28 April 2015
Rockwall ISD celebrates and encourages ‘diversity’. Diversity Leadership Award Winners for 2015 Our school district didn’t start this this year. It’s been going on a while.
Is this good for our Rockwall ISD students? What does it mean? What’s behind it?
- of a different kind, form, or character:diverse ideas on how to raise children.
- of various kinds or forms:She has diverse interests: dogs, music, reading, gymnastics.
In 1964, Texas and Tennessee led the south in integration of public schools. Between 1964 and 1865 we in the white schools were made to believe blacks had “separate but equal” schools and facilities – this was untrue. Today, US public schools are fully integrated, but there is a move afoot to undue a half-century of progress.
e pluribus unum / Latin
- out of many, one (motto of the U.S.).
- A motto of the United States; Latin for “Out of many, one.” It refers to the Union formed by the separate states. E pluribus unum was adopted as a national motto in 1776 and is now found on the Great Seal of the United States and on United States currency.
I remember well when my hometown school district integrated in 1964. From the first day of school through a couple weeks or so I waited for all the bad things to happen that were told me would happen, when blacks came to our schools.What happened? Nothing. Nada. Zero, at least nothing bad.
What happened that was good? Well for starters Palacios ISD High School “Fighting Sharks” went all the way to become 1964 AA State Football Champion. Would such a fete have been possible without the athletic prowess of Jerry Haynes and other new ‘Sharks’? Not in a million years. I and several of my class of ’66 were at Jerry’s funeral to honor him a couple years ago. We didn’t have to do it. We wanted to do it. Was our intention to “look good”? By no means. We are self-confident lot that needs no artificial props. We did it because we truly respected and loved Jerry Haynes.
Full and complete integration didn’t happen overnight. In fact, integration continues to this day. Well, at least I hope it will continue. Why do I worry it won’t?
Liberal progressives have successfully incorporated “diversity training” into practically all public school systems across the country. What is “diversity training” and for what purpose do schools promote it? Let’s look at Emory University for a concise answer.
The purpose of the Diversity Education Program is to increase awareness and acceptance of diversity. This program focuses on enhancing individual’s understanding of their own identity and culture; expanding knowledge of other cultures and identities; promoting involvement in diverse activities and communication with other cultures; raising awareness about social issues and injustices; and developing culturally competent leaders within the campus community.
What is culture, in context with public school programs?
culture /ˈkʌltʃəʳ/
- a particular form or stage of civilization, such as that of a nation or period
Questions come to mind, with respect to black Americans descended from those imported to this country for purposes of slave labor.
Which culture shall we select for the celebration? Let’s restrict this posting to one: African-American.
- Which are descendants of the cliff-dwelling cultures of the Dogon and the Senufo people? If Dogon-ites, perhaps celebrate the legend that a snake led them to the cliff at the southern end of the plateau, where they overwhelmed and usurped the local Tellem and Niongom populations.
- Know we from which tribes of the Yoruba faith come our Rockwall ISD students? If helpful, let’s identify the specific African countries in which the Yoruba live: Nigeria, Togo and Benin.
According to Michigan State University, people within this region of western Africa speak hundreds of different languages, practice various religions, have many histories and traditions, and earn a living in a number of different ways.
Conclusion: there is no singular, homogeneous western African culture. May I point out the not-so-obvious? Are you ready for this? Africa is not a country. It’s a continent, second largest on planet earth with a land mass of 11,670,000 square miles. How big is the continent of Africa? It has an equivalent land mass of the sum of the USA, China, India and most of the European continent.
The United States of America is a country, not a continent, with a gross land mass of 3,705,407.
As a continent, Africa has hundreds of languages, hundreds of cultures and innumerable religions. In contrast, as a country, the United States of America has one unique language: American English. It’s not the “official language”. It’s the language of commerce, education and government.
Back to the matter of teaching Rockwall ISD students ‘diversity’: Diversity training is simply reverse integration.
In some places here in America, students are and have been prohibited from celebrating American culture because it might offend someone. Don’t believe me? It’s happened and happening at Fort Collins High School and at Live Oak High in Morgan Hill, California.
What should Rockwall ISD be teaching and encouraging? AMERICAN CULTURE.
Our culture is the ONLY culture emulated throughout the modern world, from China to Cuba, from Russia to Argentina. Young people from all over the world love our Rock ‘n Roll, freedoms and high standard of living. I met a gentleman in Sao Paulo, Brazil who spoke not a word of English, but shares my love of Patsy Cline singing “Crazy”.
Our unique culture isn’t Mexican, or Russian, or Iris, or English, or Canadian, or Chinese or Filipino. It’s OUR culture. Rock ‘n Roll was derived from Blues created by black Americans. However, Blues music isn’t a western African music as neither is Rock ‘n Roll: it’s 100% AMERICAN music.
Let’s not fall for the divide-and-conquer liberal agenda overtaking America today. It’s time to put aside political correctness and stand for our beloved country.
I hope you, like me, prefer our present motto in lieu of this one, “a populo divulso” – a people divided.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
