Kids to Meet Marx in School – Care of Hollywood and The History Channel
by Patrick CourrielcheChildren are uniquely malleable beings, readily convinced of magically colorful tales – Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy are the first that come to mind. This innocence is beautiful, but it is a quality that can easily fall victim to radically foreign ideas if taught consistently and pervasively at an early age. One need only look at the birth of fascism or socialism to see a recipe for how radical ideas become ubiquitous among a nation’s youth.
Enter Howard Zinn – an author, professor and American historian – who, with the help of Hollywood and the History Channel, intends to change the way our pre-K through high school children learn American history. His current curriculum suggestions, like introducing three-year-olds to the lynching of African-Americans, or quizzing seven-year-olds on which Presidents owned slaves, should be a red flag to parents.
Zinn has spent a lifetime teaching college students about the evils of capitalism, the promise of Marxism, and his version of American history – a history that has, in his view, been kept from students. His controversial 1980-book The People’s History of the United States paints traditional American history as a façade – one that has grotesquely immortalized flawed leaders and is based on principles that victimize the common man. In 2004, Zinn wrote a companion book entitled Voices Of A People’s History Of The United States, which includes speeches and writings from many of the people featured in The People’s History.
These two books have now become the basis for a new documentary, entitled The People Speak, to be aired December 13th at 8pm on the History Channel. The trailer portrays the documentary as a collage of compelling one-person readings, told through the words of “ordinary” people who have struggled throughout American history against oppression. Produced by Zinn, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Chris Moore, the documentary appears to be cloaked, ironically (given Zinn’s admitted socialist agenda), in many of the traditional ideas that were behind our founding. The verdict is still out on the doc, but it is not for the books that inspired the film as well as the educational initiative associated with it.
Perhaps due to their one-sided perspective of America’s past, Zinn’s history books have largely been limited to colleges and universities, until now. In the press release announcing the broadcast, HISTORY introduced a partnership with VOICES Of A People’s History Of The United States, a nonprofit led by Zinn that bares the same name as his companion book, to help get his special brand of history into classrooms.
Delving into Zinn’s nonprofit is where this story gets interesting, and the organization’s grade school educational ambitions concerning.
VOICES’ function is to provide live performances of readings from the book Voices of a People’s History as well as educational materials to schoolteachers. The nonprofit’s site provides teachers with resources, including a teaching guide that explains how to get students excited about Zinn’s history books. Their educational materials also includes the Zinn Education Project, a resource for teaching Zinn’s perspective of American history to – drum roll please – pre-Kindergarten through high school students! Included in the curriculum for pre-K students (that’s three and four year-olds) is “Rethinking Columbus,” which counters “the myth of Columbus.” In Zinn’s view, our pre-K children “need to hear from those whose lands and rights were taken away by those who ‘discovered’ them.”
Another teaching lesson for our three-year-old students is “One Country! One Language! One Flag!” that includes teaching ideas for “examining the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the political milieu in which it was written.” The teaching plan suggests introducing our pre-K-ers to the lynching of African-Americans in the 1880s, and introducing the history of violence and discrimination against minority groups. It also proposes a discussion on an old “One Language!” chant allegedly used in classrooms up until 1942, and poses teachers with the question, “Why not lead kids in the original Pledge to the Flag, including the ‘One Language!’ chant and the Nazi-like salute, and then lead a discussion about the politics of the Pledge?”
This discussion is proposed for kids age three to seven?
Zinn also includes a youngster version of his influential book entitled A Young People’s History of the United States as an introduction to his untold American History. The publisher of the book highlights a review by the magazine Socialist Review, who proclaimed “Howard Zinn has adapted his People’s History of the United States for younger readers, but in no way do these books pull their punches. Zinn feels the younger reader is entitled to look at US history honestly.”
The background of the board of directors and advisers of VOICES’ can only be described as jaw dropping and begins to show a clear motive behind teaching this predominantly anti-American history at such a young age.
Made up of several notables including Zinn, Kerry Washington, and Marisa Tomei, all of whom make appearances in the documentary, the VOICES board also includes radicals who play a role in our public schools. Brian Jones, a New York teacher and actor, is a board member of VOICES and has also played the lead in Zinn’s play Marx in SoHo. You can see Jones speaking about Zinn and the play below, recorded for a performance in Greece, where he extols the benefits of this one man play as a tool to introduce people to Marx’s ideas:
Jones is also a regular contributor to Socialist Worker, International Socialist Review, and speaks regularly on the beneficial principles of Marxism, including this year at the 2009 Socialism Conference. He recently gave a speech on the failure of capitalism, proclaiming that “Marx is back.”
