After spending the day lamenting the sad state of affairs in Georgia politics, maybe we can cheer things up a bit by turning our focus elsewhere.
For example, there’s always entertainment value to be found in the Lone Star State.
AUSTIN – Just when it appeared the State Board of Education was done with the culture wars, the panel is about to wade into the issue of what students should learn about Islam.
The board will consider a resolution next week that would warn publishers not to push a pro-Islamic, anti-Christian viewpoint in world history textbooks….
A preliminary draft of the resolution states that “diverse reviewers have repeatedly documented gross pro-Islamic, anti-Christian distortions in social studies texts” across the U.S. and that past social studies textbooks in Texas also have been “tainted” with pro-Islamic, anti-Christian views….
Sponsors of the resolution cautioned that “more such discriminatory treatment of religion may occur as Middle Easterners buy into the U.S. public school textbook oligopoly, as they are doing now.” They offered no specific evidence of such investments.
237 comments Add your comment
Ray
September 16th, 2010
4:03 pm
Across the aisle immigration reform –
For the GOP – build a wall
For the Dems – build it along the norther border of TX
Carlosgvv
September 16th, 2010
4:08 pm
It’s hard to know where to start with this one. Is this the same State Board of Education that was determined to put creationism in the textbooks? If so, this kind of paranoia is about what you would expect. However, since fundamentalist Moslems are determined to spread their craziness worldwide, maybe Texas is on to something. Maybe this is a case of the Christian nuts being paranoid about the Moslem nuts.
Mr Right
September 16th, 2010
4:20 pm
Deep in the heart of Jay, there’s paranoia about Christians !
Midori
September 16th, 2010
4:22 pm
I recently decided to spend the Xmas Holidays with my baby brother and his family in Houston.
Maybe I should change my mind?
JohnnyReb
September 16th, 2010
4:24 pm
One man’s paranoia is another’s salvation. If I had to chose a sister state for Georgia, it would be Texas for a whole boat load of reasons including the school books issue.
Paul
September 16th, 2010
4:24 pm
Jay
Well, I guess it’s fair if I get a laugh out of the goings-on over there, you’d get a few laughs out of the goings-on over here.
“Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network. “Once again, without consulting any real experts, the board’s politicians are manufacturing a bogus controversy.”
Yup – books that caused the concern haven’t been used here in years…. maybe we shipped them to Georgia?
Carlosgv
“s this the same State Board of Education that was determined to put creationism in the textbooks?”
Nope. It’s the State Board of Education that incorporated a lot of suggestions from liberals, even tho the prior liberal-dominated Board shut out suggestions from conservatives.
jm
September 16th, 2010
4:26 pm
I’d take the Texas economy over Georgia’s any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.
Paul
September 16th, 2010
4:26 pm
Hi Midori!
Nah, go see’em, head down to Galveston, head outside of Houston and go on the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory tour and eat free samples, have some real Mexican food (not that Tex-Mex stuff), head over to the hill country… enjoy!
Road Scholar
September 16th, 2010
4:29 pm
These people are so insecure with their religion! They must REALLY believe it! Oh, and you’d better understand it their way!
Mr Right
September 16th, 2010
4:34 pm
“Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network. “Once again, without consulting any real experts, the board’s politicians are manufacturing a bogus controversy.”
Real experts means liberal ideas, if it’s not liberal then you are not a real expert!
jm
September 16th, 2010
4:35 pm
Sidebar – Tim Geithner is a complete wuss. We’re going to be in a battle, financial or military, with China, at some point. Let’s get it over with… time to stop the charades.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100916-712541.html
jm
September 16th, 2010
4:39 pm
In more breaking news – Government Motors (GM) won’t be Repaying the Taxpayer Anytime Soon.
Shocker.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hQC8-mBX3aDXgLn2qktc33uCeXfQD9I974S00
Munir Munshey
September 16th, 2010
4:39 pm
That is natural progression.
First deny some citizens their right to worship.
Next, impose censorship and insist that the religion whose adherents cannot build a place of worship must be shown in a light that pleases the deniers of rights.
jm
September 16th, 2010
4:41 pm
“It’s the Spending, Stupid. ”
Right on tea partiers.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703743504575493953591176476.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop
Scout
September 16th, 2010
4:42 pm
Regarding Islam:
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” Winston Churchill
jm
September 16th, 2010
4:43 pm
And on the other side of the coin – the Tea Party nominee for Delaware Senator looks more and more like a complete an utter idiot. Fiscal conservative credentials notwithstanding.
http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aeJ9Qf_DJQkU
N-GA
September 16th, 2010
4:44 pm
I don’t even know where to begin…Perhaps if these people were challenged directly to provide evidence of “gross pro-Islamic, anti-Christian distortions in social studies texts” across the U.S. and that past social studies textbooks in Texas also have been “tainted” with pro-Islamic, anti-Christian views……. errors and distortions.”
Then the ACLU can be brought in to sue the School Board on behalf of our children. I’ve found that if the punishment causes people’s wallets sufficient damage, it is a better deterrent than hard time.
