Mormons and Critical Race Theory

[drumdude]

I guess what I'm struggling with is to see how critical race theory is a general principle. How would it be relevant to say, China, where white people are almost non-existent? Does does another ethnicity step into the white role?

Of course. See, for example: The Han Chinese and the Uyghurs.

This is the answer I was hoping for. I think my only problem then is that the language isn’t general. If you replaced all instances of white with “local current oppressor race” then it would eliminate a major criticism of critical race theory. You would tell the student that, currently in America that it is whites, in China it’s Han Chinese/Sino culture, etc.

Right now whites is “hard-coded” into the text which doesn’t make sense.

[MG 2.0]

Now that you fail to cite a single example from that long interview with Christianson of anything specifically happening that's bad with critical race theory in Utah, you're switching to a new article. And it doesn't talk about Utah.

This article talks about what has and is happening throughout the nation. Here is an important excerpt from the article that you read:

"Ethnic studies without Critical Race Theory is not ethnic studies,” Manuel Rustin, a high school history teacher who helped oversee the drafting of California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, told EdSource earlier this year. “It would be like a science class without the scientific method. There is no critical analysis of systems of power and experiences of these marginalized groups without Critical Race Theory.”

This means that within several years, when the high school graduation mandate goes into effect, California’s 1.7 million secondary school students would be exposed to critical race theory – and its trademark practices, such as interrogating “whiteness,” systemic racism, colorblindness and meritocracy as tools of power and oppression – on an unprecedented scale.

A sample course description included in state’s model curriculum affirms critical race theory’s centrality for the field of ethnic studies.

"Students will be introduced to the concept Critical Race Theory as they highlight and discuss [an assigned] reading in small groups,” reads the description of an actual course taught at San Juan High School in Citrus Heights. "One of the main focuses of ethnic studies is translating historical lessons and Critical Race Theory into direct action for social justice."

Focus groups in California surveying 48 teachers and 17 administrators last year found that “an essential focus of ethnic studies content is critical theory and critical framing,” according to a recorded presentation by Rose Owens-West, the consultant who led the sessions. “We heard [that] for effective K-12 ethnic studies, instruction should reinforce content, allowing students to engage in critical analysis around the topics of critical race theory, critical literacy and critical media.”

Would you seriously think that what happens in California or other parts of the country doesn’t stand a chance of happening in Utah and other states that up to this point have experienced a lesser, and yet not entirely absent, influence from these theorists that have been heavily influencing educational strategies and dogma in other states?

And that what is happening in secondary schools is or will be integrated into elementary school curriculum?

Slippery slope. Utah, Idaho, and other states are taking preemptive action to see that curriculum emphasizes the natural equality of ALL students and pushes towards a curriculum that lifts ALL students to a higher plain. This just seems right to me. You and your folks seemingly would like to focus on and integrate a general platform of division into the schools. That is NOT healthy for the future of our great country.

I’m assuming that you do think our country, even with its blemishes, is a pretty great…if not the greatest place on earth, right? I’m referring to the fact that we live within a constitutional republic with a Constitution and Bill of Rights. You don’t want to see our freedoms eroded, correct? Freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, etc.?

I’m concerned that leftists are intent on fundamentally changing the very fabric and foundational truths of our country…that ALL men are created equal with unalienable rights. Educational philosophies and practices developed with the intent of dividing students from one another…figuratively and/or literally in real time, are ineffective and even dangerous.

But I’m fully aware that the far left, Marxists, and other folks are going to disagree. As I said, see you at the school board meetings and at the ballot box. I’m referring to WE THE PEOPLE. The silent majority, up until now. But NOT out in the streets of Portland and other liberal ‘hot spots’ intent on creating anarchy and civil strife.

Regards,
MG

[Morley]

Of course. See, for example: The Han Chinese and the Uyghurs.

This is the answer I was hoping for. I think my only problem then is that the language isn’t general. If you replaced all instances of white with “local current oppressor race” then it would eliminate a major criticism of critical race theory. You would tell the student that, currently in America that it is whites, in China it’s Han Chinese/Sino culture, etc.

Right now whites is “hard-coded” into the text which doesn’t make sense.

That's because critical race theory, at this point, is largely a critique of the West by the West. You clean your own house first.

[MG 2.0]

We all just need to listen, avoid facts from websites like "realclear"…

Surely you jest. I’m not sure whether you are serious or not.

Regards,
MG

[Gadianton]

Would you seriously think that what happens in California or other parts of the country doesn’t stand a chance of happening in Utah

Sure, it stands a chance at happening in Utah. But what about the thousands of families who Christianson is claiming say it's already happening?

Concerning California:

This means that within several years, when the high school graduation mandate goes into effect, California’s 1.7 million secondary school students would be exposed to critical race theory – and its trademark practices, such as interrogating “whiteness,” systemic racism, colorblindness and meritocracy as tools of power and oppression – on an unprecedented scale.

