In the third movie of the Godfather trilogy, Michael Corleone just prior to lapsing into hysteria, chiefly out of guilt, told his longtime associate and assassin Al Neri, and his sister Connie, “just when I thought I was out they pull me back in.” Two-time presidential Democratic candidate and the only female to win the nomination for President—Hillary Clinton, must flinch any time she stops at a causeway toll booth or is invited to go fishing on a pond. Last week the Texas Board of Education voted preliminarily to remove both educator and activist Helen Keller along with Clinton, the first female to represent her party for the Presidency of the United States in history. Not to disparage the religious contributions of Billy Graham but he was deemed okay to remain in the curriculum. I am not sure where a figure who relies on deity, and not fact, finds a place in historical social studies, but that was the decision.
Despite the teeth gnashing and cries of go away Hillary, literally tossing her career into the trash bin of history is just wrong. I would love to have sat in on the meeting and listened to the arguments that garnered enough votes to literally remove Hillary Clinton from the annals of antiquity. This is a glaring example of why the authors of the Constitution separated church and state. Graham met Presidents, prayed with them and presumably laid hands on them, and he is in. Clinton exercised advise and consent to Presidents, crafted legislation, and not only laid hands on, but guided the levers of American power, and she is out. I cannot be sure but it sparks my suspicion about why two women are having their vast achievements minimized for the sake of ‘…streamlining’ the program.
Helen Keller, co-founder of the ACLU, who overcame not only blindness but deafness as well, became a renowned author, educator, and activist; but is not worthy of study, praise and thoughtful inspiration for third graders? The Texas school system’s conservative slip is showing.
The questions that most affected the decision, “Did the person trigger a watershed change; "Was the person from an underrepresented group"; and "Will their impact stand the test of time?” Seems to point directly at the life of Hillary Clinton, not Billy Graham. Of course, I realize that Texas is in the heart of the Bible Belt but someone needs to loosen that belt before the lack of blood flow to the brain is irreversible. Or just maybe because a belt is at the waist, the religious right is trying to stop blood flow elsewhere. Women and women’s rights seem to really cause agita within the Republican Party.
The timeliness of this decision comes just as a woman [Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford] has come forward to accuse Judge Brett Kavanaugh of attempted rape. Rape may sound like a strong word for those defending Kavanaugh with the youthful exuberance excuse. I am sorry but if a woman was held down, feared for her life and struggled to keep her clothing on…if it walks like a duck? Over the next few days, the battle will escalate for Dr. Blasey-Ford and until the final school board vote in November for Clinton and Keller. Anita Hill is the historical reference for Dr. Blasey-Ford, Hillary and Helen have already earned their places in history.
Vote in ’18 for Change.