Last night I attended the second Excellence in Education Annual Dinner entitled “Restoring Integrity.” The Educational Alliance PAC was formed in 1994 to support school board candidates. Their Board of Directors includes chairman Mark Bucher along with Craig Alexander, Rosemarie Avila, John Briscoe, Jim Gibson, Matthew Harper, Karl Heft, Donald Wagner, Paul Webster and Phil YarbroughThis event, held at Caspian Restaurant in Irvine, was attended by 150-200 conservative Republican elected officials and activists. OCGOP Chairman Scott Baugh, M.C. for the event, led us in the Orange County “one clap” as he read a long list of elected officials in attendance.
Before dinner we watched a “Full Disclosure Network” video which focused on the recent recall battle with the Trustees and Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD). During his remarks Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beal told us that in addition to himself his wife Jennifer and children were all included in the CUSD “enemy’s list. “
Our keynote speaker for the event was talk show host Dennis Prager who really connected with the audience. His presentation focused on six key areas related to “making Americans.” Dennis expressed his concern about multiculturalism. He went on to say that “if we don’t Americanize our child we might as well close shop.” He pointed out something that we already know. “Liberals have taken over our education system.” He later remarked that “we live in an upside down world.”
He opened with some pretty heavy remarks. “From the mid 60’s to the present is the age of stupidity” adding “I am really worried about America.”
His six presentation points were as follows:
1. Our aim should be to make kids Americans (which he said is a Fascist phrase to leftists)
2. We should teach in English. English is a unifying language. He added that bilingual language does not work. English should be the only language of our ballots. We have one language, English. If you don’t know it, don’t vote. He commented that “if I move to Turkey I wouldn’t expect to vote. The language of Turkey is Turkish.
3. Our textbooks should reflect truth. The left doesn’t want it. They admit it. “They want us to feel good.” He joked about receiving a thin book listing great Jews in sports citing Hank Greenberg. I don’t need it from a history book. Note: He forgot to mention Sandy Koufax, one of my Dodger hero’s, who refused to pitch in the 1965 World Series on Yom Kippur (which just happens to be celebrated tomorrow.)
4. Holidays are very important for civilizations yet we have now created Presidents Day where he recall celebrating Lincoln’s Birthday apart from George Washington’s birthday. Dennis jokingly said they were two wonderful Jewish men. In fact Lincoln’s first name is from the Bible. Abraham. He said by grouping the days together we lose the significance of why we celebrate them. We shouldn’t alter holiday dates just to get a long weekend.
5. We should not get rid of our rituals which keep civilization alive. It is exceedingly important to retain values based on our rituals.
6. His final point. Teach Americanism. A unique doctrine. We have a Trinity, Christian and American, on our coins. This is only found in the U.S.A. They are “In God We Trust, Liberty and e pluribus unum (which translated means “from many one”). We were founded as a Judeo-Christian nation by Judeo centered Christians. In God we trust was NEVER attached to theology. The connection dealt with our values.
We were endowed by our creator, not our Country. Dennis added that Liberty comes from God, not the government. He stated that the left prefers we were like Belgium where they promote equality over liberty. He added some trivia by telling us that the liberty bell has a verse from the Hebrew Bible.
Dennis said that “if we abandon Judeo-Christian values we abandon America.” And in his closing comments stated if we have “No God–No Wisdom.”
One attendee told me that what he took away from the speech was a heavy focus on Patriotism.
For additional information on the educational alliance simply go to:
www.education-alliance.org
WOW. Where does one begin with such nonsense. Well, let’s try the beginning, point by point;
1. We don’t “make” Americans. Any child who is born in this country, or any person who legally comes to this country and becomes a citizen, IS an American. Apart from that, being an American means different things to different people. Prager would have it mean the exact same thing to everyone. Good lord, what a boring world THAT would be. The right fears diversity.
2. We DO teach English.
3. It’s the right that doesn’t want the truth in our textbooks…they want the sanitized, “the founding fathers were demigods” and America never did anything wrong version.
4. Don’t mess with my long weekends, bro.
5. What rituals? Some rituals are good…some have proven, historically, to have a negative effect on civilization. And what the hell does “retaining values based on rituals” even mean?
6. A complete overstatement. Benjamin Franklin was not a Christian. Thomas Jefferson was not a Christian. Hamilton was not a Christian. Lincoln openly mocked Christians early in his career. There is clearly a strong Judeo-Christian strain in our culture. Nothing wrong with that. But this is a country based on pluralism. As for “No God–No Wisdom”, last time I checked, each and every American is free to “know” God in whatever way they choose. Prager has his way…he should let everyone else have theirs.
email response.
