Elementary school declares "Trayvon Martin Day"

[Chachma v'Oz]

I don't give a shit. I'm not an advocate for the Republican Party. I'm an advocate of sane policies.

We all are. I took your "don't be a fucking ass" comment as a fear I'd venture into the dark side of right wing ideology. Been there, done that, and all I got was contempt for what it represents.

That's a laugh. Do you suppose their educational system is among the "more liberal" policies you speak of?

Could well be. "Liberal" means moving away from extreme, absolutist positions, whether from the left as China is doing or from the right as we need to do. It's only in recent years that females have been included in China's compulsory educational system, though female literacy there still lags. They're working on it. It wasn't that long ago that their extreme one-child per family policy resulted in a great deal of female infanticide, until that was liberalized and relaxed.

Liberalizing policies and programs benefits everyone (the world over). The reason the mainstream is in the middle is because the extremes don't represent most people's best interests.

[soylentgreen]

I see...so in your mind "liberalizing" means "good"...nothing more. That's not the context I'm talking within. I'm talking about the bleeding-heart-feelgoodism that pervades American liberalism in 2012.

Well, you know what? Fuck those little black kids! Let them work at McDonald's for the rest of their lives...or get mixed up in gangs and drugs...or be on welfare. A high percentage will end up dead to gang violence before the age of 25. Who the fuck cares...as long as they learn about racism in America and how a Latino man shot a black boy in cold blood? Yeah, that's gonna help them get on their feet.

This is what American liberalism in 2012 is breeding...helplessness, homelessness, poverty, gangs, drugs, violence. Ever notice the affluent white liberals that back these fucked up policies don't allow THEIR children to live under these conditions or go to these schools? If you ask me, that's a far worse sort of racism than anything Zimmerman may or may not have done.

[Chachma v'Oz]

I see...so in your mind "liberalizing" means "good"...nothing more.

You know better than that. I just told you. Becoming more liberal means moving towards the center from wherever your starting point is. In societies right of center, like ours, it means moving left. In societies left of center, like China and Cuba, it means moving right. What is good is in the middle. What are bad are the extremes both right and left. You get to the middle by becoming more liberal no matter where you're starting from. If you continue in that direction and pass the middle, then you're becoming more conservative whether your goal is fascism or its cousin, socialism.

If you want to argue that the middle is not good, fine, but don't go off on a soapbox rant that has nothing to do with what I said.

[soylentgreen]

I don't think anyone would argue that liberalism is "the happy middleground". We simply disagree. End of story.

[Chachma v'Oz]

If you can't differentiate between the definition of "liberal" and that of "Liberalism", I can see why you feel there is nothing to discuss. There is no political connotation to the word "liberal" any more than there is to "bicycle" unless that's the only way you think the term should be used. Any time policies move from strict control to more tolerance they become more liberal no matter who's doing the controlling.

[302Riz]

The whole event reeks of politicizing race when it is completely unnecessary. Why are they doing this one event? Are they not concerned with black on black crime which happens at a far greater rate than whites who commit crimes against black people? Schools, teachers and administrators shouldnt be promoting events such as this. Like SG said, education is far more important than petty politics such as this. Victimhood doesnt get anyone anywhere. Education does -its common sense.

My children will be bi racial, and I dont want anyone singling them out because they will be half black or half white. Its counterproductive.

On top of that, the school is giving kids candy and iced tea loaded with sugar which isnt healthy either.

[soylentgreen]

If you can't differentiate between the definition of "liberal" and that of "Liberalism", I can see why you feel there is nothing to discuss. There is no political connotation to the word "liberal" any more than there is to "bicycle" unless that's the only way you think the term should be used. Any time policies move from strict control to more tolerance they become more liberal no matter who's doing the controlling.

"Liberal" with a small "L" is what you're talking about and I agree with your definition. However, I'm talking about liberal as in the policies of the Democratic party. In that sense, they couldn't be further from the definition you put forward...even though you think they are nicely aligned with it. They seek to control all day every day.

