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Democrat Gov. Kathie Hobbs vetoed bill banning anti-Semitism to be taught in public schools.
She called the law an ‘attack on teachers’ and claimed it would have had a limited impact in combatting bigotry, and after all, what's a little good ole fashion Jew hatred amongst comrades, eh?
The bill would have banned the teaching of Jew hatred material in the state's public schools, community colleges, and universities.
House Bill 2867, sponsored by Republican representative Michael Way, cleared the legislature last week by a margin of 33-20 with the backing of several Democrats who fail to hate Jews and others with immutable characteristics.
If implemented, it would have banned the teaching or promotion of anti-Semitism in public school, requiring students to advocate for anti-Semitic positions and make it a specific offense for teachers to provide anti-Semitic professional guidance or call for the genocide of any group.
House Bill 2867, sponsored by Republican representative Michael Way, cleared the legislature last week by a margin of 33-20 with the backing of several Democrats who fail to hate Jews and others with immutable characteristics.
If implemented, it would have banned the teaching or promotion of anti-Semitism in public school, requiring students to advocate for anti-Semitic positions and make it a specific offense for teachers to provide anti-Semitic professional guidance or call for the genocide of any group.
But for Hobbs and her ilk, it's simply not fair to have blood libels and general anti-Semitism stifled.
The bill was based on the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which critics, including some Jewish organizations in the state, posit that it could compromise teachers’ ability to provide comprehensive Holocaust education and could stifle legitimate criticism of Israel and discussion of Middle Eastern affairs.
In particular, some pointed to the clause in the definition which labels the claim “that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” as an example of Jew-hate, which, it turns out, is a belief held by racists who refuse to allow a Jewish State to exist.
However, it was the bill’s provision for teachers to be made personally liable to lawsuits against them if they violated the regulations that prompted Hobbs to strike it down at the final hurdle.
The bill would have allowed complainants to sue teachers directly, rather than school districts, and compel the individual educators to cover the costs of the case.
In a letter explaining her veto, Hobbs wrote: “Unfortunately this bill is not about anti-Semitism; it’s about attacking our teachers.
"It puts an unacceptable level of personal liability in place for our public school, community college, and university educators and staff, opening them up to threats of personally costly lawsuits.”
The bill was based on the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which critics, including some Jewish organizations in the state, posit that it could compromise teachers’ ability to provide comprehensive Holocaust education and could stifle legitimate criticism of Israel and discussion of Middle Eastern affairs.
In particular, some pointed to the clause in the definition which labels the claim “that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” as an example of Jew-hate, which, it turns out, is a belief held by racists who refuse to allow a Jewish State to exist.
However, it was the bill’s provision for teachers to be made personally liable to lawsuits against them if they violated the regulations that prompted Hobbs to strike it down at the final hurdle.
The bill would have allowed complainants to sue teachers directly, rather than school districts, and compel the individual educators to cover the costs of the case.
In a letter explaining her veto, Hobbs wrote: “Unfortunately this bill is not about anti-Semitism; it’s about attacking our teachers.
"It puts an unacceptable level of personal liability in place for our public school, community college, and university educators and staff, opening them up to threats of personally costly lawsuits.”
I suppose she has a point there, but what would Hobbs say about an Arizona teacher explaining to the class that the prophet of Islam was a pedophile, [if that's what the teacher believed based on Mohammed having married a 6-year-old] and consummating the marriage when the child, Alisha, was 9?
And what would Hobbs say about Islamic blasphemy laws that call for the death of those who leave Islam, or burn a Koran, or say negative things about Mohammed, or even draw a picture of Mo?
If she would agree that teachers have the right to teach about all religions in a manner they believe is correct, then her veto is reasonable, but my gut tells me different. My gut also tells me that religion needs to be taught in a different venue, not in the public schools, but teaching about the Holocaust isn't about religion, it's about the hatred of a group of people guilty of being born into the Jewish religion.
To be fair, Hobbs' office took measures to combat anti-Semitism, including expanding Holocaust education requirements in schools and appropriating funding for a Holocaust education centre in the state capital of Phoenix, saying it “was a powerful reminder that the most effective way to combat antisemitism is through education, empathy, and community.” Her letter also included a message from Lori Shepherd, executive director of the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center, who said the bill was “not the answer” to the issues faced by the state’s Jewish community.
"While I support the need to fight hate and anti-Semitism, the bill’s vague language and punitive approach send a dangerous message to teachers: avoid controversy, or face a courtroom,” she added.
To be even fairer, we all know about the dirty secret that has bubbled up to the surface like a turd in a cesspool: open anti-Semitism. It's coming to a town near you, if it hasn't already arrived.
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