“It is notable that we now lump WAshington and Lincoln together so that neither has a special day. In fact, there is only ONE HUMAN for whom we have a legal holiday and that is Martin Luther King Jr. If you point that out, perhaps even preferring to celebrate “civil rights day”, you are a racist”
n2justice.
Sorry that you failed to attend this advertised event. As Dennis took random questions from the audience I would have made sure that yours were answered.
He made several other comments that I did not fully capture in my notes. Dennis did mention one change in our text books with our shifting the focus of George Washington’s accomplishments to his being a slave owner. His comment about Jewish ball players was a signal that we do not have to seek out hero’s in order to “feel good.”
Dennis pointed out that English is a unifying language. And he’s right.
Don’t take my word for it.Watch the Cutting Edge-atalk show interview and program of former US Treasurer Rosario Marin. She was born in Mexico City and immersed herself in the English language which enabled her to be successful. There is nothing wrong with speaking multiple languages. They all master multiple languages in Europe. However, English is becoming the major second language around the globe. It surely should be the main language in this country if you wish to be successful. Rosario is living proof.
Larry,
Thanks for the additional insights.
As for your statement that English “should be the main language in this country”, all I can do is point out the obvious and reassure you that it already is.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but is what you and Prager are really getting at is that the Federal Government, every State and every City government should declare English the “official” language? I’m sure you’re aware that teachers have a MUCH easier time of teaching immigrant children English when they can cocurrently teach them to be better in their indigenous language. All declaring English as the official language is designed to do is inhibit teachers from using this proven method of English instruction.
Thanks Larry for the info.
Wow, I knew Dennis Prager was a nutcase, but I never knew he was such a self-righteous blow hard willing to outright lie to get his points across. Oh wait, that is most of the right wing pundits, DUH!
N 2 Justice is correct in all his statements. It is Prager and the Education Alliance who are the real Historical Revisionists. I have read some of the textbooks they want to use, they are not kosher and attempt to completely sugarcoat American History, except when to take shots at those who do not agree with them.
People, refer to my series, Ignorance to Enlightment to see the truth. I was once among them, I would not lie to you on this, they want to mislead your children and they know it. I heard their conversations. I will republish Ignorance to Enlightenment before I depart so all can see the truth of what the Education Alliance truly stands for.
Dennis’ nitpicking of tiny details goes to show how the Right can only function on wedge issues. I gave a challenge to end that and debate intellectually. A comment on that post and his speech goes to show the conservatives have no intention of doing that. A shame, it will be their doctrine that will ultimately bring down America, if we let them. I will not let them bring down this country with their revisionist nationalism.
Excellent piece. Wonder how many teachers were in attendance? WHAT A GREAT EVENT. TELLING
[As for your statement that English “should be the main language in this country”, all I can do is point out the obvious and reassure you that it already is.]
NO!… IT IS NOT!
I still must dial #1 on the phone so I can speak English.
Try to call any county, city and court lines!
Claudio,
Please reconsider and stay with OJ!… you are extremely entertaining.
#7
Did you see the word “country” in the comments by Larry and me?
And then you try to rebut that by pointing to a county or city dynamic?
Try again.
Hi Larry, I’m a teacher, and I think I’m a liberal, although what I think is a liberal might be different than what you or Prager think is a liberal. Incidently, I was a Marine infantry officer in VN. I, and most of my fellow infantry officers were quite a bit more politically liberal than were the logistics officers and pilots — I suppose because caring for a group of 18-20 year olds and trying to get them home with all their arms and legs attached is more of a nurturing, cuddily, liberal thing than dropping bombs. This is the same impulse that makes for the majority of us teachers to be on the liberal side — nurturing young people into adulthood.
There are some knuckleheaded liberals, a small but vocal minority, who promote some really stupid policies, and the majority of us liberals, being by nature accepting and tolerant, don’t argue with them — we just don’t follow their lead. Don’t assume what appears in a textbook is what actually gets taught in class. Teachers tend to be fiercely independent and they teach what they themselves believe to be true. When something really dumb gets included in a textbook, teachers use it as a learning
opportunity for “don’t believe everything you read.”
With the exception of a very few crackpots, every American teacher I know has it uppermost to teach our students what it is to be American. Here’s what I teach my students, 90% of which are Mexican-American, and 33% without legal residency, although they’ve lived here since childhood: “No child breaks a law by accompanying his parents to the U.S.; and where you grow up, and where you go to school and say the pledge of allegience each morning — that is home. You are Americans, not Mexicans, whatever your legal status, and don’t let any red-necked bigot tell you otherwise. But, you are going to have to have the courage to stand up and speak out against intolerance and bigotry, and against a greed-driven minority who would oppress others in a free country for their own gain.”
There is nothing more American to teach young Americans than this.
#9
I am not clear if you mean all states in the union?… or what do you mean by the country?
