No More Mr. Nice Guy!

Arizona Conservative Idiot of the Week: Russell Pearce

I've blogged frequently about the dismal state of education in Arizona, and placed the blame where it lies: with lunatic extreme-right politicians who are anti-intellectual hate-mongers and xenophobic reactionaries. But I never thought even Russell "Wetback" Pearce would go this far.

Arizona public schools would be barred from any teachings considered counter to democracy or Western civilization under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by a legislative panel.

Additionally, the measure would prohibit students of the state's universities and community colleges from forming groups based in whole or part on the race of their members, such as the Black Business Students Association at Arizona State University or Native Americans United at Northern Arizona University. Those groups would be forbidden from operating on campus.

Good. Friggin'. GRIEF! Does Pearce have the slightest idea how unconstitutional this is? Freedom of association - hello??? And what's this bit about "teachings considered counter to democracy of Western civilization" - considered by whom? David Horowitz? Or some other lunatic extreme fringe-right self-appointed policeman who wants to control what everyone is learning, reading and thinking?

I must say I'm not a big fan of "Aztlan studies" programs like the one in Tucson which apparently inspired this bill. But the very last thing we need is to destroy educational integrity and turn control of the syllabus over to politicians to enforce some narrow, blinkered and exclusive world view that has little grasp on reality. Does Pearce really think it's that easy to turn the clock back fifty years, even in Arizona?