I am a firm believer in understanding history. When I first went to college, I majored in political science, but found it nearly impossible to separate political science from history; I kept tracing the cord back to the wall to find out the genesis of ideas. Before too long, I was taking as many history classes as political science classes, I finally added it as a second major. History teaches us patterns; it teaches us where we are going.
What I do take issue with, however, is the selective substitution of historical subjects for newer, more politically-motivated subjects.
Last year, California added LGBT history to the state’s education curriculum. This decision has been somewhat controversial, but as the state motto is, “We know best, so shut up,” the decision to blend history with social engineering has stuck. Now, Broward County in Florida are considering following in California’s footsteps.
Broward County is expected to approve a resolution that designates October LGBT history month. This resolution will promote the teaching of LGBT history in grades K-12.
According to the proposed resolution,
“Administrators, teachers, staff, parents and students are encouraged to take part in LGBT History Month in any way that is most positive and uplifting to their schools and communities and to coordinate efforts to highlight exemplary role models from the LGBT community.”
Call me a bigot if you wish, but I don’t want kindergartners learning about anyone’s sexuality. While the focus of this will be the history of the rise of homosexual issues, this topic cannot be discussed without clarifying the difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality. Sexuality may not be the centralized point, but if the point of LGBT history month is to emphasize accomplishments by homosexuals, the issue of sexuality is the key distinction. For example, what do we tell Johnny when he asks, “Why was Harvey Milk important?”
According to the Miami Herald,
“Gay-rights advocates say LGBT History Month showcases civil-rights pioneers who are an important part of American history, and it can also boost the self-esteem of adolescents who may be struggling with their own emerging sexual identity, and who are often the targets of bullying.”
Okay- I’m getting pretty tired of the left trying to make gay issues the modern-day civil rights struggle; the analogy is flimsy and wreaks of a desperate grab at increasing legitimacy. While social issues are up for grabs, and people may feel how they wish about these issues, it is both misguided and wrong to associate the two, as the institutional violence and repression focused on blacks during the civil rights movement is really just not present in today’s society. I have not turned on the television to find pride parades being broken up by police with dogs, batons and waterhoses. To believe that since both homosexuals and blacks have endured hardships, their struggles are of comparable measure is a false equivalency and should not be promoted by California, Florida or any other state.
The tactic of the left has been to batter anyone who speaks up by calling them a “racist” or a “bigot.” We must remember that this is our country, too, and we must be willing to speak out against that which offends our principles.