Sarah Knopp, a Los Angeles high school teacher, is also on Zinn’s Teacher Advisory Board. Like Jones, Knopp is also a regular contributor to International Socialist Review, Socialist Worker, is an active member in The International Socialist Organization, and was also a speaker at the 2009 Socialist Conference. Here is Knopp speaking about the benefits of socialism, how capitalism destroys lives, and how she advocates workers taking over their factories:
Is it becoming clearer why this group might want to teach children to think poorly of the American system?
Then there is Jesse Sharkey, a schoolteacher in Chicago. Sharkey is another of Zinn’s Teacher Advisory Board Members and, completely uncharacteristic of this group, is a contributor to… Socialist Worker.
This is the group that the History Channel is working with “to develop enhanced, co-branded curriculums for a countrywide educational initiative.” If readers choose to watch The People Speak, which we at BigHollywood encourage, keep in mind the context of the documentary’s creator and the pre-K to high school curriculum that the History Channel and VOICES could possibly create given the makeup of the board members.
I am not advocating that we spare our kids the harsh truths of American history, but I am suggesting, given Zinn’s far-left political affiliation, this project is designed to breakdown our vulnerable children’s views of American principles so that they can be built back up in a socialist vision.
Zinn’s one-man play Marx in SoHo provides an example of his attempt to reestablish the socialist ideology. The play, created in 1999, places Marx in New York after bargaining with the authorities of the after-life for a chance to come back to earth to clear his name. At the end of the cold war, Zinn felt that Marxism was unfairly discredited through being anchored to the fall of the Soviet Union. Through the play, Zinn wanted “the audience to see Marx defending his ideas against attack.” Those associated with the play have described it as an attempt to reestablish Marx’s philosophic and economic outlook – a philosophy that views capitalism as corrosive to the human condition. It doesn’t take a great leap to surmise that instilling in children a pessimistic view of the American experience could make his ideas more palatable.
Zinn’s socialist philosophy has definitely made its way into the documentary, including a speech by prominent socialist Eugene Debs. In his speech, which is a prose to the ills of the capitalist system, he speaks to a court that convicted him of sedition:
“I am opposing a social order in which it is possible for one man, who does absolutely nothing…to amass a fortune of hundreds of millions of dollars while millions of men and women who work all the days of their lives secure barely enough for a wretched existence.”
The promotional videos can be viewed here:
It is not surprising to me that there are groups sympathetic to Marx’s ideas throughout our country. What is surprising is that the most powerful persuasion machine in the world (Hollywood) and the History Channel would provide Zinn such a prominent soapbox to stealthily build a case for a destructive ideology to our children, and as a result mainstream his ideas with the magic of cool music, graphics, and celebrity. Groups that push Marx’s philosophy are like a virtual organism that will not die off even when stung by the undeniable historical evidence showing human behavior makes such a system unsustainable. If we let this virtual organism into our grade schools, it will take decades for our kids to unlearn the ideology.
And if there are any doubts of the intentions of Howard Zinn’s movement, I provide a quote of his in closing. When a reporter asked Zinn, “In writing A People’s History, what were you calling for? A quiet revolution?” Zinn responded: “A quiet revolution is a good way of putting it. From the bottom up. Not a revolution in the classical sense of a seizure of power, but rather from people beginning to take power from within the institutions. In the workplace, the workers would take power to control the conditions of their lives. It would be a democratic socialism.”
It appears that Zinn’s ilk have started the institutional phase of their agenda.
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Just another reason from a myriad collection of why one should home school their kids. Vouchers would also help, but good luck getting those initiatives to pass on a federal level. The lefty Progressive have got to start indoctrination early and often.
And this is the part where my head explodes. After the History Channel produced the best WWII documentary of all time, they now proceed to produce this tripe where America is just a big mean place. Yes we're so awful at letting women and minorities go to school and hold jobs and be our politicians…
All I can do is …. shudder. In Canada this week, all men are evil as we do our annual Hate Men Week during the "celebration" of the murder of 19 young women by the evil male patriarchy. As we remind all men of their innate failings, let's ban all guns while we're at it. The left can't let an opportunity pass.
I was in a bookstore and saw Zinn's book in a graphic novel format. He stated that the US was equally as bad as Stalinist Russia. These flippin' Communist are every bit as evil as the Nazi's and somehow thay get a pass. It is a complete mystery to me.
I knew the History Channel had a strong leftist bias when I caught a promo for their spanish channel celebrating Che Guevara as a great revolutionary, and showing Castro as a hero…Slowly but surely these murderers become more and more mainstream with the help of producers, actors, and graphic artists. We must be vigilant and counter this. Let's explain to our children that some things are not only anti-american but inherently evil. Marxism is a good example. Can you imagine! These people are proposing Marxism as a viable alternative!!
