Texas is some kind of unique animal, a unicorn among states, in the sense of “only in Texas …”
For example, only in Texas do a dozen or more cops mill around outside a school for 70 minutes while a crazed gunman is slaughtering children in the classroom.
Only in Texas do people freeze to death because the state refuses to hook up to the regional electrical grid (I assume because they’re afraid California will steal “their” power).
And only in Texas do people stand around in the rain at Dealey Plaza expecting a resurrected John F. Kennedy Jr. to appear and lead them to the Promised Land.
Today’s “only in Texas” is …
“A group of Texas educators have proposed to the Texas State Board of Education that slavery should be taught as ‘involuntary relocation’ during second grade social studies instruction” (see story here).
That isn’t even accurate; slavery is involuntary servitude; involuntary relocation is kidnapping.
Why don’t they just call it slavery? Here’s why: Because “lawmakers passed a law to keep topics that make students ‘feel discomfort’ out of Texas classrooms.” And the teachers are afraid of going to jail if they call slavery by its right name.
Texas, of course, was a slave state. Maybe those “lawmakers” are still a little sensitive about a history they can’t defend because it’s indefensible.
The state education board has to approve whatever is taught, and so far the only guidance they’re providing is “carefully examine the language used to describe events.” The safe harbor, of course, is to not mention it at all, which may be what the people running Texas are after.
Avoid Texas. Don’t live there, and for God’s sake, don’t put your kids in Texas schools. I recommend not even visiting that state, and I’m not sure it’s even safe to fly over it. If the hitchhiker you picked up in North Seattle on your way to the airport was on her way to a SeaTac abortion clinic, they might send up Texas Air National Guard jets to intercept your plane and force it to land in Midland so they can arrest you on an Oklahoma resident’s murder warrant against you.
Picture: What involuntary relocation looks like
