America - The Official Thread

[McLaren]

Apparently Joe Biden got to the Senate 180 years ago:

That channel needs to start sending Joe Biden its revenue for all the rent free content it dumps out.

 

[GranTurNismo]

That channel needs to start sending Joe Biden its revenue for all the rent free content it dumps out.

Yeah it does seem like a typical MAGA channel after looking at it. I just find it funny how Biden has claimed he's got to the Senate "180 years ago" not once, not twice, but three times.

 

[Famine]

Yeah it does seem like a typical MAGA channel after looking at it. I just find it funny how Biden has claimed he's got to the Senate "180 years ago" not once, not twice, but three times.

Is he not joking? I sometimes employee hyperbole with time to suggest that I'm very much older than I am, and we know his age was a feature of the election campaigns.

 

[Blitz24]

Is he not joking? I sometimes employee hyperbole with time to suggest that I'm very much older than I am, and we know his age was a feature of the election campaigns.

It really wasn't 180 years (although it feels like it). It's actually 280 years somehow.

 

[Keef]

Is he not joking? I sometimes employee hyperbole with time to suggest that I'm very much older than I am, and we know his age was a feature of the election campaigns.

He made a couple good jokes. He spoke on Michigan's Governor Whitmer and said, "I'll either campaign for you or campaign against you, whatever helps you the most." She's the one who had the kidnapping plot against her.

 

[TexRex]

He spoke on Michigan's Governor Whitmer and said, "I'll either campaign for you or campaign against you, whatever helps you the most."

That's cute.

 

[Biggles]

The creeping threat of Hinduism arrives in Alabama:

Alabama overturns decades-old ban on yoga in schools

The new bill limits yoga to stretches and poses, and prohibits non-English descriptions as well as "any aspect of Eastern philosophy and religious training".

https://www.bbc.com/news/57204355

 

[McLaren]

and the Sanskrit-based word "namaste" are also still banned.

Namaste sometimes spoken as namaskar and namaskaram, is a customary, non-contact form of respectfully greeting and honoring the opposite person or group, used at any time of day.

The repeal faced criticism from Christian conservatives groups who argued that yoga should be considered a religious practice, which the US Constitution prohibits from promoting in government-run schools. They equated yoga with praying.

Meanwhile, the Pledge of Allegiance is basically forced on kids in school who may not be of Christian-following.

one Nation under God,

 

[TexRex]

Meanwhile, the Pledge of Allegiance is basically forced on kids in school who may not be of Christian-following.

Not in Alabama. A 2019 bill mandates K-12 public schools give the students the opportunity to recite it collectively in the classroom, but reciting it in part or in full isn't itself compulsory.

 

[McLaren]

Not in Alabama. A 2019 bill mandates K-12 public schools give the students the opportunity to recite it collectively in the classroom, but reciting it in part or in full isn't itself compulsory.

I guess things have gotten better from my youth. When I was in school, I remember a couple classmates over the years being sent to the principal for not standing or reciting the Pledge.

 

[Jezza819]

The creeping threat of Hinduism arrives in Alabama:

Alabama overturns decades-old ban on yoga in schools

The new bill limits yoga to stretches and poses, and prohibits non-English descriptions as well as "any aspect of Eastern philosophy and religious training".

https://www.bbc.com/news/57204355

"The repeal faced criticism from Christian conservatives groups who argued that yoga should be considered a religious practice, which the US Constitution prohibits from promoting in government-run schools. They equated yoga with praying."

Wait what?!?! Christians would love nothing better than to promote religious practices in government-run schools. I would say that with the current makeup of the Supreme Court that there will be some sort of challenge from Christians to allow prayer and other religious aspects into schools within the next 2-3 years if not sooner.

That part of the article should have correctly read, "The repeal faced criticism from Christian conservatives groups who argued that yoga should be considered a religious practice, which the US Constitution prohibits from promoting in government-run schools. They equated yoga with praying. They also said the religious practices were not Christian related religious practices and they are praying to the wrong God therefore it must be banned."

 

[Danoff]

one Nation under God

...added in 1954 through an act of Congress which was instigated by the Catholic organization, The Knights of Columbus... to your point.

 

[TexRex]

I guess things have gotten better from my youth. When I was in school, I remember a couple classmates over the years being sent to the principal for not standing or reciting the Pledge.

Consider that there tends to be a follow-up to which you may not have been privy. Parents may have upheld the action, and if they protested, these things tend to be settled well before SCOTUS has the opportunity to take them up, which also means that laws may remain on the books.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

...added in 1954 through an act of Congress which was instigated by the Catholic organization, The Knights of Columbus... to your point.

The right wing coalition of "good Christians" and "Florida mans" is one of the most dissonant things I can think of. I mean, I guess they both hate Eastern mystic ****.

 

[Biggles]

The right wing coalition of "good Christians" and "Florida mans" is one of the most dissonant things I can think of. I mean, I guess they both hate Eastern mystic ****.

