Yesterday I put on a suit and tie (for the first time in a year) and ventured up to the state capitol to testify in support of HB21-1103, which will provide resources for K-12 educators and add media literacy skills to Colorado state standards.
The bill is not really controversial, though all three of the Republicans on the committee of nine ended up voting against it.
They did not make any arguments about media literacy itself -- in fact, they seemed in favor of it, and how could they not? -- but they clearly have bought into a narrative of teachers (controlled by teacher unions) being liberals and distorting children's minds.
One representative stated that his discomfort with fact that the compiled resources that the bill references did not include input from any farmers (!). He claimed to value common sense and salt of the earth reactions. The bill's sponsor pointed out several times that the study committee completed its work late in 2019 and that she wasn't sure what the guy's objections really were (other than time-traveling).
The rep had no response when asked if he favored "people off the street" to consult on a patient's medical condition. After all, shouldn't everyone have a chance to chime in?
But logical arguments are on the table much, at least from one group of politicians. In Colorado, Republicans have so little power that the only tactic they have to even be heard is to drag things on while trying to create fears among as many people as possible.
Hey, it worked for Trump.
We did get to hear a passing reference to cancelling Dr. Seuss, which will clearly be a reference we will hear from Republicans for months. Again, there was no true argument, since anyone seeing the offending pages from just a few books would recognize the racist images and language. Heck, even Seuss recognized that.
A foundation controls the 45 books Seuss wrote and illustrated himself. The remaining 39 will continue to be available.
The Republic will stand.
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