Sunday, April 26, 2009

Mexican Flu, Drop Out Rates, Our Culturist History and Culturism

We have a long history of culturist citizenship and immigration laws. Some were questionable. And some of them were good. All were unquestionably our right to enact and enforce. The Mexican Flu outbreak has killed at least 81 folks in Mexico City and infected folks in the U.S. If we had a border fence it would allow us to screen out those with signs of disease. That, along with lunacy, likelihood to become a public charge, being an anarchist, illiteracy, criminal background, and eventually being from Eastern or Southern Europe were culturist grounds for exclusion from the country between 1890 and 1965. These immigration laws, along with Prohibition, Puritan Laws, the first and second Great Awakenings and the Abolition movement show our culturist historical tradition. We have long been a culturist nation. But the ability to exclude those with contagious diseases has long been a reason to have an immigrant inspection center like at Ellis Island.

The Mexican Flu is causing schools to be shut down in Mexico. Mexican President Felipe Calderone has arrogated powers to isolate those infected, perhaps a prudent move. When the Chinese had the SARS outbreak, they also isolate the inflicted. They quickly set up concrete quarantine buildings. They also restricted movement within the country to stop contagion. An authoritarian can do such things on a dime. And it worked. Sometimes individual rights considering the culturist rights of the larger population can have beneficial affects. SARS was whipped in China. We dod restrict immigration from China. This confirmed the culturist premise that you have no international right to be in America or an American citizen. Had the disease broken out in American populations, quarantine been imposed and movement restricted, the ACLU would sue because they think individual rights should override culturist rights. They misread the Constitution. And, as a result of their action, many more Americans would die.

Today I went to an Educational policy lecture. I saw two of the three panelists. They were good. They reminded me of what practice is. I haven’t taught in a public high school for a few years. And, it was, frankly, inspiring to hear one presenter passionately describe their after school program and another their personal intervention program. They showed results. But in 2007, NYC’s graduation rate had risen to 52.2%. As a culturist I have to notice only 23.5% of students learning the English language graduated. As above, we need to see what impact immigration has on key factors such as education levels, crime, terrorism, and engineering graduates. Engineering relates to education. As a historian of education, I realize that the drop out rate in the 1950s was 50% too. After the USSR launched the Sputnik Satellite, we emphasized science. As a culturist could argue that is what we need to grow economically. If we make schools harder and more drop out and more get higher skills by meeting the challenge, it might be worth it.

The casual use of the word “culturist” in the prior three paragraphs was exemplary. If we just drop the words ‘culturist’ and ‘culturism’ in to our conversation, they might spread. As you see above, they have analytical force. Culture comes up in conversation nearly all the time. Culturism is the opposite of multiculturalism. If we wish to challenge this underestimation of cultural impact, if we want to bring attention to the importance of culture, we need to start employing and spreading these words. I am a culturist. Someday I hope those in education will call themselves culturists. It would be amazing if someone called Lou Dobbs a racist, and he said, “I am a culturist, I believe in culturism not multiculturalism. Immigration laws are culturist not racist.” What if someone asked Obama the culturist question, “Do you take the culturist side and believe western civilization has a core traditional and historic cultural core to protect or are western nations just random collection of various cultures like multiculturalism says?” If you found this culturist analysis interesting, spread the word.

www.culturism.us

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your culturist message. I mention it where ever I can.

For instance, the woman who worked as my nanny (her folks are from Mexico, her hubby from El Salvador), taught her son English and Spanish. He spoke a little later than usual, but that is typical for truly bi-lingual kids.

When he tested for pre-k, I encouraged her to insist he be in the bilingual program, NOT the ESL program (that seems to never actually teach English, for some reason).

He got into the bilingual pgm. and now wants to be an engineer (like my hubby!) Yay for culturism. My little girl is learning spanish and wants to be a doctor; he is learning English and wants to be an engineer.

They want to get "married" (six years old!) How sweet is that and how "culturist" is that? In two languages!

And my ex-nanny (now family friend and possible in-law) informs me that the wedding celebration is at least a week-long in Mexico and that we gringos better get ready.

OK by me!

Go Western Civilization!! In English, Spanish, French, Italian, Provencal, Portuguese, etc.!!!

Ro

Ellen K said...

I am wondering why the CDC and WHO have been so reticent on acknowledging this potential threat. Did they not read anything about Typhoid Mary and the sequence of events that led her to cause a typhoid outbreak when she worked illegally in homes while infected? I also wonder about the many service companies that provide food handlers and custodial services to hospitals, businesses and schools. My school district uses Aramark and many many of their employees are from Mexico. Whether they are here legally or not, wouldn't you think the local health departments would want to survey them to see if they had visitied Mexico City in the last month? My son was sick for two weeks and on five meds. The doctor didn't know what was wrong with him. But that was before this news hit. So now I wonder. My son works in retail so there are lots of different people he serves daily. Isn't this just another clue as to the porous nature of our border and how vulnerable we are as nation to virus based terror?

Always On Watch said...

The Mexican Flu outbreak has killed at least 81 folks in Mexico City and infected folks in the U.S. If we had a border fence it would allow us to screen out those with signs of disease.I note that the media's coverage of this flu outbreak avoids all possible mention of any possibility that illegal invaders may carry the flu right into the heart of many of our border cities -- and beyond. After all, illegal invaders spread quite rapidly throughout the United States rather quickly.

Unknown said...

Ro,

Assimilation and unity are not bad things!! I'm glad you mention culturism whenever possible. THANKS!!

Ellen,

Unfortunately, it may require a lawsuit from an infected parent like you to get such factors considered and precautions taken. Our individual-rights based system ignores the needs of the many. And, checking (for anything) is impossible when we do not have a specified port of entry.

The CDC actually does have some powers that other agencies do not. Perhaps, illness and their lead will get people to recognize that border control serves legitimate needs. In the meantime, we can all enjoy the diversity of having ill and well people!

Thanks, John

Unknown said...

Ellen K and AOW,

It is a terrifying concern. And, both of you guys are so right about our vulnerability via not having any safeguards. People are DYING from this and the reported numbers of deaths lept by 13 deaths very quickly. And, that is just the reported or known numbers of deaths.

Will this help us to recognize the need for control? I hope so. Has the media been hiding this story and its significance? How can they. Doesn't it naturally lead to the conclusion that we need the promised border fence? How will they spin it otherwise? Lets hope it subsides.

AOW, I just sent WC an apology note. Sorry about Friday.

Just Cause said...

I watched the whitehouse annoucement earlier on Fox and do you know the first thing that sprang to mind - now they have a use for all those FEMA camps...

Back on topic - it's amazing how easy being a 'culturalist' has made debating leftards in any topic, especially when it comes to Islam, because their usual attempts at closing down the discussion by throwing in accusations of islamophobia, xenophobia ad infinitum don't work.

I haven't yet ordered your book but its definitely next on my list, just finishing off The American Revolution - Nationhood achieved.

Unknown said...

Just cause,

Glad to hear it has worked!! Very!!!

If you order, order the 9.25 copy. And, if you don't object and would read it, I'd be happy to send you a complimentary copy.

John

Just Cause said...

Hi John, that's really kind of you although I'm in the UK (no worries if that scuppers the complimentary deal!) - do you have any prefered supplier over here that gets you the most royalties?