The other day, I monitored a class for a local teacher who
took some of her class to the University of Arizona to explore an exhibit on diversity
– a trip that would have been impossible in today’s Florida.
In January, the Florida Education Department sent a letter to
the College Board that it was rejecting an Advanced Placement course on African
American studies, and it was NOT the first time that Governor DeSantis had wandered
into the culture wars.
In March of last year, he signed the controversial “Parent’s
Right in Education” bill, (HB1557) which quickly became known as the “don’t say
gay” bill because it prohibited discussion of sexual orientation and gender
identity in public schools.
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/28/1089221657/dont-say-gay-florida-desantis
At least
one Florida school is covering up or removing books in their classrooms that
have not been approved under a law restricting instruction and books on race
and diversity and making it a felony for teachers to share pornographic
material to students.
A Manatee County, Florida,
directive is instructing its schools to "remove or cover all materials
that have not been vetted" in classrooms, according to a copy of the
guidance obtained by ABC News.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
in April signed the "Stop WOKE" act, which restricts lessons and training on
race and diversity in schools and in the workplace, particularly anything that
discusses privilege or oppression based on race, or whether someone "bears
personal responsibility for and must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of
psychological distress" due to U.S. racial history. WOKE in the bill
stands for "Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees."
A judge in November
temporarily blocked the law from restricting race-related curriculum and
conversation in colleges and universities, which is still being battled out in
the courts.
Michael Barber, communications
director of Manatee County schools, told ABC News on Friday that teachers could
be charged with a third-degree felony if they share a book that's considered
pornographic or obscene under Florida law. But many teachers misinterpret the
law as meaning they could be indicted for simply sharing any unvetted material,
he said.
All of the bills signed by Florida’s Fuehrer had been passed
before – during the 1930’s in Germany. (You many remember that homosexuals and
others who did not possess pure Aryan blood were also targeted, but Jews suffered
the worst treatment.
HB1557 generated a negative response from one of the state’s
largest employers – the Disney Corporation.
On February 8, Arizona legislators quietly voted to hand control
of the Reedy Creek Improvement District to DeSantis.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/29/politics/desantis-disney-board-control/index.html
A day before the new board was scheduled to take over, the
current board amended its charter to prevent takeover by the state.
DeSantis vowed to retaliate, but yesterday, something
remarkable happened.
The mouse roared.
The Walt Disney Company is suing Florida Gov. Ron
DeSantis (R) and other state officials, alleging that DeSantis
is harming the company’s business operations.
The lawsuit comes after months of Disney and DeSantis
sparring over legislation that DeSantis has signed and steps the governor has
taken to increase the state’s control over Disney.
The lawsuit comes after the board that DeSantis
appointed to oversee Disney voted Wednesday to
void development contracts that Disney made.
Disney said in its complaint that the action from the
board was the “latest strike” leading to the lawsuit.
DeSantis signed legislation
at the end of February to end Disney’s power over the Reedy Creek Improvement
District, the 25,000 acres that Disney has owned and self-governed for decades.
The law allowed DeSantis to appoint a board consisting of five members to govern
the district.
The move came after Disney openly criticized Florida’s
Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents.
The law places restrictions on the discussion of sexual orientation and gender
identity in public school classes from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Disney said it would work to repeal the law and vowed to “stand up
for the rights and safety” for the LGBTQ community.
61% of the American pubic said that abortion should be legal in
all or most cases.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/
In addition, a majority of Americans
think it is more important to control gun violence than to protect gun rights,
according to a new PBS NewsHour, NPR and Marist poll.
Policies with the
strongest support include more funding for mental health screening and
treatment, mandatory background checks and licensing for gun purchases, and
passage of a national “red-flag” law, which would give a judge authority to
order the removal of guns from a person who poses a risk to themselves or
others, the poll suggests.
Since the GOP is taking positions that are out of step with
public opinion, they need to resort to “cultural issues” (abortion, CRT, LBGT
rights, drag shows, and book bans) to attract votes.
The latest chapter in that battle is a strange one, and it
involves beer.
The most popular beer sold in America is Bud Light, just ahead
of Coors Light, Miller Lite, Budweiser, and Michelob Ultra.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/19/beer-brands-americas-31-most-popular-beers/39490347/
If you are a beer lover, you’ll discover that the best quality
beers are almost an inversion of that list, and Bud Light comes in at #17 on
the beer lover’s list. Natural Lite is considered to be the worst beer – and it
is the 8th most popular beer in America.
https://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/TheWorstBeers.asp
Bud Light just generated some publicity because the company
released a beer with a label that was intended to be more inclusive, since it
featured a transgender individual named Dylan Mulvaney on the label.
Although sales of Bud Light temporarily took a hit, the long-term
effect of the promotion are likely to be minimal.
https://tohell-andback.blogspot.com/2019/10/diversity.html
If you went back to the Ozzie and Harriet days, you may
remember that every ad that you saw on television featured nothing but white
people. Today, it is highly unusual to see an ad today that does not have at
least one minority person in the group.
Attempts at diversity are not new.
In the 1970’s, the town of Colorado Springs, Colorado attempted
to diversity its work force, and they hired Ron Stahlworth to work in the local
police force. Although he was initially assigned to clerical duties, he
eventually was promoted to more responsible positions. When he applied to the
local chapter of the KKK, things got VERY interesting.
BlacKkKlansman (2018) - Crank Calling the Klan Scene (2/10)
| Movieclips - YouTube
As you are probably aware, Caucasians in America will soon be
in the minority.
https://tohell-andback.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-shrinking-white-christian-population.html
You may not like that fact, but you’ll be a lot happier is you
embrace the concept of diversity – since we truly ARE a melting pot.
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