SB1070 Update: As if SB1070 wasn’t bad enough for AZ’s rep

by David Safier

SB1070 updates are going to be a regular feature here. Armed with Google Alerts, I get articles from across the country and around the world. I'll highlight some of the important issues that come up.

The LA Times picked up the story about our anti-Ethnic Studies bill and tied it back to SB1070.

"Xicano," or Chicano, studies is a 14-year-old program in the Tucson Unified School District that offers classes from elementary through high school in topics such as literature, history and social justice that emphasize Latino authors and history.

In the wake of Arizona's adoption of a law to crack down on illegal immigration, such classes are the subject of another ethnically tinged fight in the state. Another bill approved by the Legislature seeks to ban such courses, which critics say promote "ethnic chauvinism."

Supporters of Mexican American studies say the aim is to offer subjects and perspectives ignored by academia, as well as foster pride in a marginalized community.

According to the article, Horne "said he participated in the civil rights marches in the summer of 1963."

So, of course, Horne employed a King phrase to fight against what King actually stood for.

[Horne] invoked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in saying people should be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.

Right, Tom. All our civil rights problems are behind us. Racial discrimination has been consigned to the dustbin of history. No need for people who are discriminated against to be educated about their histories or the reason for their position in society. No reason to give them cause to feel pride in who they are. History is taught by the winners, and whites won. Any questions?