No one is surpised, I hope.
what event is this? Most of us un the US don't really care about foreign countries, but since you are America Jr. we might make an exception, I kid I kid, but I don't know what this event is.
This comes as no surprise to me. I've watched the place where George Washington lived for 7 years as President, become a soap box for Marxists. The National Park Service has allowing the place where the Executive Branch was formed to become a memorial for 6 slaves. Independence Mall is becoming Slavery Mall, because this is right in front of the Liberty Bell in Phila. Here's the official title of the project: "The President's House: Freedom and Slavery in Making a New Nation" and a link for more about it. http://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/index.ht...
why doesn't the History channel do a documentary on the fascism of Woodrow Wilson and FDR? Or the eugenics movement in America led by progressives? People were forcibley sterilized because progressives didn't think they were genetically fit. And these same progressives (Hillary claims to be one) past laws outlawing inter-racial marriages. They saw black people as genetically inferior.
If abortion is ever made illegal, I'm sure republicans will be blamed for all the baby killings or the libs/progressives will act like abortion never happened.
I have no problem with kids being exposed to anything negative about our country, as long as there is plenty of information about context that provides the necessary tools for interpreting what their mushy brains are recording.
That's the horror of no longer requiring logic as a course of study.
.
If religion in the schools is indoctrination than what is this?…
You can't have an objective education. You have to take sides and declare where your values originate. If democracy, freedom, free markets are so great – why are they so great? Why do they best match the human condition? Why should people be free? You can't just declare that free societies are best without giving the source for that reason. If you leave that open others will fill it with quite different ideas and leave people without the intellectual integrity to resist.
here is the history channel's viewer relations address:
thc.viewerrelations@aetv.com
No mystery to me. These people have to be stopped, before it's too late and every day that passes, these vermin infest every facet of society, and as such need to be eradicated. Don't doubt that that's what they have planed for anyone who stands in their way. History has a way of repeating itself.
Unfortunately if home schooling ever becomes a popular approach, then the federales will simply make it against the law– suggesting that children are being harmed. So it will never be a viable way for us to protect our children from this type of socialistic nonsense.
“I am opposing a social order in which it is possible for one man, who does absolutely nothing…to amass a fortune of hundreds of millions of dollars while millions of men and women who work all the days of their lives secure barely enough for a wretched existence.”
Isn't Eugene Debs' dream true? I mean, Obama has really done nothing but agitate. And people like me who work all the time are taxed at 40% or more.
Which is why we need to take the country back and DEMAND that our representatives make alternatives to public schools available and affordable. Meanwhile, we need to get the socialists out of the public school system.
When leftists control the major networks and newspapers, the left can get away with anything it wants.
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There's nothing like a good public viewing to shine the light of realities on these ideologies.
When these ideas are hidden away, they become edgy, cool, counter-culture. And nothing attracts young minds faster that that.
The people that support this kind of tripe are already way too far gone. Their children have already been brain washed. Don't waste time on them.
But this could be a very good teaching moment. If you think your kids are mature enough, sit down and watch it with them, point out every lie, and correct every mistake.
Thanks to some excellent global studies teachers at her school, she already has a solid foundation in the principles of freedom and personal liberty.
Here's the letter I sent to the school board of my high school about Zinn. Nothing happened, of course. But I did a lot of research to write this letter. (And my son is now a college Republican who despises Marxism with every fiber of his being. So there, you filthy evil Zinn.)
Dear School Board:
I object to one of the texts being used in the Peak-to-Peak U.S. History Course. This book is called “A People’s History of the United States,” by Howard Zinn. Howard Zinn has a PhD in History and is about eighty years old. He is also a self-described Marxist and radical who despises America. Let me quote him in his own words, after he took part in a Communist Party march in New York when he was a young man: “From that moment on I was no longer a liberal, a believer in the self-correcting character of American democracy. I was a radical, believing that something fundamental was wrong with this country. Something rotten at the root.”
Howard Zinn’s history book is, as he declared himself in the 1995 edition: “A biased account.” In the 2000 edition, he declares “there is no such thing as pure fact.” Read the book and do some research and you will find this out for yourself. Howard Zinn’s omissions and errors are too many to go into here, but here is one example. Zinn declares that George Washington was the richest man in America. That’s a simple fact. And it’s not true. Do we want to be teaching our high school kids incorrect information? His book is full of errors like this one. It’s hard to tell how many errors there are, because Zinn’s book contains not a single source citation – not one. He never tells us where he gets his historical sources. A little fact checking and we find out where – from the mind of Howard Zinn, not from history.
