prevents students from forming clubs based on the race of their members -- so, no MEChA, I imagine.

First off, I want to debunk the myth that liberal teachers in high school and college classrooms sit around instilling communist values in their students. They may well raise some questions about capitalism, but they're also asking questions about communism. They may ask students to critique Locke or Jefferson now and then, but they're also asking them to critique Hobbes and Marx. Teachers make it a priority to teach students to think -- that's not the same as teaching them what to think.

So, let's review. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights does that violate? Yep, you got it, the first, and it violates it twice -- the government can not make any laws prohibiting the freedom of speech or the freedom of assembly.

The Bill of Rights seems like a pretty important cornerstone of American democracy to me. Heckofa thing to ignore, Mr. Pearce. Face up, you thug -- you're not nearly as concerned with American values as you are Protestant, white, middle class homogeneity.

Oh, quick Arpaio update, too. He's pulling his law enforcement officers out of Guadeloupe after its mayor, Rebecca Jimenez, accurately pointed out that Arpaio's operations in Guadeloupe had little to do with fighting crime and graffiti and much to do with arresting people that look like they may be from south of the border. Arpaio responded by explaining that if they didn't want him there, he didn't want to be there. He said "I'm sure they're not going to hire a guy like me to come in there and lock up illegals." I'll bet they aren't, Joe. I think they should look for someone that doesn't still throw playground bully tantrums.