Kamala Harris has been openly critical of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state’s attempts to return the curriculum back to more standard subjects such as reading, writing, math, and civics and away from the current trend of discussing theory and ideology that often paints America in a negative light. Monday, in an open letter to Harris, DeSantis offered to have a sit-down and clear up any misconceptions that she might have about the curriculum.
Naturally, rather than have a discussion, Harris continued spreading her half-truths and declined. In the letter, DeSantis even offered to include Dr. William Allen, former chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and Florida’s African American History Standards Workgroup member, to help ease her worried mind.
In his scathing open letter, the Florida Governor said: “In Florida we are unafraid to have an open and honest dialogue about the issues. And you clearly have no trouble ducking down to Florida on short notice. So given your grave concern (which, I must assume, is sincere) about what you think our standards say, I am officially inviting you back down to Florida to discuss our African American History standards. We will be happy to host you here in Tallahassee.”
It seems to most rational people that the best way to get to the bottom of the issue is to have an open, honest dialogue across the table. If Harris is truly serious and educated on the subject as she believes she is, what better way to drive her point home than to look the two men in the face that were instrumental in the curriculum and debate?
Instead, Harris predictable declined and continued her false allegations against DeSantis and Florida. While actually in the Sunshine State to speak at the 20th Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Quadrennial Convention, which certainly takes precedence over visiting the border, Harris roundly declined the Governors’ gracious invitation.
When discussing DeSantis’s offer, Harris said: “They attempt to legitimize these unnecessary debates with a proposal that most recently came in of a politically motivated roundtable. Well, I’m here in Florida, and I will tell you there is no roundtable, no lecture, no invitation we will accept to debate an undeniable fact. There were no redeeming qualities of slavery.”
Rather than have civil discourse, Harris has determined that bombast and charging at windmills is the best course of action as opposed to looking DeSantis in the eye and expressing her concerns. Small surprise from Harris, who has routinely ducked and dodged issues like the border and illegal immigration rather than face them head-on.
Harris’s main concern apparently is a component of the new instruction on black history that suggests “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” That certainly could be a talking point for spirited debate, that is, if the left preferred debate over fear-mongering and political theater.
Unfortunately, for now, fear-mongering and drama are all we have. Perhaps the issue can be discussed on the debate stage eventually if DeSantis manages to wrest the nomination from Donald Trump. Until then, it is simply Harris and other like-minded liberals hand-wringing and pearl-clutching while DeSantis tries to explain his position.
DeSantis summed up his position on the matter: “We are committed to teaching truth, not partisan narratives. We have rooted out hateful Marxist theories like ‘Critical Race Theory’ from our classrooms. We have eliminated ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ initiatives in school administration and hiring practices. We have, instead, focused on the basics of reading, writing, arithmetic, science, civics and history.”
“[Harris] came to Florida to attack us, and she’s trying to attack me. But she’s really attacking the people that worked hard on this and have done a lot of yeoman’s work. And so that’s just wrong. I think it’s wrong to let lies be perpetuated. It’s wrong to let false narratives stand.”
Until the critics on the left are willing to have civil discourse if ever, the false narratives will stand. For now, we are left with saber-rattling from the left and open invitations for discussion from the right, and little possibility of meeting in the middle.
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