Thread: Arizona itching to start a fight

Story By MIGUEL PEREZ -- Creators Syndicate
Posted: May 22, 2010 12:01 am


Just when we think Arizona should be getting the message, when widespread condemnation for its unconstitutional immigrant-profiling law should be putting its lawmakers on defense, out they come with more Draconian anti-immigrant measures.

Just after the lawmakers claimed that their first crackdown will affect only undocumented immigrants, out they come with two new measures aimed specifically at legal immigrants and naturalized American citizens.

There can be no doubt about it: Arizona wants to fight.

Some people want a race and ethnicity war in this country, and Arizona is itching to start one.

As if inviting demonstrations, boycotts and widespread repudiation with the infamous 1070 profiling law weren't enough, two new measures were introduced in Arizona recently to provoke even more outrage.

First, the Arizona Department of Education threatened to go after teachers who have heavy foreign accents, including many recruited when the state was much more immigrant-friendly.

And then, Republican Gov. Jan Brewer approved a measure that bans the state's schools from teaching ethnic studies.

To justify the latter, Arizona schools chief Tom Horne, a Republican running for attorney general, vilified the Tucson Unified School District's popular Mexican-American studies program, charging that it promotes racial discrimination ---- a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black.

Using reverse psychology that convinced no one, Horne argued that ethnic studies programs promote "ethnic chauvinism," and that he is the one who is fighting discrimination.

In the dictionary, next to the word hypocrite ...

Latino students in Tucson are taught that Arizona was once part of Mexico and that they should be proud of the contributions their Latino ancestors made to the United States; in some warped minds, that's the equivalent of teaching un-American values.

Using language designed to alarm Americans about threats that don't exist, the legislation signed into law by Brewer bans state funding for schools offering courses that "promote the overthrow of the U.S. government" and "promote resentment toward a race or class of people."

Of course, these programs do no such thing.

They are about connecting students with their ethnic roots.

In fact, what they do is promote tolerance for diversity. The only ones discriminating against "a race or class of people" are Horne, Brewer and the other Arizona Republicans who have declared war on all Latino immigrants.

Even "advocating ethnic solidarity" can cause Arizona schools to lose their state funding from now on.

Arizona wants all new immigrants to dissolve in the so-called American melting pot, even though in the past most immigrants have been unwilling to do it.

Throughout American history, we have been proud to preserve and celebrate our very diverse ethnic roots.

In ethnic communities throughout this country, people of many different backgrounds have been praised by politicians for the same "ethnic solidarity" that is now a problem to the politicians in Arizona.

Obviously, their problem is with Latino immigrants. They fear we are "taking over."

Yet, you would think that in the middle of the storm created by their first piece of anti-immigrant legislation, Arizona politicians would wait at least a few months before promoting other racist measures.

But nah, not Arizona. It wants to lead the anti-immigrant movement.

Even a U.N. human rights panel charged that Arizona is displaying "a disturbing pattern of legislative activity hostile to ethnic minorities and immigrants."

The backlash against Arizona is now international.

But the Republican extremists who run that state apparently don't care about the criticism.

They are tired of hiding their fear-mongering agenda, and they are bringing it out in the open.

They are threatened by the growth of the U.S. Latino population, and what they want is clearly to turn back the clock on the civil rights Latinos and other minorities have struggled to gain in the past 50 years.

Acting like schoolyard bullies, Arizona politicians are itching to lead the fight to suppress the civil rights of Latinos.

But there will be many more demonstrations, boycotts and even lawsuits against their mean-spirited measures.

And like all schoolyard bullies, they eventually will get the beating they deserve.

MIGUEL PEREZ is a print and broadcast journalist.

http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/...70038b4c5.html

bans state funding for schools offering courses that "promote the overthrow of the U.S. government" and "promote resentment toward a race or class of people."

Of course, these programs do no such thing.

Well......if they "do no such thing"....then what the blank are you worried about....If they do "no such thing"...then you WILL get your funding...no problem...right??

concernedmother, I feel for you. You are at ground zero in the battle for our country. Stay strong. Don't let the anti-American open borders fools intimidate you.

I went in and posted a correction for him.............


Why am I not surprised that a obviously Latino writer would write such an obviously racist article.

Lets start with some facts Mr. Perez.

The complaint against ethnic studies was brought about by other teachers who listened to the classes. Apparently the idea of chicano ethnic studies means teaching the La Raza manifesto

This includes the idea that that these states are occupied Mexican territory, and that by using certain tactics, such as breeding, latinos will take them over

at such time, the white population will either leave voluntarily, or, if needed, be removed by other means. After receiving enough complaints, it was determined that these studies were anti american, and racial in nature

Mr. Perez kindly left out the attitudes of La Raza and MECHA which is part of these studies, but feel free to look then up.

I am sure the writer did not have any racial agenda, but in the interest of quality reporting was planning on writing a different article explaining how his racial hype was incorrect

But, no problem, I am more than happy to help you with the facts you left out

This article is absolute trash. If they want to learn about Mexican history they should go back to Mexico.

Draconian anti-immigrant measures

It is not 'anti-immigrant' it is anti-illegal immigrant,' as those who have broken our law.

How about we begin to unite people, quit this hyphenated American talk and encourage assimilation?

In America, we don't teach anyone should be proud of their "ethnic ancestors". We've never done that. We've never taught that because you're white or black or Latino or German or Mexican or English or Irish that you should be proud of that. Proud of what? Who you ancestors were or what they did has absolutely nothing to do with you. Here in our country, you're no better than anybody else because of your race or ethnicity.

Welcome to America, where you earn your own pride by what you do, not what ancient ancestors in other countries you never knew did.

Latino students in Tucson are taught that Arizona was once part of Mexico and that they should be proud of the contributions their Latino ancestors made to the United States; in some warped minds, that's the equivalent of teaching un-American values.



Well, now we know. Shouldn't all students in Arizona be taught from the same curriculum?

Illegal aliens aren't a race.

Dixie

Some people want a race and ethnicity war in this country, and Arizona is itching to start one.

Yes, "some" people do...people like laraza, mecha, et. al. Arizona is gonna end it.
God Bless Arizona!

They are about connecting students with their ethnic roots.

Students can connect with their ethnic roots at home, unless the parents are too stupid? It's not the school's job to teach about "ethnic roots".