Fox News just gushes over patriotic and/or Christian students who take a stand against the godless establishment. Elisabeth Hasselbeck was effusive in her praise for public high school cheerleaders who, in defiance of a ban on public prayer, led the crowd in pre-game Christian prayer. Her curvy couch predecessor, Gretchen Carlson, praised conservative students who, in defiance of a ban on loud outbursts at the Lincoln Memorial, kept singing the National Anthem after being told to stop. Gretch was effusive in her love for a college student who, in defiance of school policy, hung a US flag from is dorm room. But Gretch doesn't seem to have the same affection for CO high school students who are protesting their right wing school board's decision to whitewash (pun intended) history in order to inculcate patriotic values. In keeping with Fox Fiver Dana Perino's admonition to those who don't like the Pledge of Allegiance to amscray, Gretch offered the same advice.

Last week, on her afternoon show, uber-Christian patriot showed us that in addition to wanting free speech banned on Christmas, she doesn't want to extend it to students who have taken to the streets to protest their school board's intent to mold the AP history course in the image and likeness of tea bagging America. The conservative school board members want to combat creeping Marxism by presenting material that "promotes patriotism and respect for authority" and "doesn't "encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law (So no Boston Tea Party?)  

Gretch seemed incredulous that the students were protesting over the school board's desire to "promote patriotism and get this, they also wanted to promote respect for authority." (The godless government?) She added "imagine that." In tossing to Trace Gallagher, she wanted to know "what's up with these punks."

Gallagher reported on the protests and played video of students who were fearful that the proposed curriculum would ban discussion of slavery and the US' use of the atomic bomb. Gallagher said that the school board is accusing the teachers of "using the students as pawns" and that slavery and atomic bombs would be taught but not according to "left leaning historians who don't want to teach about American exceptionalism." According to Trace, the conservative school board members believe that these evil, lefties "would rather criticize America and highlight how the world views American power in a negative light."

He read a comment from a board member who claimed that history has been taught OMG with an emphasis on class, gender, race, ethnicity and engages in OMG America bashing. Trace explained that she is saying that "instead of teaching that the pilgrims did amazing things in talking about their accomplishments, they would teach that the pilgrims used capitalism to exploit people.” (Right, the Pilgrims never cheated or killed the natives!)

Gretch provided us with her words of wisdom: The last time I checked, we were still living in the United States of America, where we have a National Anthem and the American flag. Are they the next thing to be controversial and talked about being thrown out? How could being patriotic or learning about patriotism be a negative. What does it say about the young people in this country and the teachers who protest that promoting patriotism is now a negative."

She claimed that "ironically," the new curriculum "is all about promoting individual rights, like protesting." She puffed with pride as she noted that the new curriculum will "teach a free market system, like the one we already have" [and which is working so well for the 99%] and "encourage that there be no disregard for the law." [like Fox's support for those who oppose the ACA, particularly the slut pill mandate?] She asked "isn't that why we have laws on the books" and "have we come to the point where breaking the law is now an admirable choice."

She finished: "Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for freedom of speech and the ability to gather and state your claim. But, quite frankly, if you don’t like it here, and you have a problem with promoting the basic freedoms that men and women have died for — protesting for the rest of us and protecting us, then get out!"

If Stanford grad Carlson didn't, as described by Jon Stewart, "stash her IQ in an offshore bank account," she might realize that history is what it is. We can teach the facts. We can't teach patriotism which is an emotion that may or may not be present after learning the facts. Teaching mindless and blind devotion to any ideal is fascism and certainly not respectful of "individual rights" and "basic freedom."