DEM
September 16th, 2010
4:46 pm
Jay, I am always pleased to see you express such respect and tolerance for political opponents. Texas — paranoid. Delaware — crazy. The crazy is feeding upon the crazy, in fact. And this is just from the titles of blog posts within the last few days.
It must be nice to be part of the minoruty that is so smart and sane, unafflicted by the pathologies of everyone who happens to disagree with you about anything.
jm
September 16th, 2010
4:47 pm
Scout – truer words were never spoken.
The morons of the world generally live in the Middle East. That’s why I drive a Prius. I would prefer to send the least amount possible to corrupt, nasty, dirty governments and morons….
Our oil dollars fund their ignorance. Wish we would do what is necessary to stop it. Nothing would make me happier than for the idiots to learn Econ 101 when they go broke from lack of any intellectual capital when we stop buying oil. Seems that won’t happen anytime soon.
N-GA
September 16th, 2010
4:47 pm
Oops! The quote in my 4:44 post should have ended with the word “views”. The rest should have been truncated.
Apologies…
Matti
September 16th, 2010
4:49 pm
“more such discriminatory treatment of religion may occur as Middle Easterners buy into the U.S. public school textbook oligopoly, as they are doing now.”
Hahahaha! FUNNY stuff!
N-GA
September 16th, 2010
4:49 pm
jm – Many of the Arabs are educated in US schools. I guess you haven’t spent much time interacting with people from the ME, or those from Appalachia for that matter.
Brett
September 16th, 2010
4:53 pm
Religion has always been an artifice for slinging hatred & bitterness in Texas – as elsewhere. Neo-fascists disguised as Christian Republicans are everywhere. Filtering personal failure, anger, jealousy, envy thru Jeesussah. Mangled misinterpretation of The Bible thru thoroughly empty “patriotism.” Indoctrination thru repetition. Feeding on the crippling of reason that religious fundamentalism wreaks upon this country. The Moron Belt. Puritanical demagogues & repressive rodents scurrying about in their cages. A breeding ground for pestilence and hate. Turn off your brain, anesthetize your soul – and send in your cash. The uneducated, terrified right-wing Bible Set – that’s shackled to the mammouth cruise ship of Ignorance – refusing to let us evolve. Super-Christie God-Zealots. Using religion as a drunk uses a lamppost. Accepting Christ – and then stepping into the Darkness. And Texans are damned proud of it!! Ugly Little People who aren’t yet hateful enough towards women, gays, sex, & non-Christian beliefs & who still freak out when the kids play dress-up. Ever has it
been so. Malcontents, each hoping to win “The Best Christian” award. Jesus would weep and vomit at the sight of them.
jm
September 16th, 2010
4:54 pm
N-GA – On the contrary, I have plenty of interaction. They come here because their schools are junk, generally. Aside from the billions S.A. is pouring into the school under construction now – name escapes me.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
September 16th, 2010
4:54 pm
This blog is grossly pro islamic, just sayin…
~~~~~
Losses from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac seizures may near $400 billion
Why, if the government was backing junk mortgages, then what happened to the money?!?!?
Did it just get ate up??!!??
Did bushie take it with him!!??!!
Scout
September 16th, 2010
4:56 pm
“Mainstream Islam is also very dangerous. Their only difference with Islamist terrorists is how to get there. The end game is the same.” Unknown
Scout
September 16th, 2010
4:59 pm
Brett:
This day this prophesy is fulfilled from your post:
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” II Timothy 4:3
jm
September 16th, 2010
5:00 pm
Your guide to the economic situation and solutions, courtesy of Business Week:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_39/b4196054741296.htm
Jefferson
September 16th, 2010
5:01 pm
Boy will they be suprised when they get to heaven.
marko
September 16th, 2010
5:06 pm
It’s funny I used to think that we educated children to teach them how to think. It seems that I was wrong. We send our children to school to learn what they should think. No telling what kind of horrible things would befall our great nation were we allowed to think for ourselves.
Doggone/GA
September 16th, 2010
5:07 pm
“Mainstream Islam is also very dangerous.”
How comfortable is it under YOUR bed?
N-GA
September 16th, 2010
5:07 pm
Jefferson – You are so very right. When a Baptist murderer gets to heaven and is told he’s going to hell, his argument that “We were told that as long as we asked forgiveness…..” will elicit a reply: “What didn’t you understand about Thou shalt not kill?”
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
September 16th, 2010
5:09 pm
Well, if they got the time to strike most of the stuff about T. Jefferson from the history books, they got the time to go after the Towelheads. And I hope they go after the Jews and Catholics next. The Texas people don’t fool around. They’d as soon stick a needle and some poison in your arm as eat supper. I hope someday they get around to rewriting the lies people tell about the War of Northren Aggression.
Have a good night everybody.
jm
September 16th, 2010
5:10 pm
Poor allocation of capital and credit plaguing the economy. On the bright side, we’re not in a great depression. Credit / blame goes to Obama.
http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aDO8.km0Vwt8
Southern Comfort
September 16th, 2010
5:12 pm
I’m guessing all you anti-islamic, anti-middle easterners are driving electic vehicles powered by the Southern Company and good ole American Coal…
The good thing about living in America is that the freedom of speech is granted to all citizens, including the common-sense challenged.
jm
September 16th, 2010
5:12 pm
USA Today comes in on the side of higher taxes to fix the deficit, and points out Republican hypocrisy….