The lack of scholarly research alone should disqualify this inaccurate text from our school. Worse, though, is Zinn’s ideology, which attempts to present America as a greedy, evil country. Zinn presents this because – again, I’m quoting his own words – he is a “Marxist, socialist, anarchist, radical, anticapitalist.” Remember his words – “America is rotten at the root.” He is a great writer, though! His text flows, his words resonate, and if you don’t read carefully you might think this is a terrific antidote to the dry history texts that we all had to suffer through in school. But looks can be deceiving. This book is exactly that – deceptive, incorrect and unacceptable. Even if a teacher wanted to give an “alternate” view of history, shouldn’t we at least make sure that view of history is historically accurate?
We need to get rid of this book. I hope the school board can correct this mistake. I have two problems with this text: First, it is full of factual errors and contains no scholarly research to back up any of the claims. Second, the bias in the book is deliberately anti-American. Perhaps we can graduate dumb students, who think George Washington was the richest man in America, but should we graduate children who have been taught to despise America? I’d like to close with the following quote. This is from a 24-year-old man on a website that discusses the topics of the day. This is what he had to say:
“I almost welcome the next terrorist attack. I feel nothing for my fellow Americans and neither should anyone else. Screw this entire country and everyone that goes down when it finally and beautifully falls.”
Howard Zinn didn’t say that. But once you’ve read “A Peoples History of the United States”, you’ll know that he would applaud.
Sincerely,
Bonnie
Zinn makes a point of mentioning how certain presidents in the early years of the republic were slave owners. Why does he not put things in to context? Washington, Jefferson, and others inherited this system from the past and instituted ways both intellectual and political that ensured slavery would not survive.
My husband and I have transitioned over the years from moderate to conservative in our political views. Our 2 older children went to public schools in the midwest. As adults now they are moderates who agree with us on some issues and disagree on others. We moved to Massachusetts as our youngest child was beginning middle school. The political environment in this state is definitely liberal and that is reflected in the public schools here. In her sophomore year, one of the textbooks for her social studies class was by Howard Zinn. This upset me, but I tried to expose her to other points of view. She became somewhat hardened in the "America is the villain" point of view, due to, I believe, what she was learning in school. She is now a college graduate in her mid-twenties, and although we have a very good relationship with her, we cannot discuss politics with her. I do feel that, more than most parents realize, political indoctrination of our children is going on in the schools, to the peril of our country.
The left is and always has been of this ilk. How about we have sharia laws and the women of Hollywood dress in Burkas? Hollywood would come crying to the good people of our country to protect them but they are the #1 target of Al Quaida. They need to be more on the defensive than on the offensive as the ONLY reason they are able to spew hate-America speak is because of the freedom loving people. It would not bother me one iota if Jones and his ilk were air lifted to any muslim country and tried to speak freely.
No, it's not OK with me Heather. Thanks for asking. (And not to downplay the seriousness, I mistyped. It was 14 dead and 14 wounded). If you're not a Canadian perhaps you don't know what the left attempts to make of this, every December. Is the politicization of this event, in order to make all men share the guilt and to enforce a ban on firearms for everyone, OK with you? I have a daughter who loves hunting and her guns. Does she have rights? Or did Lepine/Gharbi (spit) take those away too?
There was a massacre of young women at a school in Montreal 20 years ago. As horrible an event as it was, the left wishes to keep it alive as a political stick with which to beat all men with and to argue against all gun ownership since the killer used a long gun. Mark Steyn's article sums it up.
http://www.steynonline.com/content/view/2686/30/
Sad, but it doesn't surprise me. The History Channel has long since abandoned any pretensions of integrity regarding its actual subject – history. Like a lot of other cable/satellite channels, History now pretty much throws any old piece of garbage out there in order to attract an audience and boost ratings. These days, you're more likely to see a show about UFOs, Nostradamus, biblical prophecy, or the Holy Grail than anything related to actual history. I have no doubt that the management knows that these subjects are NOT history, academic or otherwise. Unfortunately, in their quest for ratings they run the danger of legitimizing fringe subjects, to the detriment of its audience.
And let's not forget those "historical" reality shows, Pawn Stars, Gangland, and Ice Road Truckers. These have exactly *what* to do with history?
I see where you're going with this. The act is heinous– no question. But it's more heinous to use the tragedy as a means to create a more repressive government. We see it here too whenever a violent incident occurs.
ChildrenLiberals are uniquely malleable beings, readily convinced of magically colorful tales – SantaClausObama and the Toothed Pelosi Fairy are the first that come to mind.I could not help myself…this just needed fixing.