I gave you local examples.
If you want more the Oregon just adopted teaching curriculum from the Mexico.
Please make note of it you anger-driven-socialist.
Paper rather than plastic please!
English rather than Canadian too!
Non bio-engineered Pop Corn would
be a better alternative!
Army Rangers and Special Forces
rather than World War II Air Force Bomber pilots.
Carnita Tacos from Chronic Taco
rock..they only offer those at
the beach. Very cool!
#11
Anger driven socialist? LOL. Thanks for the laugh. Now explain to me how you can pigeonhole my politics based on one comment?
The word country means the United States. You can cherry-pick these local examples all you want, but my statement that English IS the main language of this country is indisputable.
Hamilton was not a Christian.
No? http://www.eadshome.com/AlexanderHamilton.htm
http://www.faithofourfathers.net/hamilton.html
Thomas Jefferson was not a Christian.
No? http://www.faithofourfathers.net/jefferson.html
Benjamin Franklin was not a Christian. I agree with you, he was not.
Lincoln openly mocked Christians early in his career.
Assuming you are correct, whom did he mock? All Christians? Or certain sects or types?
I’ll admit there’s a great deal of speculation and debate as to whether he was, but I don’t believe it is settled one way or the other.
In you anger #13, you are failing to understand the English word “main”!
The “main” is NOT synonymous with “majority!”
However, the “main” IS synonymous with “priority!”
For example: Even though that substantial majority population speaks perfect English you may be denied a job if you do not Speak Spanish.
In contrast, if you do not speak English and speak Spanish only you cannot be denied a job on that bases alone because that would be classified as discrimination and racism.
Therefore, if majority population speaks English the priority THE MAIN language in the USA is Spanish.
I do not expect you to understand that because socialists have small brains to fit into the JUGO.
#15
I’m supposed to take your lecture on the word “main” seriously, yet you can’t even write the language coherently?
Jubal,
Hamilton and Jefferson were both Christian Deists. Yet neither was a Christian in the sense that Prager intends…namely, one who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has asked Jesus into their heart to be their Lord and Saviour.
As for Lincoln, this from Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln; Redeemer President”…”Lincoln also joined a small twice-a-month debating society…Accrding to Henry Rankin, Lincoln “used the language” of radical deism, “that, according to the history of the case in the New Testament, Christ was a bastard and his mother a base woman”. He had no use for the doctrine of redemption through the death of Christ, or of a “new birth” through divine grace and repentance.”
Later in life, Lincoln expressed belief in a Creator, in “Providence”.
A big LOL to the rational, calm, thought-provoking voice of reason: Dennis Prager.
This is the same guy who declared, ” …few deny the leftward tilt of the Supreme Court for most of the last 40 years.” M-m-m-m: Thomas, Scalia, Alito, and Roberts- fierce Liberals, they!
This is the same guy who says Liberals, “…hold positions that I believe increase cruelty…” because Liberals, along with 70% of Americans, want to withdraw from Iraq.
The same Dennis Prager who declared that the Left will “…hasten the decline of Western society…” his assumption being that America somehow represents all of Western Society. And this will happen because we do not see xenophobia as a practical national policy.
He says in all seriousness that Liberals are going to “… undermine liberty…” by “expanding government, passing more and more laws, taking away ever larger percentages of citizens’ money…” without the even the slightest hint of irony.
‘nuf said.
SA teacher.
Thank you for your service to our country. As I reflect back on that dark period of US military history I would hope that every officer and NCO wore multiple hats. Accomplish the mission and bring your troops back home alive.
Before moving away from the Vietnam war let me share a message from President John F. Kennedy.
“Let every nation know, whether, it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival of liberty.” -President John F. Kennedy, 1961
Some participants on this blog want readers to simply change over 200 years of US history starting with our textbooks simply to make us “feel good.” I for one will not buy into their argument no matter how wide ranging they take it.
And to all readers.
As I have not copied Dennis Prager on this report I cannot and will not attempt to speak on his behalf.
syqodem.
As you raise the issue of the war in Iraq, that was NOT part of Dennis’s speech or this report, let me respond by referring to another war under Democratic President LBJ. Not knowing how old you are this may be before your time but is still relevant. The following is from the web site of the faculty at SMU.edu
In November of 1967, the (Johnson)Administration launched an extensive “public relations” campaign. It was designed to convince Congress, the press, and the public that there was “progress” in Vietnam and that the war was being “won.” Johnson was advised to “[E]mphasize light at the end of the tunnel instead of battles, deaths, and danger.” “There are ways,” Johnson was told, “of guiding the press to show light at the end of the tunnel” (quoted in Larry Berman, Lyndon Johnson’s War, p. 98 and 99). To head this effort, Johnson brought General William Westmoreland, commander of American forces in Vietnam, to Washington. Westmoreland addressed the National Press Club saying that the U.S. had reached the point “where the end comes into view” (Berman, p.116).
