Texas Textbook Controversy: Scott Hinkley

The Texas board of education made it clear last week that if any minds were going to expand in Texas, it wouldn't be a result of their school-books. The rulings on updates to the social-studies curriculum in Texas classrooms is just the latest propagandist approach being taken by and aging and fading class of authority. Our country is locked in an egotistical battle of wills right now. In many 'progressive' areas of the country, the predominant view of the nation is shifting to that of one of many nations in a world of people, while in many 'conservative' areas, our nation (chosen by god to be the greatest nation regardless of who we rape or kill) is under attack and is at risk of being reduced to being a regular nation, with peers and shared interests (like one of those crappy nations in Africa or Asia or whatever).

It seems as if America is the recovering child-star. When we were really popular, we could do all sorts of horrible things to "other" people and the world still loved us. Then we started to get awkward looking, and way to full of ourselves, and our fans lost their sense of awe in our greatness. No we are working at the mall (all be it in the couture section) and telling our friends that we will be a huge hit again, if we can only keep people focused on our accomplishments and downplay (read: erase) our mistakes.

I think Don McLeroy, Texas Board of Education member, says it best: When asked to justify the dramatic changes he supported, In true xenophobic predictability, Don said "I don't want to be just like the rest of the world. I don't want to share the world's values. America's different. Our students need to understand that." Seems hard to believe that the Christian belief of loving all God's children has any home in the American addiction to "exceptionalism" (Don's word not mine). Don, you are a tool bag, and for one second I wish to change my agnostic viewpoint, just so I can hope that you get to burn some place for a long time. Too bad you will just be worm food like the rest of us.

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