The GOP's war on the "Alphabet" policies and the purpose they serve.

“I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.”- Maya Angelo Every day when you scroll social media it seems like the GOP has a new “imaginary” culture war they’re willing to go into some epic battle over. There is not a social issue war these jokers won’t fight–unless it’s an actual social problem like homelessness, veteran suicide, gun violence, poverty, or even that DSS is falling apart at the seams. In Missouri, we have been through an actual “War” on CRT, Women, LGBTQ/Trans DEI policies (you know policies that companies have that make sure people behave themselves and don’t be jerks to others.), but today, they have declared war on SEL policies in education for some reason that’s only known to them. Now before we dive too deeply into distractive politics–let’s take a look at what SEL is and why it’s taught in school. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is teaching children how to cope with their emotions through self-control, developing self-awareness, and interpersonal skills that they’ll need when they reach adulthood. Basically, it’s a program to teach and encourage to develop the skills to be a “functional” adult and thrive in society. And it could be even argued that SEL programs are really just extra resource and support that schools provide that helps do one of the hardest jobs on the planet–raising kids, because parenting is hard. Unfortunately our lawmakers all of the “sudden” think this is a really bad thing, and shouldn’t be in schools. The thing about SEL is that it’s been in the public school systems since 1994. So if you’re a Xennial (If you were born between 1979-1983 otherwise the “Oregon Trail” Generation) and went to public school– You grew up with SEL. And let’s be honest, SEL is probably the thing that kept us from having a mental breakdown every time our pixel wagons tipped over in the river or died from dysentery. Schools basically taught us how to be empathic to others and not to act like an overgrown toddler 365 days a year- so we can be “semi-functional” and productive members of society. So as you can see, SEL is neither sinister nor is it indoctrination like our GOP lawmakers and right-wing talking bobbleheads are trying to claim it is. It easily could be argued that SEL obviously didn’t take with those folks, because all you have to do is really look at how they carry themselves in public and on social media. When you start attacking your constituents with Microsoft 90s word art and homoerotic memes of Trump. It’s a pretty big sign that one is emotionally stunted and has the intelligence level of an “angry” potato. Sadly, that is the typical behavior of lack of decorum is the “run of the mill” of most of the members of Missouri and the much larger brand of the GOP. This brings us to the “distractive” political aspect of their crying against SEL or any acronym that they don’t actually understand its purpose. If you haven’t noticed there’s a pattern to what the GOP tends to declare culture “wars” and usually over things that they struggle to grasp the simple concept of like the real meaning behind “Defund the police”, CRT, DEI, et And if you were to ask them to define what the acronym means. They refuse to answer and avoid the question because they don’t know what it means.. The kicker is that they’re banking on the fact that most folks don’t know what the terms mean either. It makes it so much easier to sell their definition and set the mind-numbing and useless narrative. It’s honestly stuff that most people really don’t care about because it doesn’t affect them directly. I mean most folks are aware of issues that racism is a problem and that "cop shops" can barely afford a force; let alone de-esculation training. Folks are generally more concerned about how they're going to keep clothes on their backs, food on the table, and a roof over their head. The GOP taps into that anger, confusion, and mistrust to bolster their message of “Hey we feel this way and you should too! Because we’re the authority on morality and Godliness”. All the while they're causing huge spans of distrust against our institutions and making it easier to take the GOP at full face value as opposed to questioning what they're trying to sell. I mean the entire song “Jesus Knows Me” by Genesis is an accurate description of how the GOP brand operates. Particularly with the endless distractive politics trying to rile folks up. So, now you have a little more insight on what SEL is and why the crazies are railing against it, or anything else they can set a narrative to–Let’s get to why they are doing it. That’s simple enough to answer the “Why” as they don’t want folks to realize that they have no plan to address real issues. It also distracts people from seeing that they’re also leading us into some kind of weird “B” rated dystopian “wet dream” that features Nazis dressed in “Confederate” grey…That folks, is their end game. To re-establish living under the rule of billionaires who don't have the slightest clue as to how democracy is supposed to work because their level of privilege allows them to be lawless and undisciplined. It's also the only way they can convince folks to “fall in” line is to repeat a lie so long that it becomes an absolute truth. In short, the war on the “ Alphabet” policies serves two purposes and it’s not to fix our endless potholes or any of our social problems. It is meant to distract you from what their shenanigans behind the curtain and to normalize their brand of American fascism. So start paying attention to what they’re not saying and start looking around your own neighborhood- Because what the GOP is trying to sell doesn’t add up, especially about policies that have been around in everyday life since at least the 1970s. And take the advice of Missouri’s own Maya Angelou. Don’t be afraid to show compassion or empathy because they’re a strength and not a weakness-Have the courage. As always, take care and be good to one another, Much love, Jojo