[Chachma v'Oz]

China doesn't have a Democratic Party. China is, however, becoming more liberal in its policies. By doing so they are moving from the far left towards the middle.

Clear?

[soylentgreen]

My children will be bi racial, and I dont want anyone singling them out because they will be half black or half white. Its counterproductive.

My kids are bi-racial too. And, they're not going to be victims of race hate. They're going to rise above the bullshit by their own accomplishment. I'm not going to send them to failing schools who pretend to educate but really only fill kids with excuses for not performing.

This is a desperate hour for our inner city schools! At this very moment, the futures of thousands if not millions of children is being cast in stone. And, the BEST possible use of the school's time and resources is to have a rally against a latino man in another state who shot a black man under circumstances no one knows?!??! Seriously?

This kind of thinking no doubt pervades every corner of the Malcom X Elementary School. It's no surprise to me that such a school is a complete failure.

I have an idea. How about let's institute a "Fire Bad Teachers" day? Or a "Do Your Goddamned Homework" day? Or a "Study Like Your Future Depends on it" day? Because your future does depend on it...

[soylentgreen]

"There's a kid in China who wants to eat my lunch day"

[soylentgreen]

China doesn't have a Democratic Party. China is, however, becoming more liberal in its policies. By doing so they are moving from the far left towards the middle.

Clear?

Yes. And, it has nothing to do with anything in America.

[Chachma v'Oz]

Yes. And, it has nothing to do with anything in America.

I mentioned a different approach to education, which wasn't a tangent I started. We've come a long way since the "Let’s Keep Our Children Safe" seminar and onto race and US failure in education, for some reason.

[302Riz]

My kids are bi-racial too. And, they're not going to be victims of race hate. They're going to rise above the bullshit by their own accomplishment. I'm not going to send them to failing schools who pretend to educate but really only fill kids with excuses for not performing.

This is a desperate hour for our inner city schools! At this very moment, the futures of thousands if not millions of children is being cast in stone. And, the BEST possible use of the school's time and resources is to have a rally against a latino man in another state who shot a black man under circumstances no one knows?!??! Seriously?

This kind of thinking no doubt pervades every corner of the Malcom X Elementary School. It's no surprise to me that such a school is a complete failure.

I have an idea. How about let's institute a "Fire Bad Teachers" day? Or a "Do Your Goddamned Homework" day? Or a "Study Like Your Future Depends on it" day? Because your future does depend on it...

Unfortunately, it's not only the school thats the problem, its a community and subsequently the environment at home. Some kids just have no chance because of where they were brought up and what their parents believe. That goes for any race.

Ignorance breeds ignorance.

I was born and raised in a middle class Italian neighborhood on Long Island. My parents somewhat cared about education and higher education and for the most part, I reflected that. It was only when I got out into the real world, did I realize that some sort of higher education or real skill was necessary to make it by.

My mother in law emigrated here from Trindad and her family always valued a good education and a higher education. They made sure that their children were getting a good education at school and stayed on top of the teachers and always raised hell when they saw that the school and teachers were slacking in their jobs. 9 years ago, my wife graduated a private college with a bachelors degree. All of the people who denigrated my wife for 'acting and talking white' are now working in McDonalds or doing jack shit with their lives. I know because I have met some of them.

[soylentgreen]

I mentioned a different approach to education, which wasn't a tangent I started. We've come a long way since the "Let’s Keep Our Children Safe" seminar and onto race and US failure in education, for some reason.

Want to keep your "children" safe? Teach them not to attack/confront a man with a gun. Trayvon was 17...hardly a little boy. And, nobody knows precisely what happened that night. But, I'm guessing...but not 100% sure...that Zimmerman would not have shot the guy without some kind of reason. Unless, you subscribe to the idea that he went on his "community policing" patrol that night intending to kill a black kid. I don't.