Fear of Education, with Side Order of Libertarianism

Twice in one day!  My smelling salts, Morty!

• Echidne of the Snakes links the acts of Boko Haram and the Oklahoma House Education Committee:

  I don't aim to compare the Islamic State with American conservatives by putting these news in one list (they are certainly not the same or comparable in horrible violence), but to point out the shared string in the violin concertos:
  
  What is taught to children matters very much to certain political and religious groups. Books are powerful! Books may need to be banned or burned! [...]
  
  Ignorance is a powerful weapon which makes education also a powerful weapon. Hierarchical systems fear the idea of widespread democratic education, and they are correct in that fear.

  Students in Denver protested against a similar attempt by a school board there.
  
• Oklahoma in particular is hiding from a murderous legacy of racism. (Orcinus.)

  An understanding of Oklahoma history would not be complete without at least some knowledge of these incidents, particularly because they loom so large in the history of race relations in America as a nation.
  
  It also would give young people a clearer and fuller picture of the scope and nature of how history has shaped modern race relations in America. At a bare minimum, it will prevent privileged and sheltered whites from asking ignorantly: "Why haven't blacks done any better since we ended slavery?" or asking: "Why do Native Americans insist on clinging to their reservations?"
  
  This and similar kinds of examinations of the darker chapters of American history actually do a great deal to shed light on our current dilemmas, particularly when it comes to issues of race, ethnicity, and religion, and particularly by white folks.

• Kevin Carson (Center for a Stateless Society) on libertarians, why

  Libertarianism is frequently perceived by the general public, not entirely without justice, as a movement of mostly white male 20- or 30-somethings, disproportionately from the tech industry or other white collar jobs, who see themselves as victims and everyone unlike themselves — women, LGBT people, people of color — as naturally collectivist barbarians.

  and how some of the Old Guard libertarians play directly into the stereotype. I have to say here that I have been encountering libertarian thought and ideas since the '70s (thankfully not in any sustained manner) and libertarians do not know what to do about people Not Them.  They invariably suggest individual actions and solutions.  Individual actions and solutions may work for some people some of the time.  But this means that every encounter with another person must be negotiated as though one is applying for sainthood (without reciprocation), and even if one attains local sainthood, strangers or relocation (people move in the US.  A lot of people forget that) mean having to start that dance all over again.  There are reasons for "collectivism," and one of them is that groups have more power to change situations otherwise detrimental to them (which is why there were unions and why there are two-day weekends, which you will lose if you do not fight for them now).  Mr. Carson also points out a streak of disguised conservatism and some parallels to Gamergate.  Found via Making Light.