A Minnesota public school is no longer celebrating Valentine's Day because of cultural sensitivity. Not surprisingly, right wing bigots like Pam Geller are outraged. So are we surprised that the right wing bigots on Outnumbered would pimp the outrage?
Last Wednesday, the leggy ladies were joined by actor and model, Antonio Sabato who, as Newshounds Ellen reported, said that President Obama "isn't a true Christian" - a popular right wing meme which suggests that Obama is not one of us and, quite possibly, a secret Muslim. So given that the theme of this Outnumbered piece was the silliness of cultural sensitivity towards students who aren't part of America's cultural tradition, Sabato was in his element.
Sandra Smith reported the newest Fox/right wing outrage: "Students at an elementary school about to get a lesson in heartbreak." She shouted that OMG "their school won't be allowing them to exchange Valentine's Day cards this year or celebrate any other holidays for that matter." She explained that the school's principal (cue the death threats) "made the decision because he didn't student who are mostly foreign born to feel excluded." As laughter was heard on the set, she read the principal's statement about how his decision was based on concern for those who don't have "the dominant view."
Everybody laughed uproariously as Sabato said he didn't know "what's going on in this country" and Harris Faulkner said that Valentine's Day is being "treated like a peanut allergy." Totally missing the point, Jeanine Pirro said that "if you're going to bring a Valentine, bring it for everybody." Sabato opined that "this country is falling apart...it's like no Christmas, no this, no that..." He asked if schools "have the right to do this." (Uh, yeah Larry, schools can enforce whatever policy they deem appropriate, regardless of Fox News.) Laughter all around as Faulkner joked about how Sabato wants Judge Jeanine to prosecute the school. Tantaros: "Actually, that would be great, can you prosecute stupidy." (In that case, Tantaros would be serving a life sentence!)
Again avoiding the real issue, Pirro explained that Valentine's Day was based on the story of a Christian martyr. Faulkner advanced the Fox message that this school is catering to those who aren't really American: "You're saying that those of us who aren't necessarily from this country might get confused, might not appreciate, might not know about a certain thing, wouldn't that be a lot of things in the classroom." She inferred that this school policy will prevent student from learning important things.
Again, missing the point about cultural sensitivity, Pirro asked "are we stopping affection?" Tantaros asked if "the classroom is the place where people learn" and suggested that this policy prevents children from learning about "a holiday that teaches people to love." More joking and laugher ensued. Sabato whined about how "they are taking everything away" and it's "unfair" to the kids.
Nobody discussed the principal's comment that his "personal feeling is we need to find a way to honor and engage in holidays that are inclusive of our student population.” Nobody mentioned that other schools are doing the same thing.
So those on Outnumbered, a show known for its vile attacks on those who don't subscribe to right wing orthodoxy, are preaching the value of love?! Excuse me
I think everyone on “Outnumbered” needs to receive a 10-year old box of chocolates and a dozen long-stemmed thorns.