Whenever Fox News Todd Starnes finds yet another grievous attack on patriotism, you can bet your Crispy Creme that this "outrage" will be highlighted on Fox & Friends - the morning show that specializes in persecuted patriots. One of the core beliefs of teabagging patriots is that America is the most awesome country that Jesus every created. This is, of course, bullshit; but that doesn't stop those who believe in "American Exceptionalism" from attempting to foist their views on public school students who are being force fed evil, gay, Marxist propaganda by satanic school teachers. The Starnes article, on Fox Nation and making its way around right wing world, informs us that OMG, the Nebraska Board of Education is considering standards that fail to recognize American Exceptionalism and OMG teach global warming as fact, and other evil things. Fox friend Peter Johnson Jr. was all over it like flies on the Fox & Friends journalistic by-product.
As any Fox loving, patriot knows, the public schools are agencies of international socialism, so not surprisingly, this segment was part of Fox & Friends patented series "The Trouble with Schools" which consists of attacks on teacher's unions and school curriculums deemed too "politically correct." Johnson, who must be exhausted after praying and fasting ("Fortnight for Freedom") for Catholic "religious freedom," almost screeched his opening salvo "Is American exceptionalism up for debate?" Almost hysterical, he reported that "it is in Nebraska" where there is a "battle" (love the trademark Fox combat lexicon) over how American history should be taught. Johnson frothed that draft standards "left out the Founding Fathers" and other nasty stuff.
After Johnson hysterically reported on what his guest, Nebraska Board of Education member John Sieler discovered, Sieler provided more background on what the chyron described as a "classroom controversy." Sieler explained that it was a question of memorizing concepts or facts. Johnson explained that Sieler feels that American Exceptionalism, that America "is the best" should be stressed over "globalism." Sieler blithered about how America is "the home of equality and freedom." As he spoke, the side chyron referenced "controversial reforms." Sieler claimed that standards call for teaching "cultural equivalency" and he doesn't believe that all cultures and beliefs are equal.
As an example, he cited Muslim "honor killings" that have happened recently in Afghanistan. He continued with his Islamophobic pitch: "This is not an equal value to American beliefs." (So let me get this straight, we should teach kids that Muslims are scum?) He asserted that "we need to teach that there is a right and a wrong." (So Christians are right and Muslims are wrong?) The chyron reinforced the message that Sieler is right: "The American Way, Sieler, American Exceptionalism Must Be Taught. Sieler droned that teaching cultural equivalency isn't "valid."
Johnson asked if part of history is respect for other cultures, how "did they get it wrong in Nebraska," and what will be done so that it won't happen again. Sieler didn't address those points but responded that this is only in the draft stage and there is lots of input. He again noted that students need to be taught that "there are ideas that are good and those not so good."
As usual, facts get lost on Fox & Friends. Neither Johnson nor Sieler mentioned that the Founders are back in town. Neither mentioned that critics of the current standards say that too much emphasis is placed on memorizing lists of events and people. But Sieler did get to play the "be scared of Islam" card which is trump in the Fox & Friends deck. And does Sieler really think that the military campaigns against and forced relocation of Native Americans (Trail of Tears) is exceptional? How bout slavery and Jim Crow? Then there was the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. And what about child labor and long work days in unsafe and unhealthy working conditions - American exceptionalism at its finest!
