New Hampshire Business Review (NHBR) likes to publish Dan Weeks’ “thoughts” on various issues, mostly climate and green energy-related, Seacoast real estate (which needed serious debunking), and now his opposition to HB544 which we simply can’t ignore.
Related: NH “Business Mag” Pimps Left-Wing Heat Wave Propaganda in NH (to sell a regional gas tax scheme)
Dan is impassioned, determined, and convinced that New Hampshire is better than any of this. He says we don’t need HB544.
I have no idea where his ideological proclivities lean (I have a guess), but it makes no difference. His premise is that “HB544 violates free speech” with a dose of infringed educational freedom and some intellectual shackles, all of which, to my mind, is wrongheaded and backward.
But Let’s Pretend
Dan spends much of the piece offering us examples (after a history lesson) of how HB544 could violate ‘educators’ rights. It’s a nice talking point, but Bob Lynn has slain Weeks’ “Dragon,” and Dan doesn’t even know it.
But let’s play make-believe which should be easy for anyone who sells rooftop solar for a living.
Critical Race Theory, which Dan never mentions by name, is being taught in our schools, and it has some rules. First, Dan is a racist. Second, Dan is not allowed to question or challenge this statement. Nothing he has done, said, not done, or not said matters. CRT has a default stereotype for Dan, who is white; he is a racist. Insisting on that is not racist, and if Dan dares to debate or question this assertion, he should be shouted down.
Ask this (other) Dan, and he’ll explain it to you.
Based on Weeks’ published position, that is the educational experience he wants for your kids (parents, teachers, and you).
Related: Teachers Create “Enemies List” of Parents Who Oppose Critical Race Theory
What It Is
I’m sure Dan is a smart and successful guy (more so than me, at least), but by making this case for educational freedom, he is advocating its opposite. HB544 is not only constitutional; it preserves debate in the classroom.
Here are the guardrails: “Divisive concept” means the concept that:
(a) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;
(b) The state of New Hampshire or the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist;
(c) An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
(d) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex;
(e) Members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;
(f) An individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex;
(g) An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;
(h) Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; or
(i) Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.
(j) The term “divisive concepts” includes any other form of race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating.
The restrictions do not prohibit debate they limit the demand that individuals comply with some educational precept that shames people based on sex or race by design.
Yes, it is Constitutional
Former State Supreme Court Justice Robert J. Lynn, who knows a lot less about taxpayer-backed solar panel subsidies than Dan, but a lot more about the Law and the Constitution, was kind enough to explain how and why Dan’s take is incorrect.
Rep. Lynn says there is nothing in HB544 that violates the constitution or the right to free speech with regard to education or any government employee. He cites accepted case law that is clear so, when Dan says teacher x can’t recount information Y, he’s not just wrong, the argument is irrelevant because what really matters here is this.
The fact that we even need to consider these guardrails to protect MLK’s vision of equality seems absurd, but we do. And not just in classrooms but government offices.
Taxpayer money is being spent to inculcate our students and public servants, contractors, and others with the idea that it is not just okay to discriminate based on race, sex, origin, or past events to which they may have no connection or responsibility, but you are a racist or sexist if you refuse or reject their premise.
If Dan Weeks wants to live in “that” New Hampshire, there’s no need to wait or worry. We have one close by – it’s called New York. A #Woke place where you face serious fines for saying the words ‘illegal alien.’
He can go there right now, sell his solar, and preach CRT sex and race-shaming to his staff until he’s bluer in the face.
Just make sure you pay your incredibly high taxes, meet the expensive regulatory and licensing requirements, wear a mask, get your required vaccine and vaccine passport, and don’t forget to quarantine when you get there.
And whatever you do, do not forget that you are a racist.
Related: Webinar on HB544
