Theater of the absurd
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday, we talked about a Wirepoints interview of Paul Vallas on Critical Race Theory…
Wirepoints: Yeah, Paul, I often wonder if you’re a Black kid, why wouldn’t you become a criminal if you’re hearing this stuff in school? It’s everybody with white skin is an oppressor, if you have black skin, you’re the oppressed. That makes it pretty easy to justify pretty bad conduct in my opinion.
Vallas: You’re absolutely right. But what you’re also doing, you know, you’re giving people an excuse for bad behavior.
So, I gotta wonder if this Illinois history lesson will push Asian American kids into a life of crime /s…
More here.
…Adding… Rep. Maurice West’s HB1633…
Provides that the State Education Equity Committee shall include a member from an organization that works for economic, educational, and social progress for Native Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to convene a Native American Curriculum Advisory Council. Creates the Native American Curriculum Task Force. Provides that the unit of instruction on the Holocaust and genocides shall include instruction on the Native American genocide in North America. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the Native American experience and Native American history within the Midwest and the State since time immemorial. Provides that the teaching of the history of the United States shall include the study of the role and contributions of Native Americans and teaching about Native Americans’ sovereignty and self-determination.
There’s something similar to the Pekin mascot issue going on in West’s district.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:26 pm:
Why are you pushing this woke nonsense on us Rich? /s
- very old soil - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:28 pm:
What a maroon>
- Appears - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:29 pm:
One learns history, the truth, the good and bad, in order to not repeat it’s mistakes. Is Paul saying that history should be “skipped” for 1934-1945 for Germany in order to avoid turning Jewish kids into criminals because of Germany’s Nazi time?
- Chicago Republican - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:30 pm:
If the people ever stopped the media and politicians from dividing us along racial lines what a wonderful world it would be.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:36 pm:
===from dividing us===
lol
If you want kids literally taught whitewashed history, then I suppose so. Being a responsible citizen ain’t ever easy or clean or smoothe.
- Southern Dude - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
=== If the people ever stopped the media and politicians from dividing us along racial lines what a wonderful world it would be. ===
100% agree
- We’ll See - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:39 pm:
If you’re not following Shermann Dilla Thomas you’re missing out - and underinfomed.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:45 pm:
==If the people ever stopped ==
The media and the politicians are just responding to the people. I think it’s the “people” who need to take a good, hard look at themselves in some cases. I mean, if this isn’t a hit you in the face kind of story about the racism of our past then I don’t know what is. Would you have this sort of stuff ignored?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:45 pm:
===100% agree===
So, how ya feel about the Pekin thread above? Thoughts?
To the post,
To that “Pekin” history, I went to school with quite a few folks from Pekin. Visited. Talk to their folks.
It was galling at that time the discussion towards the “history” versus the history and folk “from around there” were blind to what they were doing, and at the very same time doing exactly what they were intending… and by doing as they intended, welcoming hate as a cheery way to mocking.
That video has been around “awhile”, it’s good that it’s being sent out with some sunshine from others.
Those wishing “media and others” to stop exposing racism and inequality that embarrasses older white people are likely the same folks I met in Pekin, visiting, and being told the injustice *Pekin* was getting in the aftermath.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:49 pm:
Chicago appears to be about to put this Vallas nonsense in the runoff. Gonna be a hot next few weeks.
- Bruce - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:50 pm:
It’s always the same crowd blaming the media.
- Appears - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 12:52 pm:
== If the people ever stopped the media and politicians from dividing us along racial lines what a wonderful world it would be. ==
Are you going to include to that list organizations such as the Illinois Policy Institute, IFI, Dan Proft, some churches/religions and the like that benefit from dividing us among racial, gender, income, or other lines. Everyone wants to categorize everyone else and control what they see or what they believe. One thing that has been learned time and time throughout history but no one wants to apply to their “grouping”: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:00 pm:
The purpose of a free press?…exposing the ugly hidden truth.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:06 pm:
== If the people ever stopped the media and politicians from dividing us along racial lines, what a wonderful world it would be. ==
I grew up in a ‘changing’ south suburban town and attended a majority African American HS. Growing up, my interactions with law enforcement were very different compared to my classmates, who were not white. The looks I got in stores and other places locally were also very different.
There were two reunions for my 30th; I was one of two white dudes at the one that was primarily African American women. The one that was mostly white folks was the night before (I had a work function I went to instead). Only one classmate went to both (he came in from out of town).
I live in a large suburb now; my next-door neighbor (they have since moved), the same age and even the same size, same education as me, would have very different interactions when the police were doing DUI and other checkpoints.
It wasn’t the media or politicians that created these “lines.”
- Save Ferris - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:09 pm:
The “adult” whining to keep a racially charged native American name is named “Bufalo” himself.
Heh.
- Cool Papa Bell - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:10 pm:
Having coached hockey at that rink recently I’m not too sure the past is all that far in the past for those folks.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:16 pm:
I try to avoid using words that offend or upset others. At the same time I recognize that many terms start out as neutral or even positive and then become derogatory. Can we still call British people Limeys?
My high school mascot was a Spartan Much later I learned that Greek Spartans were slave owning, bisexual, pederasts. Ignorance was bliss.
- Nuke The Whales - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:18 pm:
Conservatives 2019: Facts don’t care about your feelings! Deal with it!