In other words, it's not even happening in California schools yet either. It's several years away from California, and sure, I can agree it "stands a chance" of happening in Utah after that, but yet thousands of parents are already being oppressed by it in Utah schools?

This sounds to me like good ole fashioned lying to me, MG.

You don’t want to see our freedoms eroded, correct? Freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, etc.?

Sure. But you've failed to point to anything specifically within critical race theory that is at odds with "freedom", or for that matter, anything bad about it at all. You just appear to assume it's bad. Reactionary thinking like this is just as much of a threat to freedom as whatever it is you're afraid of.

[Res Ipsa]

Of course. See, for example: The Han Chinese and the Uyghurs.

This is the answer I was hoping for. I think my only problem then is that the language isn’t general. If you replaced all instances of white with “local current oppressor race” then it would eliminate a major criticism of critical race theory. You would tell the student that, currently in America that it is whites, in China it’s Han Chinese/Sino culture, etc.

Right now whites is “hard-coded” into the text which doesn’t make sense.

Context is everything. critical race theory grew out of Critical Legal Studies, which came out of a couple of US law schools. It grew out of this question: Why was the US legal system, which in theory was colorblind, generating such disparate outcomes outcomes along racial lines? They didn’t set out to invent a general theory of everything.

In fact, in political and social sciences, people often study specific problems in specific areas of the world without creating theories of general applicability. And I’ll lay odds that you wouldn’t object to them on those grounds. So why this one? Again, I suspect it’s the cluster of defense mechanisms white folks in the US have developed to avoid substantive discussions of racial issues.

I actually disagree with the notion that critical race theory is relevant to the situation in China. That’s intentional persecution of a racial/ethnic group by those in power. critical race theory isn’t about that. It’s about how structures in a society can function to disadvantage a racial group without the existence of intentional oppression. A closer example might be the caste system in India. In contrast, Hindu nationalism in India is, again, intentional oppression that critical race theory wasn’t developed to study.

[Res Ipsa]

So? The context was an old white guy, like me, pretending that he knew what the impact of an exercise would be on someone unlike himself. Why is it that you object to general principles you actually agree with when they applied in a specific racial setting? That’s kinda what the whole concept of white fragility is about.

I guess what I'm struggling with is to see how critical race theory is a general principle. How would it be relevant to say, China, where white people are almost non-existent? Does does another ethnicity step into the white role? Or is it only whites who are uniquely able to oppress minorities?

Sorry, I responded out of order. The theory is about how theoretically neutral principals or laws can disadvantage an identifiable racial group even though nobody intend for that to be the outcome. It was developed at US law schools, and so it is focused on the US. It could be applied wherever similar conditions occur and to identifiable, non-racial groups.

[drumdude]

I guess what I'm struggling with is to see how critical race theory is a general principle. How would it be relevant to say, China, where white people are almost non-existent? Does does another ethnicity step into the white role? Or is it only whites who are uniquely able to oppress minorities?

Sorry, I responded out of order. The theory is about how theoretically neutral principals or laws can disadvantage an identifiable racial group even though nobody intend for that to be the outcome. It was developed at US law schools, and so it is focused on the US. It could be applied wherever similar conditions occur and to identifiable, non-racial groups.

Maybe it needs a name more specific than Critical Race Theory if it isn't being applied anywhere outside of the United States circa 1900-2022? Modern American Race Relation Theory, or something like that?

[Res Ipsa]

Sorry, I responded out of order. The theory is about how theoretically neutral principals or laws can disadvantage an identifiable racial group even though nobody intend for that to be the outcome. It was developed at US law schools, and so it is focused on the US. It could be applied wherever similar conditions occur and to identifiable, non-racial groups.

Maybe it needs a name more specific than Critical Race Theory if it isn't being applied anywhere outside of the United States circa 1900-2022? Modern American Race Relation Theory, or something like that?

Why? Things get named for all sorts of contingent reasons. Why should a theory that has been referred to by the same name for almost 40 years be renamed simply because you are rationally offended by it? Why are you grasping at increasingly trivial criticisms about a theory that you don’t appear to have substantive disagreement with?

[drumdude]

Maybe it needs a name more specific than Critical Race Theory if it isn't being applied anywhere outside of the United States circa 1900-2022? Modern American Race Relation Theory, or something like that?

Why? Things get named for all sorts of contingent reasons. Why should a theory that has been referred to by the same name for almost 40 years be renamed simply because you are rationally offended by it? Why are you grasping at increasingly trivial criticisms about a theory that you don’t appear to have substantive disagreement with?

I don't think it's trivial to ask if this could help the genocide in China, which is arguably a much worse humanitarian crisis than the microaggressions in America.

Rationally offended is an interesting phrase, is that contained within critical race theory?