Nobody thinks its okay that a crazy idiot murdered those 19 women but to have a kneejerk political reaction and waste 2 BILLION dollars (which could have made a huge dent in the abused womens and mental health programs)on a scheme to slowly discriminate and criminalize a minority that goes quietly on each day dealing with more and more bs. Do some of your own research and see for your self how the #s dont add up. Buckwheat, some ahole went into a womens class in Montreal and killed 19 women in cold blood RIP ladies. Ever since that tragedy gunowners in Canuckistan have been portrayed as killers and woman abusers. What might have happened if a few in that classroom had had the proper training and were carrying concealed equalizers we would remember this day not for the tragedy but for the herions(sp) that were enabled and not victimized. Sadly I know that as long as the victimization of the world continues to make a few rich it will never change. Stand up for yourself God help us all in the days to come Peace
Thanks for the hard work you're doing. I drive my daughter to school at Bancroft Middle School in Hollywood and we see the billboard of Matt Damon, Danny Glover, & the History Channel & that show 1 block away.
So their introducing Zinn is really part of their overall strategy, not to turn us into Marxists, but to get more people to watch the History Channel. There's been a Howard Zinn buzz around for quite some time. He's edgy, he's hip, especially among the key demographic: young white middle-class males. And Matt Damon swears by him. Zinn doesn't tell you anything about American history you didn't already know, but reading him does boost your pseudo-intellectual, punk/alternative/closet-anarchist street cred. Armed with Zinn's half-baked history, you can argue with your parents and your friends and appear to know things the "politically unaware" mainstream hoi polloi don't. It's exactly the same thing that attracts people to conspiracy theories. It flatters their egos.
It's simple: There's an audience of hip young smart-asses out there and History channel wants them. Zinn thinks he can turn them (and their little brothers) into communists. It's a perfect partnership.
". . . as long as there is plenty of information about context . . ." RIGHT! Context and logic just come naturally to 6-7 year olds. Stay focused Joan, The debate aint about stifling dissent. Its about protecting our children from political indoctrination most Americans consider anti-American. Remember, recent surveys reveal most Americans consider themselves conservative. The libs can't win a debate so they go after the children. Cowards!
When the purges of 2010 begin, these creeps must be included in the coming public backlash. Along with cleaning the government out, academia must be included.
Wow, Bonnie, your letter was a punch in the gut of historic fiction, a testament to truth. Excellently written! Bravo! I will not forget it.
"Zinn wanted “the audience to see Marx defending his ideas against attack.”
Communism/Socialism only killed about 100,000,000 people. Sure, let's give it another chance.
Too bad Zinn isn't honest enough to show and discuss the body count of Lenin's "legacy".
As long as there's a breath left in this old Soldier's body, I will continue to raise hell against nihilists like Zinn, and the socialist train wreck currently in the White House.
Let's also remember, a whole lot of white guys died on the battlefields of America to end slavery. Largest civil war in human history. Minor course correction to the average lib. Of course, the libs won't talk about that. After all, what's a few 100k white guys? Feh!
Take a look at our government indoctrination schools. They teach our kids a bunch of clap-trap so they will accept it when they become voters. There is no God, praise homosexuals, be politically correct, global warming, embrace illegals, bigger government is the answer to everything. They don't have time for the three RRRs any more, they are too busy turning out idiots that can't speak, write or form a cognizant thought. The government is their god.
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Thank you for that! I'd cancel that channel right now if it didn't mean losing my sports channels….
in the abstract there is no real problem wiht Zinn and his cohorts…
If they are teaching this to high school seniors as part of the American History perspective. But three to seven year olds?
That's just plain ol' Marxist indoctrination. And THAT's evil…
this is typical "5th Column" activity. we are at war with these zealots every bit as much as we are at war with Islamofascists. how long do we sit around and do nothing while all of these nefarious forces chip away at the foundations of our society?
I did fail to note the age group this was being targeted at. Thank you for your gracious concern in pointing it out to me.
Thanks Patrick. This is not the way I wanted to enjoy my Peet's Holiday Blend.
I know. I know. You are only doing your job. And we are eternally grateful. Excuse me. I'm off to vomit.
Leave academia alone. Just take away the students.
For someone like me who does not have children yet I get to live this action vicariously through you Bonnie. If the parents don't fight then we'll never win out.
All very depressing. Say what you will about old-line totalitarian Marxists like Howard Zinn, they never give up. Looks like they are resurrecting the old "Communism is a great ideal but was corrupted by Stalin and the others" canard. I think it was P.J. O'Rourke who gave the definitive response to this – "Communisim in Russia was communism run by experts. They created the society they intended to create." The qualiity of history instruction in the U.S. is so bad that I can see where crap like "The People Speak" will get a wide and appreciative reception. After all the schools have embraced "An Inconvenient Truth" like it is holy writ handed down by God himself. The moral equivalence betwen the Soviet Union and the U.S. is particularly repugnant yet has quietly been allowed to become a staple of modern hard-line socialists.