Maybe ... but American conservative Christianity is already so inherently dissonant it doesn't require the addition of Trump.

 

[TexRex]

Maybe ... but American conservative Christianity religious belief is already so inherently dissonant it doesn't require the addition of Trump.

👍

 

[Keef]

Not in Alabama. A 2019 bill mandates K-12 public schools give the students the opportunity to recite it collectively in the classroom, but reciting it in part or in full isn't itself compulsory.

It's not legally required anywhere in the US.

But they don't tell the kids that. I remember why experience was that if a kid didn't say it in the early 2000s they would often be disciplined by teachers and otherwise chastised for being a rebellious student. Literally nobody ever told us all the way through senior high school that it wasn't required. We were trained to recite it. Pretty clever system, eh? There is no law requiring kids to say it - society's expectation of them is pressure enough. Self-fulfilling nationalism.

 

[TexRex]

It's not legally required anywhere in the US.

I know. 1943. West Virginia Board of Ed. v. Barnette. But because states have different laws on the books, I thought it best to refer to the most recent legislation passed in the state in question.

But they don't tell the kids that.

...

Literally nobody ever told us all the way through senior high school that it wasn't required. We were trained to recite it. Pretty clever system, eh?

I'm okay with this. Not being told you have the right to not engage in a convention typically engaged in collectively isn't a violation of your rights.

Parents should be aware of their and their children's rights, and parents should be involved in their children's education. Parents aren't obligated to tell their children that they have the right to sit the Pledge out, but if a child asks (however unlikely this may be), I'd prefer parents didn't lie, but that's not my decision, and I'd prefer parents not compel their children to sit out of the Pledge, but that's also not my decision.

I remember why experience was that if a kid didn't say it in the early 2000s they would often be disciplined by teachers and otherwise chastised for being a rebellious student.

And if disciplinary action is deemed to be excessive, subject to prental discretion, of course, there is a process going forward. These things tend to be resolved before a change to the law is compelled.

There is no law requiring kids to say it - society's expectation of them is pressure enough. Self-fulfilling nationalism.

I mean...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[McLaren]

It's not legally required anywhere in the US.

But they don't tell the kids that. I remember why experience was that if a kid didn't say it in the early 2000s they would often be disciplined by teachers and otherwise chastised for being a rebellious student. Literally nobody ever told us all the way through senior high school that it wasn't required. We were trained to recite it. Pretty clever system, eh? There is no law requiring kids to say it - society's expectation of them is pressure enough. Self-fulfilling nationalism.

1 of the 2 kids I talked of, did know that. I remember him telling the teacher/coach, "I don't have to, it's not against the law". Teacher of course, didn't care and let on that he wasn't aware of that, but even so, in his classroom, "you will stand and recite it".

Tex is 100% correct on all counts afaik & in agreement with, now in hindsight to my youth. I'm not sure if a student or their parents are willing to go that far to fight the school punishing the student as I'd guess it wouldn't be a good look for the family/student if it went public. Or, I'd wager more than possibly, the student also doesn't want to say it, but also knows their parents will be upset and punish the kid themselves for "rebelling" to Keef's point on society.

All I'll add is that for the 1 kid who said he knew the law, I did think it was weird at the time to make such a fuss about it. Wouldn't know til' my junior year, he had an older sister who died serving and he blamed the military. Never knew the connection except he was deep into politics for a high school kid, but it made more sense learning that & discovering he became anti-government once he graduated. Probably a radical liberal socialist these days....

 

[Keef]

I would absolutely make my kids aware of this issue when they're old enough to understand it, probably high school. Indoctrination is not education. At Mid-Ohio last weekend I didn't stand proudly and take my hat off for the national anthem probably the first time in my life. I was in line for hot dogs. Not sure what could be more American than ignoring mask rules while standing in a crowded line for overpriced hot dogs at a race track but I figured that was enough Americanism for the day and didn't bother searching for a flag and standing proudly like my forefathers trained me to do. Fortunately, nobody attempted to be a police officer and straighten me out.

 

[TexRex]

I would absolutely make my kids aware of this issue when they're old enough to understand it, probably high school.

Okay but also make sure they use sunscreen.

 

[buickgnx88]

Okay but also make sure they use sunscreen.

 

[05XR8]

wow

Racism never been well hid, but dang:
https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with...f-role-of-slavery-in-u-s-history-112800837710

 

[UKMikey]

wow

Racism never been well hid, but dang:
https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with...f-role-of-slavery-in-u-s-history-112800837710

So much for "cancel culture is erasing our history". It seems like everything these conservatives accuse the left of, they end up doing themselves.

[EDIT] Looking into this, it's mostly Texas and seems to be about the 1619 Commission initiative to have debates about systemic racism in schools. However I can't find any evidence as to whether "the Biden administration" has mandated these discussions as the GOP are asserting, so the legislation appears to be a highly politicised dog-whistle for the "states' rights" crowd to me.

