Why I support the new Iowa law banning 'critical race theory’ in classrooms

Recent letters on the Insight page decry a new Iowa law that bans the teaching of Critical Race Theory in public schools. To summarize, they accuse lawmakers of suppressing objective treatment of history and development of critical thinking skills in classrooms. Their authors miss the primary point of the legislation.

Critical Race Theory is an extension of “Critical Theory,” a Neo-Marxist philosophical approach concocted by 20th century radical leftist intellectuals, and intended to uproot and demolish long established and cherished institutions, traditions, and practices that make America the unparalleled success that it is. Like its demagogic ancestor, classical Marxism, its driving animus is to divide populations into fictional “oppressor” and “victim” classes, so to promote resentment and hatred. It pushes a revisionist alternate reality of American history and culture, and brashly trivializes the sweeping reforms actually made in race relations. CRT’s real mission is not education but indoctrination, not objective coverage of history and social challenges, but establishment of victimhood, guilt, and discontent.

Despite assurances of combating so-called “systemic racism,” CRT effectively promotes a virulent new reverse racism, with irredeemable guilt and endless victimhood assessed solely on the basis of skin color. It does not promote honest critical analysis but hurls venomous condemnation at everything American.

The new law does not ban objective and dispassionate discussion of topics, but expressly forbids inculcation of those ideological toxins as forcibly-induced beliefs and accepted behaviors in young minds. It deserves our undiluted support.

Dale Fitzgibbons

Cedar Rapids