Segregation is making a comback

[cynatnite]

In a move decried by some as state-sponsored segregation, the Legislature voted Thursday to divide the Omaha school system into three districts — one mostly black, one predominantly white and one largely Hispanic.

Supporters, including the bill's sponsor and the Legislature's lone black senator, said the plan would give minorities control over their own school board and ensure that their children are not shortchanged in favor of white youngsters.

Republican Gov. Dave Heineman was expected to sign the measure into law.

Omaha Sen. Pat Bourne decried the bill, saying, "We will go down in history as one of the first states in 20 years to set race relations back."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060413/ap_on_re_us/omaha_schools&printer=1

[gristy]

1. This will not pass judicial judgement! Take it to the Supreme Court!

Oh, wait...

[Horse with no Name]

2. How will we EVER undo the damage?

We have regressed 40 years in 6 short years.
I have to wonder how long it will take to recover, if ever.

[Kutjara]

5. I'm just waiting for one of these throwbacks....

...to use the phrase "separate but equal." Then it really will be 1959 again.

[suffragette]

6. I've been wondering about this, too.

So much wrong has been done in such a short time. And it permeates so many areas. The task of recovering will be like cleaning the Augean stables.

[tom_paine]

12. 98% the damage is irreperable

However, there is still the tiniest possibilty, therefore there is hope.

"It's easier to break than to build and correct..."
--Beastie Boys "Five Boroughs"

[WI_DEM]

3. Very bad precedent--it must be taken to court

If this goes through you just know other states will attempt to do this and once again we will be separate.

[windy252]

4. How I wish this was satire

:cry:

[SmokingJacket]

7. I've taught in many schools...

and ALL but one were segregated, simply because of preexisting geographic segregation. It's a tough situation, actually: most families don't want their kids bussed across town if there's a neighborhood school a block away, and you can hardly blame them. That said, "separate but equal" is NOT a good solution.

The only fully integrated school I taught at was.... on an army base. The military IS integrated.

[Radio_Guy]

8. This is why we need "activist" judges

The right screams about us liberals having "activist" judges, but sometimes you need grownups to tell the GOP children "no."

[pinto]

9. Memo to School Board. "Separate but Equal" is unconstitutional.

[RDANGELO]

10. This is sad.

We ended government regulated segregation. Now our society has done it on it's own.

[OneBlueSky]

11. unconstitutional on its face . . .

didn't they ever hear of Brown v. Board of Education? . . .

[NMMNG]

13. 'Seperate but Equal' .....

It wasn't 40+ years ago and it won't be now. This is absurd. :banghead:

[Asgaya Dihi]

14. Segregation never left

The impression that segregation and racism was defeated in this nation is a fairly common one, but as far as I can tell racism in this nation was never defeated. We made great progress in terms of public perceptions, but in the end it just moved behind bars. Consider the following stats, no fancy math involved, that's a real picture of the current US justice system. If anyone is interested there's lots more.

http://www.prisonsucks.com/

[Peter Frank]

15. Segregation Has Already Escalated Far Beyond Race & Local Politics...

With the "Patriot Act" we've all lost our civil rights (achieved by the blood of true patriots). The ramifications have barely begun to emerge. I only hope that there are enough people who genuinely understand this to speak truth to power, and reverse this.

[baby_mouse]

16. Well this is just AMAZING!

THIS one I did *NOT* see coming back.

Of course, they are mostly taking advantage of the already existing ghettoisation.