A Hearty Thank You to George Will

I am grateful to George Will for clarifying and making public at this time what distinguishes the neo-con position from the progressive, liberal tradition that has kept alive the American dream of freedom and equal opportunity for all in our great country. Will, like the extremists who have gained power in Washington, represents a departure from the mainstream values that have unified those, both Republican and Democrat,who have embraced the democratic possibility of a society based on fairness, equity, and equality under the law.

Because of his mean-spirited and misinformed tirade against colleges of education, in which he cites a study that does not even evaluate teacher education programs, Will can be thanked now for opening up and embracing the racism, homophobia, and sexism that historically has lurked just below the surface of his bankrupt, antiquarian ideology grounded by an unacknowledged embrace of white male supremacy and the repressive, inhumane acts that are imbued within.

Perhaps it is simple over-reaching now that power has come to them--perhaps it is the hubristic arrogance that fuels the proud, unflinching fascist--whatever it is that has brought you, George Will, and your kind out into the open, thank you, nonetheless, for putting me, the teachers, and the teacher educators that I proudly represent on the side against racism and for equity, against homophobia and for diversity, against repression of women and for equality of opportunity.

If I had told you that this is what I stand for, George, you would have never believed me. Thank you for reminding yourself of what distinguishes our respective positions.

Jim Horn