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2010-09-15-editorial15_ST_N.htm
jm
September 16th, 2010
5:15 pm
Economics (my academic background) is a junk science. Keynesians, Krugman in particular, should learn to be a bit more expansive in their views, or go focus on something other than GDP and unemployment forecasting.
http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a5bwxjR.zXgw
margo
September 16th, 2010
5:16 pm
religion(s) is the root of all evil…
Scout
September 16th, 2010
5:18 pm
Doggone/GA:
I’m not worried about my bed.
It’s the beds of my grandchildren and great grandchildren that I am concerned about.
Doggone/GA
September 16th, 2010
5:19 pm
“Economics (my academic background) is a junk science. Keynesians, Krugman in particular, should learn to be a bit more expansive in their views, or go focus on something other than GDP and unemployment ”
If it’s “junk science” what does it matter if they have a narrow or broad focus?
Scout
September 16th, 2010
5:21 pm
Anyone up for some math?
1/2 The worth of a woman as compared to a man with regards to witness and inheritance
2 Handfuls of flour or dates as dowry a man must give to make her private parts lawful for him
3 Things that nullify prayer, including a Woman, Donkey and a Dog
4 Wives a man can marry
6 Age of Aisha in years when 51 year old Muhammad married and thighed her
8 The number of men from ‘Ukil that Muhammad had tortured and killed
9 Age of Aisha in years when 54 year old Muhammad had sex with her
10 The number of people that Muhammad had murdered when he conquered Mecca
11 Women Muhammad used to have sex with in a single night
30 The sexual strength given by Allah to Muhammad as compared to a normal man
73>72>71 Muhammad said Jews and Christians would be divided into 71 or 72 sects and Muslims would be divided into 73 sects. Of these 73 sects, only one would make it to heaven.
72 Virgins a man will get in Heaven
99 The percent of women who will go to Hell
100 Lashes to be given to an adulterer for sex
100 The sexual strength of a man in Heaven as compared to a man on Earth
100 Women Prophet Sulaiman had sex with in a single night, according to Islamic traditions
113 The number of peaceful verses which have been abrogated by the “Verse of the Sword”
900 The number of Jewish males from the Banu Qurayza tribe that Muhammad ordered to be beheaded according to some sources, while their women and children who had not yet reached puberty were enslaved
Source: http://www.wikiislam.net/wiki/Numbers_of_Islam
Del
September 16th, 2010
5:22 pm
I love Texas and have always enjoyed traveling that great state. You have to applaud their State Board of Education, who’ve taken on the idiots that have been polluting school text books with far left politically correct propaganda.
Finn McCool
September 16th, 2010
5:22 pm
Where should you pee?
Hehehehe
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/15/where-should-you-pee-help_n_718098.html?ref=fb&src=sp
Doggone/GA
September 16th, 2010
5:22 pm
“I’m not worried about my bed.”
I didn’t ask about your bed…I asked about what it was like UNDER it.
jm
September 16th, 2010
5:23 pm
Where did big government come from and how did it happen?
One answer here:
http://www.american.com/archive/2010/september/why-does-government-grow-and-grow-and-grow
Ok, I’ll stop with all the off topic stuff. Apparently Islam is more important than the economy and jobs…
Of course, one can easily get burned out on the ole economy issue too.
Jay, why don’t we discuss the most interesting places for Caribbean vacations on this blog for a bit? Or good places to go for fall leaf watching? Maybe what’s going on with the ASO these days?…
barking frog
September 16th, 2010
5:24 pm
You don’t want state employees teaching religion.
It’s downright unconstitutional.
jm
September 16th, 2010
5:25 pm
Doggone 5:19 – maybe it doesn’t matter. Would just be nice if they stopped pretending Economics was a “science”. It’s guesswork, at best.
Doggone/GA
September 16th, 2010
5:25 pm
“who’ve taken on the idiots that have been polluting school text books with far left politically correct propaganda.”
Yeah like that pesky number with no end: Pi – they decided it should be rounded off to 4 digits after the decimal point, and passed a law to make sure it was.
Jefferson
September 16th, 2010
5:25 pm
Some thing you need to know, some things are good to know, some things are nice to know. I guess those things are nice to know.
N-GA
September 16th, 2010
5:26 pm
jm – At the risk of trying to make a (broad) point, most universities in foreign countries are fine schools. The problem is that they do not allow just anyone to attend. Most have rigid admission requirements, so students not meeting those requirements find it necessary to seek admission to American schools. “Out-of-state” students pay much higher tuition and often minimum requirements are overlooked for business reasons. At the same time, many bright foreign students who fail to meet admission requirements in their homelands easily qualify here.
All you need to do is look at the state of education in the USA. It can’t get much worse. “For Profit” schools are chumming the waters looking for gullible people who shouldn’t be in college in the first place. They get them a student loan and off they go! Default rates are through the roof while employers are reluctant to hire “graduates” from these schools.
Just relating the facts to you……