Texas Conservatives Rewriting History Textbooks

March of 2010, Texas conservatives agreed to rewrite school textbooks. This was surprising because liberals have been arguing for years that history books should be rewritten, due to obvious misinterpretations, but often rebuttals came back from the conservative side. The vote to rewrite history books in Austin, Texas, came back 10-5, with all Republicans voting in favor of the rewrite. 

Efforts by Hispanic board members to include more Latino figures as role models for the states large Hispanic population, were constantly defeated by Republicans. These defeats prompted one member Mary Helen Berlanga, to storm out of a meeting while commenting, “they can just pretend this is a White America and Hispanics don’t exist.”

President Obama won the presidential election due to a majority youth vote, and isn't it coincidence that conservatives now feel it necessary to rewrite history and economic textbooks? Does this strike anyone as odd? We shouldn't forget about this because when we forget, the real damage is being done behind closed doors.

Republicans favor book rewrites because they feel history books, should cast them in more of a favorable light. Additional revisions suggest that young people should learn the positivity of "Capitalism", the "National Rifle Association", and the "Moral Majority". But capitalism is what catapulted this country into a second great depression under the Bush administration, so I can only hope that their capitalism rewrites, will educate on the moral ways in which to do business. Why is it so important for students to learn how to shoot guns, and what is this moral majority talk about? Are conservatives making an argument that they are the moral majority, and if so, what gives them the right to exclude others from this so-called majority?

Reportedly Republicans wish to depict African Americans, as American haters in the new textbook revisions while stating that Ida B.Wells and W.E.B. Dubois, were American hate mongers. Moreover, conservatives agreed that the African slave trade to America, should appear as if it were a friendly exchange from across the Atlantic Ocean. But who are they trying to fool with this garbage, themselves? I understand why some Republicans wish to not speak on the past, because with acknowledgement of a tragic past comes shame and responsibility, and who wants to be ashamed of something they and/or their ancestors did wrong?

Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul, admitted there were many times he "wanted to work with President Obama on key legislation", but "the Republican majority leaders forbid it." But I'm confused because I thought we had leaders running our government -- not followers. When the American people vote, our votes aren't based on how well candidates follow other people's thinking, it's usually based on a candidates personal beliefs and character. But why should we waste our time voting, if candidates plan to "follow the leader" once they get in?

More Americans are becoming educated on the history of this country, and those that have long governed it. Republicans attempts to rewrite history books, seem more about brainwashing our youth in hopes of gaining back The White House and not about educating our children. I guess since a black man finally won the presidency, the textbooks must not be misconstrued enough.

Nonetheless, we're living in a real life movie and have been for centuries. History repeats itself, it may come in a different form but it's always the same. This is why it's important for parents to teach their children about history, so they know who they are and where they come from. We can't depend solely on schools to mold our children, because to many failing schools and people in power aren't necessarily doing the trick. Instead WE must be the powerful elixir that removes the bad venom, before our children's minds are poisoned.

2010 LA