Syqodem. As you can see we have been down this road before. Question. Did you support or protest that war where 58,209 Americans lost their lives?
Larry,
I’m a VN vet- USAF- became a member of John Kerry’s VVAW after I left the service, am currently serving on the California Democratic Party Central Committee, and teach Government and U.S. History in the AUHSD.
My point was not about Iraq, and considering that this is the same SMU that will be housing both volumes of “W’s” copy of “My Pet Goat” after he leaves office… guess we should just consider the source… LOL. Jes’ kiddin’… really.
And yes, we have been down this road before… which makes it all the more painful.
My point is about how much Kool-Aid Prager has been selling to the fools who want to drink it.
No one could say- at least with a straight face- that the Supreme Court has been moving left for the last 40 years… that is, unless your perspective is to the right of Thomas, Scalia, Alito, and Roberts. That’s a scarey place to be; there is nothing beyond that cliff.
70% of Americans want us out of Iraq. Every poll for the last several years verifies the veracity of that national concensus. Cruelty is keeping our forces ‘in-country’ for two, three, and four tours. Cruelty is keeping them there for 15 months, period. His logic is so twisted that it would be laughable were it not so serious.
Western Civilization faced the greatest threat of the 2nd millenium in 1936 with Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia, 1937 with Japan’s invasion of China, and 1939 with Germany’s invasion of Poland. Those were truly times of great international fear, and one which could easily have led to the Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia of Orwell’s dystopia. How can a handful of stateless religious fanatics with RPG’s and box knives be a greater threat than three modern, wealthy nations, armed to the teeth?… The answer is: they can’t, unless we allow it. This administration, with the help of sycophants like Prager, has allowed it. His statements are, at best, hyperbolic; at their worst, they are exponentially Manichian, simplistic- and dangerous. And as such, it is one more reason to ignore him, but at one’s own risk.
His sheer audacity is what makes him both foolish and dangerous- because he thinks people should take him seriously. His Op/Eds concerning the Bush Administration over the last 6 1/2 years have been wrong nearly 100% of the time. His cadre of corrupt Republicans has led us into a trillion dollar war, expanded government in a most breathtaking manner, imperiled the rights guaranteed by our Constitution, and taken away the purchasing power of more Americans than any administration in history. Liberals did not do that. Prager’s lying, corrupt band of Republican thugs did that, and he helped them.
That we Liberals did not stop them will be to our eternal shame.
Email response.
Larry. I strongly believe that people should research the facts before they write opinion laced history. For instance, citing info. that is referenced, and sorting through muttled commentary. If one wants to talk about historic Presidents, it would be good to look back at president Abe Lincoln. Despite what he may have said early on about Christians, he made very strong Biblical comments including the reason for Thanksgiving as a national holiday as reported below:
Added by LG. “Just after Union troops won the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln issued a proclamation setting the last Thursday in November as a day of national thanksgiving and asking the populace to repent “our national perverseness and disobedience” to God during the Civil War. He wrote to those who had “become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation.”
The email reply goes on to say “I’m pretty sure Jefferson was a Deist and Washington a Theist. Franklin was probably an atheist. Nonetheless, many were Christian and all based our foundations on Judeo-Christian beliefs.
One good example is the Massachusetts Acts of 1640 and 1642. These instituted mandated public education. The primary reason for same was the fact that most children in this rural new country (colonies) were working the fields or housekeeping. Both were under parental tutelage, but there was little “book learning.” The concern was that children would not be able to read the Bible. So they were to be taught to read in order to study the Word and using it as the primary text, This went on into the 20th century with the use of McGuffey’s reader based primary on Biblical passages and precepts. (Prior to that the “Horn Books” did the same).
Then when the discussion changes course to “liberal, nurturing leftists” vs “intolerant right wing bigots” there must be a functional definition of terms. For instance teaching children “tolerance” should not eliminate morality and values or standing up for what one believes. Diversity, in a cultural sense, should be restricted to cultural diversity. Sexual preference and alternate lifestyles come into another category which might be called sexual or lifestyle diversity. English as a common or commerce language, given the fact that we do not have a national language, may still be the predominant language but we mustn’t discredit multilingual opportunities. Most European children speak at least 3 languages but have a primary language of their country. This is true worldwide.
I also take exception to the teacher who wrote about diversity. The statement that illegals are Americans (citizens)? is absurd. We’re all immigrants and there is a way by which to enter legally and become citizens despite one’s ethnicity. That’s what has made America what it is. But to promote illegal means nullifies the definition of “illegal!”