Stop False Divisive Attacks
To The Editor: In response to P.L. O’Neil’s
In response to P.L. O’Neil’s letter in the Nov. 5 edition of FCR, I wanted to say that the complete misrepresentation, fabrication, and outright hatred expressed in that small letter exemplifies the ability of our main stream media to vilify, indoctrinate, and misinform a large swath of our population.
Let’s address his misinformation item by item:
FACT: Critical Race Theory is not being taught at any level in our public school system in Texas outside of potential at the collegiate level. CRT is seldom taught even in high school level in any state, and never in any lower education levels (Brookings, 02-Jul 2021). Rightwing media has completely misrepresented this topic, falsely claimed it is being taught in our grade schools, and weaponized the concepts of CRT in an attempt to motivate their base. If you have an issue with CRT, you’ve fallen victim to this demagoguery and I invite you to research it more outside of the rightwing media bubble.
FACT: The left is not Marxist and to claim anything else is an absurd falsehood rooted in ignorance. The Left supports private ownership of business, capitalism with oversight, and individual freedoms. We do believe in a strong central government, and that it exists to support its citizens whether this be through a strong military, social safety net (including social security), or through diplomatic relations with other countries. Yes, we do support socialistic programs such as Social Security & Medicare, our federal highway system, public education, and a public-funded military.
FACT: We are indeed a Representative Republic and the Constitution is the foundation for our government. ‘We the People’ do have a say in our government and in-line with our form of government, we had a say in 2020 in which ‘We the People’, both by majority population (+7MM) and majority of electors (+74)... in-line with our representative form of government, chose to take the country in a different direction in which it was headed.
I find that buying into O’Neil’s falsehoods, disinformation, and divisiveness only serve to pit Americans against Americans and drive the division deeper into our society. Demonization of leftists or rightists, especially through falsehoods, only serves to divide our nation further. While I do not agree with rightwing extremists, I recognize that not all conservatives are fascists and that not all Republicans are racist. In the same vein, liberals and progressives (and democratic-socialists) are not Marxist. Claiming so underscores your ignorance of what Marxist principles actually are.
I do believe, however, that dehumanization of the opposition, hatred, and continued pushing of disinformation has potential to end this nation we all love. I am sorry that you feel our nation is “lost.” The wonderful thing about our nation is that we regularly hold elections where every citizen has a say in the direction our country is headed. For non-presidential elections, voters have a direct say in who represents them. For presidential elections, in-line with our Representative Republic form of government, you have a say in who represents your vote.
Being divisive and promulgating false, divisive rhetoric doesn’t help keep our nation strong.
Eric Green
La Grange