I didn't know you were in Arizona now Alan. I have a cousin in Phoenix somewhere. We've lost touch since her last marriage but even as far back as 2004 when we were in touch she said the situation with the illegals was a mess and it was getting worse then. She was very concerned about the gangs. She has a teenaged son.

I'm trying to recall just what we were taught on States Rights Alan but it's rather fuzzy. We just had our 45th high school reunion last weekend. I'm still in recovery about it. A little bit ticked off too. There were NO Battle Flags or memo's of the Rebels in sight. That was our team and our Flag but it seems to have been AWOL.

We were taught that States Rights was put in place to allow the individual states to mandate laws or not on matters that could impact the welfare and safety of the citizens of the state. The Federal laws took precedence but in some cases, a state may take issue on that and challenge it. Seems we know how that went. I do not remember having much discussion on the slavery issue vs States Rights. That's probably because we were preCivil Rights Era. We were still segregated. I guess we never really got into the issue and the 'rightness' about our way of life because that's just how it was.No one questioned it. We flew Battle Flags, Rebel Rouser was our Fight Song and Dixie was our Anthem. That started to change a few years after I graduated. Now it's gone.

The lessons in our schools now start in Kindergarten and ramp up each year. Black History Month is 9 months long. The Dick and Jane series has gone to the dumpster (I'm really not crying over that) but never fear, Tyrone is here. In fairness, there are a bunch of other nations represented in the lessons too. Sort of like the guy on the Fair Housing commercial. Ching Lee, Mosha Goldfarb and the one and only Dora, the Explorer. First Graders are introduced to the history of the Underground Railroad. It gets sadder every year after. This new series of books we have used for the last 3 years does say that the EP did not free the slaves in any place other than the Confederate States. However, it does not clarify the point that Lincoln was not Prez of those states nor does it say he had no power over them at the time they were away from the Union. I'm in Elementary school. I am very afraid to look at the textbooks of Middle and High school. They don't teach Americanism vs Communism anymore to have time for more Black History year.

Ok, sorry. I got sort of ot and on a tear for a bit. It would be ok with me if they were fair in what they teach. If they would just tell the story. Tell the truth and not politicize it all and we'd all be better off.

Pam