Another new low in alternative schooling

[MrsNormanMaine[$]]

One wonders what planet these people reside upon from time to time.

New slavery curriculum

MNM !queen

[murasaki]

Words fail me.

[phoenixx]

[eplovejoy]

One could provide extensive documentation to refute the idea that slavery was not brutal and deadly, but it doesn't require the effort. Let's just propose bringing the system back, but with whites as slaves and blacks as their owners. Few, if any, of the "slavery was quite pleasant" crowd would accept the deal.

[erik_kosberg]

...the booklet is used because it is hard to find writings that are both sympathetic to the South and explore what the Bible says about slavery.

The mind boggles.

[realtraveller]

Start the bonfire.

[brian_igo]

But these are common, values-conscious religious folks from a red state! They are supposed to be our new beacon, the quiet wisdom to lead us to a better tomorrow! Does anyone else remember???

[AuntieEmma[$]]

What? You mean slavery wasn't the high point in harmonious inter-racial relations?

[drmomentum[$]]

Awesome. Where can we order these? They will make great gag gifts.

-JP

[erik_kosberg]

You might have to hunt around. It’s “currently not available” at Amazon.com.

[AuntieEmma[$]]

I was reading an article about the authors posted on the site of their nemesis, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and came across the phrase "Orthodox Christians." That's only the second time I've ever seen that phrase -- the first time was in the court papers filed by whats-his-name, the guy who's claiming he's not being allowed to teach the Declaration of Independence. Hmmm ... looks like we may have stumbled across a bizarre movement that includes both our pal the Declaration of Independence guy, and these apologists for slavery.

SPL Center article:

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intel...le.jsp?aid=376

[eris esoteric]

realtraveller said

Start the bonfire.

I'm confused, why burn the books? Isn't better to know how these people think, the better to oppose them? You know, that whole "know your enemy" thing?

[AuntieEmma[$]]

I think she's accusing US of being book burners, but who knows, I'm haven't been so good lately in interpreting Kathy's cryptic comments.

[hadassahchana[$]]

Gee, guys, there's a simple explanation for using this book:

"As a classical Christian school, we think it's important for our students to be able to think and not be slanted to a particular position," Stephenson said. "We want them to think for themselves."

I'll be willing to bet that, in fact, he does not want the students to think for themselves. I distinctly recall being kicked out of Sunday school on a number of occasions for doing so.

Cindy

[frazzledspice]

So the Confederacy was the "last great Christian civilization?" Hmmmmm...

What a Christian school should really be saying about slavery is that, individually and collectively, we can sin, but that there is always the possibility of redemption and reformation.

[realtraveller]

eris esoteric said

I'm confused, why burn the books? Isn't better to know how these people think, the better to oppose them? You know, that whole "know your enemy" thing?

I should have put up the rolly eyes icon. I was being sarcastic about the tenor of the other posts. They seemed like a run-up to Fahrenheit 451. I don't agree with these books, but it's a private school, you don't have to send your kids, you don't pay with your tax dollars. You and I may not like it, but that's the meaning of tolerance and the First Amendment.

[Redlass]

Oh, I dunno. I think we get to object because we'll have to live with those children in our society. Our objections may not go beyond our free speech in saying it is wrong, but I'd still say we have an obligation to speak up if we care about our society.

There is a difference between tolerance and acceptance.

And, frankly, I don't have to tolerate the idea that slavery was benevolent.

[realtraveller]

Of course you get to express your objections and they get to disagree with you. You don't have to tolerate the idea that slavery was benevolent and neither do I but we both have to tolerate their right to read a book that says it was.

[wivabef]

brian_igo said

But these are common, values-conscious religious folks from a red state! They are supposed to be our new beacon, the quiet wisdom to lead us to a better tomorrow! Does anyone else remember???

Isn't that the lame ass excuse "blue staters" are shoveling out to make themselves feel better about losing to a yutz like Bush?

[hadassahchana[$]]

You know what really just kncoks me over about this story? I didn't realize it until a while ago, but the school in question is in the Golden Triangle- more Ph.D.'s per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. Talk about 'The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat'...

[drmomentum[$]]

I applaud their concern about indoctrination. I wouldn't want my kids indoctrinated with the idea that slavery is wrong!

I heartily encourage the use of this book. I think it could be the target of many great jokes. Burn it? Heaven forfend such a waste!

[brian_igo]

wivabef said

Isn't that the lame ass excuse "blue staters" are shoveling out to make themselves feel better about losing to a yutz like Bush?

IIRC, it wasn't "blue staters" floating the faulty balloon that the election was decided on values. As I remember, it was the conservative punditry and right-wing activists like Falwell who seized on the misleading poll result as an example of values deciding the race. I know it was those usual suspects (Fox, Rush, the WSJ oped page, etc) who said and still maintain that the problem with Democrats is that they couldn't win unless they could out do the Republicans on values and faith among rural voters.

Do I think these idjits are representative of rural Christian values? No, but they're not as far off as you would hope. There is more racism and bigotry in a town of 5,000 than you'll ever find in a city of a million, and rural churches are overwhelmingly silent on race issues. This case in North Carolina is only exceptional because someone put it on paper and tried to defend it to a reporter. I guarantee you can hear the same or very similar in any factory break room, bar or coffee shop in rural America.

There is a lot about living in a small town that I love. But if anyone thinks that support for "marriage protection" amendments in rural America isn't driven overwhelmingly by hatred of gay people, or that support for the confederate flag in small towns isn't fueled mostly by racism, you simply don't know the people involved. And the values of these people are being held up as a trophy and a beacon by a lot of Republican media elites. If the unvarnished version of their values is uncomfortable for suburban exurban Republicans, that's not a blue state problem.




Brian