There is a history department in a school in the northern UK, unnamed in official reports, which does not teach the history of the Holocaust because Muslim students may have anti-Semitic reactions.

Another school in a different area of the UK, also unnamed, skips teaching about the Crusades because of it would directly challenge what is taught in some mosques.

That’s not all the schools or even a majority of them, but to me, it’s too many. To balance religion with education, some subjects must be taught with empathy, diplomacy, and care, but it is never a good idea to skip them altogether. A well-rounded student – a well-rounded human being – is one who hears all sides and decides for themselves what is right, true, and correct.

Knowledge is not truth itself, but one can’t find truth without it.

The school which does not teach all of history, even the most uncomfortable topics, is not only doing a disservice to their pupils, but intentionally disregarding millions of people – mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers – who died at the hands of bigotry, xenophobia, and hatred.

More than that, it allows bigotry, xenophobia, and hatred to remain unchallenged.

Worst of all, it exhibits tacit approval for students – who grow up to be adults and leaders – to continue to hate without a single question of or confrontation on their beliefs.

That, my friends, leaves us doomed to repetition.

Around we go.

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American … There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag … We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people. – Teddy Roosevelt, 1907

I tend to agree with the above, but before I get slammed for being racist, answer this question for me:

If you moved to France and refused to learn the language or do anything else in your power to assimilate to the culture, would you be treated as an equal by the French?

To expect that a dominant culture change for you rather than require you to assimilate to it takes some chutzpah.

To demand said dominant culture do so? Words like “arrogant” and “self-righteous” spring to mind.

This is especially true if one has entered the US illegally, but that’s a post for another day. Maybe.

It would help if my blood didn’t boil when I think about it too long.

I’ve got something I want to do with you.

Just one time.

Agree to live long enough for it to happen, okay?

See my beard; ain’t it weird?

I am not a Democrat or Republican, so I guess you could call me a WIG. I [have] served under several Commanders of the United States. I honored all, ’til Nixon the nut proved he was one bubble off of plum. Mental illiness, sexual misconduct, and being just-plain dumb followed.

The Dem’s just made a major F#$@K up: They refused the FOX Network. Sorry folks YOU JUST DIED AS A PARTY.

With that last bit, I think he’s trying to say that to turn down FOX as a host for a debate is to say “We’d rather preach to our own choir.”

Dear Dems:

It’s not fraternizing with the enemy, you idiots; it’s getting your message out to everyone, and especially to the people who wouldn’t normally get it.

Of course, far be it from me to put words in my Dad’s mouth. Next time I’m in L.A., I am SO setting up a WordPress blog for him. In the meantime, I think I’ll just post his stuff here occasionally.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.