Also journalists reported that the DeVos' AFC was behind deceptive attack ads and mailers in the 2010 campaign.  In terms of reaching the public, I think we have to focus on showing how dominionists like the DeVoses are impacting the political process, as opposed to focusing on their theology.  The theology is certainly important, but there is such a limited audience interested in that aspect.  Most people want the nuts and bolts of who is funding who, what they are trying to do politically, etc.

by Rachel Tabachnick on Wed May 11, 2011 at 11:06:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

They could be attempting the "boil a frog" approach, although this is a big step and maybe too much.  People are starting to protest and there are petitions being sent around to stop the travesty in Tallahassee.

by ArchaeoBob on Thu May 12, 2011 at 03:10:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I remember the racial tensions and violence (and threatened violence) in the schools I attended when I was a kid.  I remember how the teachers (in some cases) actually promoted or encouraged it via disparaging remarks about minorities and how even the textbooks were deceptive (for instance, my people were only mentioned for Pocahontas, the "First Thanksgiving", and killing settlers.)  Bullying is a central issue, but I would also argue that not reinforcing stereotypes and false beliefs (such as America was founded as a Christian Nation) is also important.

Regarding bullying:

Students deserve and need a safe place to learn.  Teachers can (and often are) as bad a bully as the students - as I experienced.  In my case it was because I was a outdoorsman and not a "party animal" and lived according to different ways of thinking than the mainstream.  I was often as afraid of the teachers as I was the students... and the administration was almost as bad.  (Not ONCE did they ever do anything about the bullying, but they sure punished me for "fighting" [resisting bullies] and so on.  They didn't do anything even when there was a near riot directed at me, and an attempt to poison me.)  By the time I was in High School, I learned to associate authority with injustice and abuse, and everything that I've experienced -away from the university- reinforces this viewpoint.  This needs to be changed.

In Florida, there are two different attempts to reform the schools - (1) the teachers and people who want science actually taught, vs (2) the "Good Christians" who want to force creationism and obedience to (religious) authority taught.   I support the reform by the teachers and scientists and strongly resist the "Good Christians".  Doing away with vouchers, the FCAT (and teaching to the test), and things like that are necessary for reform to work.  We also have to counter the hate being taught to the kids (from early childhood), which is more difficult but can be done.  There ARE programs that work in countering hate taught from childhood, but they're not popular (because they actually address the various isms that we fight).  Dr. H. Roy Kaplan describes this well in his book Failing Grades.  The program he's been working with effectively reduces or stops bullying.  I just wish more people would listen and consider ones like it.  Even more so, I wish it had been in place when I was a kid.

by ArchaeoBob on Thu May 12, 2011 at 10:20:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Also this camp is led by the DeVoses and includes the DeVos/Prince- funded Focus on Family and Family Research Council.  Do we really think that this crowd, motivated by their virulent anti-gay, anti-women's rights, anti-secular hatreds, is going to provide an educational environment where children are not bullied?  

by Rachel Tabachnick on Thu May 12, 2011 at 11:33:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]