A former school official in San Antonio wants to change the name of an elementary school from one with Confederate connotations to one with socialist ones because the former is racist, reports the San Antonio Express-News.
Former Harlandale Independent School District administrator Nick Calzoncit wants the district to remove the Stonewall from Stonewall-Flanders Elementary School even though no one can be sure that it's actually named after Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.
Some people think the school carried the name because it was built in 1924 on a street in which people built stone fences in the front yards.
Calzoncit says he evaluated all the schools in San Antonio named after racists and bigots and singled out Stonewall as the worst. He wants the school name changed to Cesar Chavez Elementary.
Wrong Signals
A Texas lawmaker wants the University of Texas to reconsider it's suspension of an Asian-American fraternity accused of hazing because to treat it like all the others on campus could send the wrong message to the Asian community, reports the Houston Chronicle.
UT cancelled the registration of Lambda Phi Epsilon for six years after an investigation into the alcohol-related death of freshman member Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath. During its investigation, the school found evidence of hazing that violated university rules.
Rep. Hubert Vo says the school should consider other punishments such as probation, community service or alcohol abuse training for the frat's members. His request is not, however, about race, he said. And he certainly wouldn't expect Asians to get special treatment at UT.
"This is not about Asians or black or brown or white," he said. "This is about education and cutting off these resources from all the students. It's a big blow for all the students who might have to look for some alternative ways to complete their college degrees."
Speaking of Generalizations
An activist in Australia wants government officials to declare a public service ad targeting Aborigines racist and remove it from the airwaves, according to the ABC.
David Wright of Port Augusta complained to the Equal Opportunity Commission about a commercial featuring the local mayor asking Aborigines to behave and refrain from drinking when they visit this summer.
The EOC said it didn't have the power to intervene, so Wright will press his case elsewhere.
"Aboriginal people loathe making complaints, to enter into government bodies and institutions because they don't believe they get a hearing," Wright said. "A lot of Aboriginals don't trust government agencies very much at all."
Why Wonder?
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is under fire for referring to striking transit workers as thugs because two-thirds of the union's membership are people of color, reports the AP.
Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel says that of course he wouldn't dream of going there, but, "the perception out there is that (the comment) was racist. And the reaction has enormous racial overtones."
During a briefing on the first day of the illegal strike, Bloomberg said union leaders had "thuggishly turned their backs on New York City and disgraced the noble concept of public service."
A spokesman for Bloomberg said: "It is astonishing that some insist on continuing to divisively inject the subject of race four days after the strike has ended. One has to wonder what their motivations are."
Man Bites Dog
The U.S. Justice Department has sued Democratic Party officials in Noxubee County, Miss. alleging that they have systematically discriminated against white voters, reports ABC News.
The DOJ alleges that the chairman of the local Democratic Party, Ike Brown, and local election officials have disenfranchised whites by challenging their voting status, rejecting their absentee ballots and telling voters to choose candidates according to race.
It's the first time federal officials have used the 1965 Voting Rights Act to allege discrimination against whites.
Brown says the lawsuit is politically motivated and that he just wants to keep white Republicans from voting in Democratic primaries. Besides, he says, some local white Democrats aren't "true" Democrats.
"We support the black candidates because we're sure they're going to vote in the liberal interest," Brown said.
For more doses of politically correct nuttiness, head on over to the TongueTied daily edition.
Mailbag:
Tim M. in Colorado writes:
Happy Winter Solstice? Is there really someone out there who walks around wishing folks that all their solstices be white? The inmates are truly running the asylum. If you need me, I’ll be hiding at home practicing my hateful beliefs of Christian Mythology and burning rubber chickens in the back yard while doing the Winter Solstice jig.
Paul M. in California writes:
I am told that there is a new national organization called P.O.O.P., People Offended by Offended People. Are there local chapters?
Jeff N. in Houston wonders:
Are you sure you labeled Patrick Chapell correctly in last week's column? Wouldn't he be an African-Netherlander now that he has immigrated to the Netherlands?
Amy in Arizona writes:
Patrick Chapell and other recent immigrants to Holland are truly showing their ignorance of Dutch customs when objecting to "Black Pete." Perhaps Chapell needs to keep his Americanized hypersensitivity to any comments about color to himself while living in a wonderfully tolerant society like Holland.
Kathy V. in Wisconsin writes:
Regarding the uproar over the use of the term "classy dame" in Indianapolis...those who are outraged may want to recall that the word "dame," besides being a slang term for "woman," is also the equivalent of "sir" when a person is knighted. There are many "dames" in Europe (I think Julie Andrews is among them), and I'm willing to bet many of them are quite classy!
Seriously, though, if people would use half the energy they waste on being "offended" by this or that on something productive, we could lower taxes, end world hunger, and find a cure for cancer! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah.
Clark writes:
Shame on the Fox News Website and Fox News in general for not only addressing these stupid, vile and moronically polarizing issues, but also for giving small minded, stupid, vile morons a venue and outlet for their *&"!*% inane drivel.
Greg B. writes:
Putting people in jail for spreading paranoia about the effects of homosexuality on our species may be over the line, but that French politician was clearly ignorant of human history. Homosexuality has existed since the beginning and we're still here, and homosexuality isn't anymore widespread than it used to be. In fact, considering all of the girls getting pregnant while they're still in high school nowadays, I'd say we're doing just fine in the long run.
Morally, however, well that's a different story. But the idea that "homosexuality" is a threat to the human species is pure stupid in a can. Make's me wonder why the author calls it "painful truths." I'm sorry to break this to you, but you don't have the right to outlaw homosexuality anymore. Get over it.
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