Prop. 305 being used as cudgel against new education ideas
In the article, “2nd Republican bill proposes to expand Arizona voucher program two months after voters say ‘no,’ ” (Jan. 24) appears to have adopted the narrative promoted by opponents of the state’s educational savings account program that Proposition 305 was a referendum on school choice.
For reference, voters were asked whether they wished to repeal Senate Bill 1431 or essentially set it in stone.
They were not asked to opine on any and all measures that provide parents and students with choice — especially one that seeks to help a vulnerable population like bullied kids.
As the article notes, this well-meaning program would apply to “the alleged victim of battery, harassment, hazing, kidnapping, physical attack, robbery, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, threatening, intimidation, fighting, sex trafficking or human trafficking.”
Giving parents ways to get a child that is a victim of bullying, sexual assault or other heinous acts away from their tormentors is good policy. That shouldn’t be a political issue. But the outcome of Prop. 305 is now being used as a cudgel against any outside the box thinking on education — even for kids in need.
Don’t let that happen.
Churches need to step up for criminal-justice reform
Many people are familiar Martin Luther King Jr.’s with Dr. In it, he writes from a perspective of
Join the conversation
We want to hear from you. Comment on letters, columns and editorials online or via e-mail.
❚
❚ frustration, justifying his protest.
While it inspires many, it represents a failure to act by the church.
Dr. King was responding in his letter to eight white religious leaders in the South.
They had asked for him to down, saying justice could wait.
In the Christian faith, there should be a call for justice. Because God is just within his nature, we should strive toward righteousness.
That call is why Dr. King fought for back Ccivil Rrights. It is why Jesus himself walked among the oppressed.
However, if justice is a concept that is intrinsic within the Christian faith, why does the church ignore its call?
Presently, we face another crisis of injustice. Arizona has the fourth highest incarceration rate in a country that faces the issue of mass incarceration.
Whether it is oppressive sentencing statutes or a lack of funding for re-entry services, the policies in place demonstrate a culture of retribution in a system that calls itself justice.
On Wednesday, Feb. 6, faith leaders from around Arizona will go to the state Capitol to declare they are locked in solidarity with those suffering from the criminal-justice system.
We will call out issues of sentencing, racism and a culture of retribution.
We will call for action and elevate voices.
This call of justice is a call to action out of love for our communities.
At the root of the problem is the American who buys street drugs
American drug purchases determine poppy crop planting in Asia, initiate drug supply lines through Africa and Europe and empower cartels to terrorize innocent central American citizens, driving them to our southern border. A wall is a pathetic sign of our inability to solve our problem. The customer is always right, except when he is wrong.