 

[UKMikey]

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire - here's the law-and-order, family values candidate you've been waiting for. Girlfriend pregnant at 14, commits suicide at 20, son in prison on violent rape charges... it's going to be hard for grand old partygoers to what-about-Hunter their way outta this one.

Cheney primary challenger impregnated 14-year-old when he was 18

Wyoming state Sen. Anthony Bouchard (R), who’s challenging Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for her House seat, acknowledged in an interview with Casper Star-Tribune that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18.

Bouchard first revealed the relationship in a Facebook Live video on Thursday, though he did not say exactly how old he or the girl was when the pregnancy happened. In that video, he said he wanted to come out with the story himself after learning that people had been looking into the matter.

“It’s amazing that they look at things so negatively. So bottom line is it’s a story when I was young, two teenagers, girl gets pregnant,” Bouchard said. “You’ve heard those stories before. She was a little younger than me, so it’s like the Romeo and Juliet story.”

“A lot of pressure. Pressure to abort a baby. I got to tell you, I wasn’t going to do it and neither was she. And there was pressure to have her banished from their family. Just pressure. Pressure to go hide somewhere.”

Bouchard said that he eventually married the girl, who, according to the Star-Tribune, was 15 at the time of the marriage. At the time, both were living in Florida. In his Facebook video, Bouchard explained that “the only thing I could see as the right thing to do was to get married and take care of them.”

The couple divorced three years later. He said that his ex-wife had died by suicide. At the time, he said, “she had problems in another relationship.”

“You know, this thing ended in kind of a bitter divorce. All the odds were against us,” he said. “We later became friends. She had problems in another relationship. Her dad had committed suicide. ... For whatever reason she decided to do the same.”

Bouchard said that he decided to open up about the pregnancy and marriage after he found out that a political opposition research firm had begun looking into the matter. He also said he been contacted by a “U.K. media reporter” whom he accused of working with the opposition research company.

“We know the company that started this investigation,” he said. “It’s a political opposition research company. We know who they are. And then it turned into a U.K. media reporter, who called me. But if you look at him, he’s all part of that whole investigative team that smears people.”

Bouchard pointed to that apparent investigation into his personal history as a sign that he is the “front-runner” in the race to unseat Cheney, a conservative stalwart who is facing trouble from within her own party for speaking out against former President Trump’s claims of a stolen election.

“I’ve heard reports over a week ago calling family members, even offering to compensate them for anything they would give up on me. That’s dirty,” Bouchard said. “That also tells you I’m in the lead, because they wouldn’t be doing this to me if I wasn't in the lead. They wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t the front-runner.”
Jeremy Adler, a spokesperson for Cheney, told the Star-Tribune that Cheney’s campaign had no part in trying to surface the story about Bouchard’s past.

In his Facebook video, Bouchard cast the effort to investigate his personal life as “dirty politics” by the “establishment swamp.” He also told supporters to question “everything you see in the media."

“It’s a little bit of truth maybe, sprinkled with a lot of lies,” he said.

Bouchard also vowed to remain in the race for Cheney’s seat.

“I’m going to stay in this race. We’re going to continue to raise money.”

 

[Keef]

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire - here's the law-and-order, family values candidate you've been waiting for. Girlfriend pregnant at 14, commits suicide at 20, son in prison on violent rape charges... it's going to be hard for grand old partygoers to what-about-Hunter their way outta this one.

Cheney primary challenger impregnated 14-year-old when he was 18

It's hard to argue that he didn't start that awful chain of events. You forgot to mention that they married shortly after the pregnancy but divorced when she was 17 right before she had the ability to take him to court for it, he abandoned the kid, she committed suicide for who knows what reasons but we surely know a few of them. And then the son who grew up with an absent statute rapist of a father. The man started a chain of events that destroyed two lives and should be in prison for life if not worse.

 

[Famine]

It is astonishing that a group of people so keyed into the eradication of child sexual abuse has so many members that have either definitely raped one or more children, have been on trial for raping one or more children, are alleged to have raped or have been implicated in the rape of one or more children, or are closely associated with people who have raped or enable others to rape children - including the trafficking of children to rape them. Or a combination thereof.


But look at Joe giving fully clothed, public affection towards some kids sometimes in the presence of their parents.

 

[TexRex]

wow

Racism never been well hid, but dang:
https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with...f-role-of-slavery-in-u-s-history-112800837710

"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past."

 

[UKMikey]

It's hard to argue that he didn't start that awful chain of events. You forgot to mention that they married shortly after the pregnancy but divorced when she was 17 right before she had the ability to take him to court for it, he abandoned the kid, she committed suicide for who knows what reasons but we surely know a few of them. And then the son who grew up with an absent statute rapist of a father. The man started a chain of events that destroyed two lives and should be in prison for life if not worse.

I figured the news article I quoted in full covered everything. It's clear from his comments that he doesn't blame himself or care why she died. Horrendous optics.

 

[TexRex]