Yep. I was just in a Barnes and Noble and right there in the kids section is The Young Peoples History of the United States vol. 1 and 2. It takes two volumes to properly get your hate on, you see.
At least Luther Vandross had pipes. Glover is the part of GayHollywood that I wish I need not know about.
Not homophobia. It's aversion to the nonsensical.
Zinn has been debunked by scholars. They point to his lack of context and total misinterpretation of the meanings of historical events. Some think he's just stupid, while others seem to think he's twisting it for political reasons. The latter is obviously the truth, based on his own comments on the matter.
So, why bother introducing bad scholarship in schools in the first place? They may as well put Snoopy up against real history. It would at least be entertaining.
Great letter, Bonnie. It could be a template for the letters that should pour into school districts across the nation.
I think any locality where the school district is putting this kind of curriculum into action, should clean house completely. Every single local politician should find themselves out on their keister and the cycle should be repeated until some semblance of sanity returns.
I think a curriculum should be created around Mark Steyn's "America Alone". A few attractive people could be talking heads for the accompanying video project and it should be shown everywhere Zinn's disinformation campaign is championed.
Leftist heads would explode and an incidental lesson in the fascism of "liberals" could be taught for free.
"Communists are every bit as evil as Nazi's"
No society that has existed thus far is a true example of Marx's ideals. Stalinist Russia was corrupted and the distribution of wealth was not equal all across the board. Comparing an improper usage of Marxist principles to that of the Nazi's is an egregious error.
It's humorous to me that you want his views banned for not being "objective" enough. Look up irony in the dictionary. I'm sure the person's in receipt of this letter immediately deleted it after viewing the first ill-informed and biased paragraph.
But its for the children?
You can still boycott the sponsors. Or the biggest sponsor. Go for it.
It comes down to a lack of understanding of even basic economics.
http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Economics-3rd-Ed-Econ...
These statists don't understand the main concept is not to simply re-slice the existing pie into fairer portions, the key is to generate wealth and make the pie larger.
The entire concept of wealth generation is beyond their intelligence.
I applaud your desire for accountability, and the efforts you put into it.
Why do I get the feeling you've hit a few tea parties?
Bravo!
This is what infuriates me the most about the slavery issue. There are children being enslaved in other countries — more than were ever enslaved by the US — right now, at this time, in this world, and the leftists don't even want to talk about it.
Their slavery obsession is just a means to a political end and they make me sick.
There's a lot of political indoctrination going on in my house.
Right around the dinner table, pretty much every evening.
You should post this as a response to the poster on the first page of this thread who uses this very argument. "Communism was corrupted by Stalin". *snort* Communism is a system tailor made for manipulation and corruption, which is why it's so popular amongst the "elite".
They ain't teaching my kids. I put her into a private school, where they kick the government out.
Well, it's obvious that it's so much bilge. It's good to point it out. It's right to object to bilious fabrications being presented in our schools.
But I'd like to find a forum where it's acceptable to point out that all of the above responses are ultimately futile in a prevailing teaching phil-oh-so-slopphy that rejects reason for situational ethics.
My comment above was more directed at the educational lock-step that naively takes up the flag and joins the parade. Because someone wrote a curriculum and they don't have to think or come up with a lesson plan. But the serious minded so-called elite education camp? Their very.first.riposte. to a sane objection will be thrown back into our reasonable faces as, "censorship!!!!" which is the educators' equivalent of a race card. We all know it's stupid and crazy. We know this.
You can't fight crap like this on the merits, so we have to be smarter than the stacked deck. The answer to a stacked deck is more aces up the sleeve. It's a crooked little poker game but we have no control over the dirty dealer. So we flood the table with context, more information, more ideas, more thoughts, more speech, more forward momentum.
If they're throwing Marxism at 7 year olds, then I'm thinking we should convince educators that the kids can handle capitalism. Wait. Maybe we can convince them that kids can handle meritocracy first. Then give them an allowance based on their merits. And then take it away from them and give it to other less fortunate students.
Where are the Republican businessmen putting money on the line to educate the young, to flood the plain with context and options and education? It's not fair that our government uses our own money against us, but I don't see that dynamic changing as long as we overpay our politicians and sell votes for special interests.
Eh? And so I blather on, but I'm just tired of whining about the dirty dealers. I'm tired of being robbed. I'm done with pointing out what is obvious to the choir and ginning up even more outrage. I'm ready for more O'Keefes and Breitbarts and Hofts and CRUhackers and . . . well, excuse me, but I think there's a dumpster behind my local school. Duty calls.
And homeschooling.
