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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline - Opinion OCTOBER 14, 2022 | The Indian Eye 32

The Republican Plan for Your Children Should Worry You

VIDYA PRADHAN have fewer opportunities and pros-
pects because of inferior education?
t a recent event called the If we don’t want this future to
National Conservative Con- come to pass, let’s pledge to vote
Aference, an annual meeting Democrat in the upcoming midterms
of conservative thinkers, attendees and all future elections so our kids
pushed for the introduction of reli- can have the same American dream
gion in public education. that we came here for.
A statement of principles signed • Talk to your friends and family
by the conference members said, members who voted in 2020 and
“Where a Christian majority exists, who may be sitting out the mid-
public life should be rooted in Chris- terms because of lack of knowl-
tianity and its moral vision, which edge or apathy.
should be honored by the state and • Reach out to other Democratic
other institutions both public and voters through text banking, phone
private...” banking, postcard writing, and
The Republicans have refused flyer mailing. Organizations like
to consider any measures to keep TheySeeBlue (theyseeblue.org)
children safe in school other than have events that reach out specif-
having more armed guards and arm- ically to South Asian voters.
ing teachers(!). Even in the wake • Donate to key races that are winnable.
of a complete breakdown in law And if you don’t have the band-
enforcement at Uvalde, there are width for any of the above, remem-
no new ideas from the GOP except ber, you are going to be a hero by
guns, guns, and more guns. The Florida Education Department small step. just casting your VOTE for a more
In many states, Republicans took exception to a set of mathemat- All this paints a really worrying progressive, hopeful, and inclusive
are thinking of backing out of the ics textbooks, saying that they had picture for the future of public edu- America.
National School Lunch program elements of social studies that were cation in this country should Repub-
because it does not allow discrimi- not appropriate for the curriculum. licans come to power, both at the Vidya Pradhan is a freelance writ-
nation against any child due to race, From banning books that don’t tell state and federal level. Is this the er and political activist who believes
gender, or sexual identity. the factual history of the United America we want for our children? humans can be trained to see cooper-
Then there are the concerted States to banning books that talk An America where they will have ation, community, and compassion as
attacks across the country on books. about Holi and Diwali is a very, very fewer rights, be more unsafe, and values to appreciate and emulate

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