The public face of the John Birch Society in spirit if not in official affiliation is Americans for Prosperity. Opposing any national education standards has long been a core value of the John Birch Society, because they're sure educating children to some minimum standards will simply destroy the nation, and now Americans for Prosperity and other affiliated tea party groups have taken up the clarion call.
In a strategy call last year, leaders explained that they must defeat Common Core because it's part of Agenda 21, and we can't have that, because Agenda 21 is a United Nations resolution and so it is evil. And with that, the battle began.
Today in Montgomery, Alabama, a local tea party leader by the name of Dr. Terry Batton stood up and railed about how evil it would be if our children actually learned some basics alongside lessons about social justice and the like. About halfway through his rant caught on video by a person in attendance, he rails against the concept of social justice as being unAmerican and a way to undermine good old fashioned principles of free markets and American justice.
Because socialism. Or something. That was probably the most shocking thing he said, but his entire rant is worthy of a tent revival. Hellfire will rain down upon you all if you educate these children with these standards, he cries!
RightWingWatch transcribed some of it:
“Social justice teaches children that America is an unjust and oppressive society that should be changed,” he said. “Social justice materials typically include far-left proposals such as acceptance of homosexuality, alternate lifestyles, radical feminism, abortion, illegal immigration and the redistribution of wealth.”
“The curriculum and the producers thereof of Common Core are against the principles of faith, family and freedom, when you take in the social justice values aspect,” he went on. “Common Core, if allowed to go forward, will dilute and erode the power and influence of biblical principles in the hearts and minds of our precious children.”
Finally, he reminded the lawmakers that their vote on the bill might affect their chances at eternal salvation: “Do you want this on your record when you come to the End of Days, knowing the Master Teacher said, ‘As much as you’ve done to the little ones, you’ve done it unto me’?”
America is often an unjust and oppressive society that should be changed, and if you don't believe me, just listen to this guy and ask yourself why on earth he's taken seriously at all.
There are some actual legitimate reasons not to love the Common Core standards, and there are many on the left who have some sound arguments for why they shouldn't be adopted. But social justice as an oppressive force are not part of theirs. These far-right people are zealots for something, but it isn't freedom or the American way.