)
It's been fairly apparent for years..yes, I said years..that the History, Science, Biography, etc. channels are tacking left. I believe they are all NBC affiliates..I contacted the History channel more than 7 years ago about their programming..commenting that they were guilty of leaving out 'facts'. They did reply.."we buy packaged programming and we don't view it before we air it". A 'child's' excuse..or a 'liar's'.
The enemy is within our gates..it ought to scare the bejebbers out of you America.
Sometimes it almost feels like an overwhelming assault. Every day there seems to be a new way to destroy America, to tax us into oblivion and to change our kids into liberal mouth-breathers.
2010 can't come soon enough…..
Marxism has been tried on half the planet at some point–by Russians, by Chinese, by Vietnamese, by Cubans, by various African nations, etc. Everywhere it has been tried by people who believed they were representing true Marxism, and everywhere it has failed. Have you considered that maybe the problem isn't the manner in which the ideals were implemented or the degree to which they were followed; maybe, just maybe, it's the ideals themselves?
Awesome! So were there any results?
Oh, never mind. I didn't see the first sentence. Figures.
I am so very glad I never bore a child and I am sincerely frightened for the children of this nation. Hold your own closely and fight with all your might my brothers and sisters.
I think that the statists understand economics and wealth generation. They just have a different goal in mind than you or I would prefer.
You and I may want for individuals to work hard and gain wealth, to have more opportunities and choices for work, investments, school, etc. The statists want to control and dictate everyone's work assigments, school curricula, diet, pay, media consumption, etc. They are attempting to destroy the system in order to rebuild in their way.
This is no mistake. It's deliberate.
All the more reason to press your representatives to let the consumers have ala carte cable choices. (After 2010, when we have more conservative presence- the dems will NEVER permit you to have more choice, unless it's for abortion or assisted suicide.)
What are your suggestions for doing something?
Allow me to clarify, there are some who understand, but not many, very few. The majority just want what other people have. And promising to give that to them appeals to their bassist instincts.
If the statists really understood, they'd be explaining it to the unwashed masses, r at least they'd try to.
And I don't think the President has the slightest idea what economics are.
Real explanations and clarifications are poison to the statists, just like unbiased education is. Oh, no, Ed- once "the masses" really understood and accepted what Statism (any flavor) does, gives and asks in return, no one would desire it. While the Statists talk a lot about "fairness" and "equality", the useful idiots never think to ask, "What's fair about bread lines?" or "Will everyone be equally out of toilet paper, and for an equally long time?"
They don't ask themselves, "Is The Party opposed equally by another party? Do I really have a choice in representation?" They don't ask anything. They just sit there, feeding at the trough, bleating.
And the POTUS doesn't need to know anything about economics, science or American history. He has people for that. All he has to do is tell them what he wants to be done, and then he can resume his talk show appearances and bowing tours.
You have to take sides and declare where your values originate.
Good point. And that sort of transparency is what is lacking on the Left's educational agenda. And our media. And our current presidency. Objectivity is the process of examining facts. If both sides would be transparent, objectivity would find its proper place in education, as a tool for exploration, not a guide for morality. When we have neither transparency nor objectivity in education, all we have is capricious moralizing.
You said it, bro. I am already making plans to homeschool my 2 1/2 year old. She is already way ahead of the curve. Knows the sounds of every letter. Reads and spells 3-letter words. Can't write yet, but tries. The Brainwashing starts in Kindergarten. I'm not letting the left and the likes of the NEA have my most precious of all possessions!
Marxism isn't the brainwashing being done to our children are in school courtesy of Obama's Safe School Czar, Kevin Jennings founded the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network:
http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/07/fistgate-bara...
They don't ask anything. They just sit there, feeding at the trough, bleating.
Billy Beck refers to this as bellying up to the cannibal pot.
Be fore warned. Beck does not pull any punches, ever. He blogs what ever is on his mind. (Language warning.)
http://www.two–four.net/weblog.php
The only way to keep America great is to make a Bible School education available for all that want to be taught the word of God and the proper way to live and think.
Superbly written! I'm not sure how long ago you wrote this, but if you did not get even a curt reply, you should take this to your local media, such as your town newspaper. The school board absolutely needs to answer for this one way or another.
If the town newspaper doesn't respond, then send a copy of this to the parents of every student.
Also, there may be legal issues here, too. Some States have a law on their books that Textbooks must be factually accurate. The Howard Zinn book is evidentally not, and some punitive measures are therefore in order. I'd encourage you to not stop with just posting on this blog. Keep it moving!
[...] Jennings, Big Hollywood: Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship. Patrick Courrielche, Big Hollywood: Kids to Meet Marx in School – Care of Hollywood and The History Channel Capitol Confidential, Big Government: FCC Falling Afoul of Key Senators Patrick Courrielche, Big [...]
