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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says "Yes" to "the American Revolution, Abraham Lincoln, and the Cold War."
Critical Race Theory? "No." "Absolutely, no."
He says, "There is no room in classrooms for things like critical race theory."
And unlike too many politicians we all know and love, he's actually taking bold action---not just expressing outrage.
Be informed, not misled.
Associated Press reports that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has "outlined what he thought were acceptable topics to be taught in civics curricula" and what is not.
AP explains that "Critical race theory examines the way race and racism influences politics, culture and the law."
No, it doesn't.
It misrepresents race and racism and is being used as a so-called "progressive" tool for indoctrination.
AP has consistently reported on CRT in ways that suggest to the reader that anyone who does not buy into the "theory" is racist.
Last fall, a couple of months before the presidential election, AP used their power of the press to drive the message home by noting that President Trump had "asked his Office of Management and Budget to crack down on federal agencies' anti-racism training sessions, calling them 'divisive, and anti-American propaganda."
Again affirming, "If you don't support CRT, you're a racist."
And AP affirmed that "Joe Biden believes there is systemic racism in America," implying, again, that those who do not believe the narrative of critical race theory are the problem. They are the racists.
Here's what Gov. DeSantis is doing.
He has outlined what he thinks is acceptable topics to be taught in the state civics curricula--- which would be actual American history.
He's getting a $106 million boost thanks to pandemic-related federal funding directed at states. Because he has managed the state so well during the pandemic, it is thriving economically---and the money is available.
He's proposing that teachers that get credentialed in teaching civics would get a $3,000 bonus. About $16.5 million will be devoted to training teachers and principals in civics education. That training would come from civics "coaches," in-person seminars, and virtual learning.
Another $17 million will be targeted for developing civics curricula with "foundational concepts" and not "unsanctioned narratives like critical race theory."
He told the press: "There's no room in classrooms for things like critical race theory."
And he told the press, "No matter if your family came on the Mayflower or you became a naturalized citizen, these principles belong to you."
AP isn't the only pushback. There's strong resistance from the Left.
Purdue University, for example, is all in. You can read their full statement, but in short, they hail the CRT narrative as a light that shines in the darkness of cultural perceptions of race and they claim they are closely connected to such fields as philosophy, history, sociology and law, and CRT scholarship "traces racism in America through the nation's legacy of racism..."
Parents who object to their kids being taught critical race theory are now being targeted by their neighbors and others in their community.
Recently Ian Prior, a former Justice Department official, consultant, and concerned parent in Virginia wrote a lengthy piece in The Federalist criticizing the fact that critical race theory is being taught in the public, taxpayer-funded school his kids attend.
This is a link to his article. I strongly encourage you to read it. It's well-sourced and very informative.
In the article, he notes that "Based on the recommendations of consultants they paid nearly half a million dollars, the Loudoun County [Virginia] school board recently approved an Equity Plan steeped in critical race rhetoric."
His premise is that there is growing concern about critical race theory, because the theory has everything viewed through the lens of race because, the theory claims, "racism is present in every aspect of life, every relationship, and every interaction."
And he notes that his school district is now policing you in your homes. He says:
"It's not enough for LCPS to enact race-based policies to benefit some of the races at the expense of others, it has also adopted a code of conduct that would punish staff for any comments that are not in alignment with the school division's commitment to action-oriented equity practices."
As a result of his not remaining silent about his concerns, he has been targeted by neighbors and other parents in his school district.
The targeting includes adding names that dissent to critical race theory. And those policing their neighbors are encouraged to "infiltrate (create fake online profiles and join these groups to collect and communicate information, hackers who can either shut down their websites or redirect them to pro-CRT/anti-racist informational web pages)."
Prior concludes that "Loudoun County Public Schools were once considered the best in the country. But the school board and the administration are either ignorant of just how racist and dangerous critical race theory is, or they are willfully using our children as guinea pigs in their unconstitutional experiments in race-based communism. Either way, it's time for Loudoun County's parents to join together and stand up to this destructive force."
Takeaway.
Governor DeSantis told the press, "Let me be clear, there is no room in our classrooms for things like critical race theory. Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth 1 red cent of taxpayer money."
And he said civics education should lessen the polarization currently in the US by giving everyone a common foundation of values.
What is the heart of those foundational values that we all once held?
Newt Gingrich wrote in his book "Rediscovering God in America":
"It is poignant that the first rays of sun that illuminate our Nation's Capital each morning first fall upon the eastern side of its tallest building---the 555-foot monument to the father of our country. And there on its top, inscribed on the eastern side of the four-sided aluminum capstone are the words 'Laus Deo' (Praise be to God)."
"These simple words, placed where they are for the eyes of heaven alone, are a fitting reflection of George Washington's deep conviction that the securing and maintaining of American liberty is owed to divine blessing, for which all Americans should humbly give thanks."..."All Americans---both those who believe in God and those who do not share this belief---are equal in rights and duties under our Constitution and equal in deserving the respect of their fellow citizens."
Therein lies the key to America's future. What will we do with these foundational values?
The radical secularists who are trying to infuse their formula of hate into our institutions, under the guise of "equity" and "social justice" must be held to account, because many of them are the same actors that are demanding God Himself be stripped from our public school classrooms and public discourse.
How can kids understand Lincoln during the Civil War without understanding his faith in the Declaration of Independence, his prayers asking God for divine assistance---and his firm resolution expressed at Gettysburg that "this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom?"
DeSantis is doing the right thing. Will any other elected officials have the courage to do the same?
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Bold. Be Prayerful.