Conservatives 2023: *perpetually sobbing about how special they are and how dare you*
- Appears - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:21 pm:
–Responding to Cool Papa Bell
Unfortunately too many want to return to the past.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:29 pm:
“ Yeah, Paul, I often wonder if you’re a Black kid, why wouldn’t you become a criminal if you’re hearing this stuff in school?”
Or, if you’re a Black kid, you’re seeing a political party acquitting and protecting an ex-president for fomenting a violent and deadly insurrection, and who has ripped off many people. But, this party is demonizing and using people who look like you in anti-crime campaigns to rile up its voters, and nullifying your experiences and history in schools. What kind of examples are those to follow?
“It’s everybody with white skin is an oppressor”
Typical deliberate distortion. If anybody dares speak up about racism, it’s “Oh my God you hate white people.” Phony reverse oppression is the basis of fascism and driving the GOP, with anti-woke and school bans. Good on those who are challenging this dangerous activity. It’s so much more than just political.
- CentralILCentrist - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:40 pm:
Sullivan Redskins and 24 other high schools still use Indians as a mascot name…. Some just choose to live in ignorance.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:43 pm:
=If the people ever stopped the media and politicians from dividing us along racial lines what a wonderful world it would be.=
I think Fox News has done far more to divide us than a history book ever has.
- Flapdoodle - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 1:45 pm:
==If the people ever stopped the media and politicians from dividing us along racial lines what a wonderful world it would be.==
OMG, thank you for this. So funny . . . really needed a good belly laugh on a dreary rainy day like this. You’ve got a gift for satire. And calling yourself a Republican is a nice touch.
I’m sure some people will mistakenly take you seriously, but how? Really, nobody could be so dim as to actually believe this nonsense, amirite?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:01 pm:
Pekin is also widely known as a “sun down” community. If you do not know what that means look it up. Bad.
- The Truth - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
They might still do the “P, P, P-E-K! K, K, K-I-N!” chant at their games, and you better believe they accentuated that triple K. Just complete and total open racism.
- Mark G - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:21 pm:
What Vallas said is mainstream, not Theater of the Absurd.https://www.chalkbeat.org/2022/5/3/23055884/critical-race-theory-schools-polling
- Ozzy - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:26 pm:
Link to the full video from the Tweet. An account is not necessary to watch.
https://www.tiktok.com/@etchaskej/video/7198690306009795886?lang=en
- Appears - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:30 pm:
Most people don’t know what Critical Race Theory even is, including some politicians and media that want to bash everything that doesn’t deliver the message that they want people to believe (whether it is true or not).
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:33 pm:
===said is mainstream===
Only if your mainstream is old, angry white folks…
===It’s everybody with white skin is an oppressor, if you have black skin, you’re the oppressed. That makes it pretty easy to justify pretty bad conduct in my opinion.===
In short, folks like Glennon are aggrieved… and that makes Glennon angry… that his own race is being… wait for it… oppressed… so how can “black skin” part of behavior thinking is justified, don’t folks know…
Vallas… “You’re absolutely right. But what you’re also doing, you know, you’re giving people an excuse for bad behavior.”
Once you realize who the audience is, and appealing to the aggrieved, it makes sense to the absurdity.
- Appears - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:41 pm:
Back in the late 1960s/early 1970s, there was a saying: don’t trust anyone over 30.
A lot of politicians and news media, along with those who want the world to exist as it did in the 1950s/1960s, are causing a return to that saying.
- Papa2008 - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:08 pm:
Fox News didn’t divide us. They just play a tune a lot of folks have always wanted to hear.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:40 pm:
=They just play a tune a lot of folks have always wanted to hear.=
When you knowingly air false information and suppress the truth, you are willfully and deliberately engaged in division.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:40 pm:
Would disagree with Pritzker or anyone who says DeSantis and other GOP doesn’t know what woke and CRT are. They know exactly what they are, billion dollar dog whistles that trigger a wide range of GOP base fear and hatred.
But as to any DeSantis/Pritzker battle, it will be child’s play compared to what’s coming should DeSantis run for the GOP presidential nomination. He’s about to go through some things.
- H-W - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:06 pm:
== Wirepoints: I often wonder if you’re a Black kid, why wouldn’t you become a criminal if you’re hearing this stuff ==
Blatant racist statement. Wirepoints suggests Black people are incapable of reason, and are easily led by what Wirepoints claims are myths and lies. Racism, pure and simple.
== Vallas: You’re absolutely right. ==
Pandering to racist ideologies, and supporting racism.
- Suburban Mom - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:20 pm:
Someone recently told me that Mr. Rogers was “too woke” and not masculine, so, you know, some people are pretty far down that rabbit hole
- Amalia - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:26 pm:
what Vallas said is mainstream? he’s lying. pure and simple. that’s not what kids are taught in school. teaching history includes the Civil War and slavery. if that triggers you, too bad. repent.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:26 pm:
===Someone recently told me===
Your gibberish is seemingly always about being aggrieved in any “woke” way you can find.
===some people are pretty far down that rabbit hole===
Projection/Confession
- elaobserver - Thursday, Feb 23, 23 @ 12:39 am:
Forgive me for using the term, but, FWIW, when I lived in Peoria, my high school played the Pekin “Chinks” and people in that god-forsaken town were beyond furious when forced to change it. Some people are beyond help.