[...] on behalf of contributor; Update: A Michelle Obama connection? Patrick Courrielche, Big Hollywood: Kids to Meet Marx in School – Care of Hollywood and The History Channel Michael van der Galien, Big Hollywood: target=”_blank”>Using Arts for Conservative [...]
Can we lynch the socialists?
When will communism, marxism and socialism be called out for the EVIL that it is?
They see black people as genetically inferior.
Fixed it for you. If they weren't genetically inferior, then how come affirmative action is still active, how come hate crime laws are still on the books, how come the population of Kinston, NC can't be trusted to vote for the candidate they want if the party affiliations are removed from the ballot?
Considering we set the standard for equal rights for other nations to follow I think that's a great standard. We're also praiseworthy for setting up the most technologically advanced, prosperous and in many cases most generous nation on Earth. Plus I think you missed the point. This Revisionist History of the U.S.A. needs to stop. Far too many times we blame America for being this awful place and I'm pointing out some of, not all, the good things we've done with this country and the world.
"Billy Beck refers to this as bellying up to the cannibal pot."
A very apt metaphor, as the would-be wards-of-the-state don't seem to realize that the handouts are coming from the people themselves, not some magical source. As they consume what they are fed, they do not realize that they diminish themselves, grow weaker, and eventually cease to be much of anything at all.
This is also a wake-up call to all voters when those unknown people are running to be part of your local school boards. How often do we actually know the politics of these folks when it comes time to vote?? Pay attention, because they're the ones standing at the gate to fight for or against stuff like this.
There are good books too numerous to list that provide factual, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE information about presidential slave owners, etc. etc. within the broad context of historical reference. When I homeschooled my children, I did not shy away or "protect" my children from these books when I determined their maturity, reasoning and judgment were developed enough to not only ingest the information, but to formulate questions and evaluate the material within a broader framework. Pre-K is, obviously, not the developmentally appropriate time to teach this material. As any competent childhood development professional would inform us, Pre-K children are not cognitively or emotionally mature enough to digest this material. They simply ingest it. The agenda, it would seem, is not to "teach" history.
The "wards-of-the-state" know very well where its coming from. They just don't care. Get in, get rich, then get out before it all starts collapsing under it's won weight.
Politicians have only two goals they care about. Obtaining and retaining power.
When I first saw this advertised on TV ,and the hollywood nitwits that were promoting it, I knew It had liberal socialist crap all over it. We have got to make a change starting in 2010 and rein in these idiots.
My wife and I are childless, but we have numerous nieces and nephews, and most of them have been, or are being home schooled. The home schooled kids are at least 3 grades ahead of their contemporaries in all facets of learning, particularly reading and math. I could go on and on about the pros and cons of home schooling versus public schools, but suffice it to say if you what your kid to really learn and become a critically thinking adult then keep them as far away from public schools as possible.
I agree with you. I just think that now, before this curriculum is implemented, is the time to publicly point out that scholars have debunked Zinn's scholarship. That they've dubbed it "bad history". Shame them before they try to put it in the schools rather than try to back track and correct the education after it's entrenched.
Yes, Republicans, Conservatives, and everyone who cares about keeping this country strong need to put time and money into education and entertainment. It's crucial.
I said in another post that someone with the $$ should give the same treatment to Mark Steyn's "America Alone". Make it pretty and entertaining and put it out there to be enjoyed. They may have to go around the traditional media obstructions, but it could make its mark.
[...] Kids to Meet Marx in School – Care of Hollywood and The History Channel from Big Hollywood by Patrick Courrielche [...]
This is the same transparency we have in our current stock of working scientists… The same people who were taught and trained by the school system that have been caught falsifying results to make something a "settled science".
Another reason to shut down the NEA. Any association that teaches this Marxist nonsense needs to be weeded out, and taken out of the national equation, permanently.
Did they REALLY use a person standing in front of COMMUNIST CHINESE TANKS to support their communist agenda? REALLY?! They are stupid, think we are stupid or they are completely INSANE!
Thank you for the link Edski!
LOL I was going to make the same basic suggestion… I am going to watch this with my 15 year old daughter and we WILL be discussing the points as they crop up! I am proud to say she actually thinks and does not ever swallow the spoutings of foolishness that flood her school without asking questions and looking things up for herself.
What, in your view, is Revisionist in this article? Slave-owning presidents? Lynchings? Feel free to use Zinn's source material if you like. The article makes arguable points about age-appropriateness, but "Revisionism?" Nah, that's inaccurate. … And so is this: "we set the standard for equal rights for other nations to follow." I have neighbors who beg to differ – their names are Adam and Steve. And from a historical perspective, there's also this to consider:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism#National_abolition_dates
Lotta pre-1865 names on that list.
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