[extropy-chat] Boycott National Geographic

[Mike Lorrey]

I realize that most members of this list, if not all (as well as
myself) recognise what a great resource the National Geographic Society
is, and has been over the years. The quality of their publications and
programming is stunning and informative. I have enjoyed their magazines
and programs quite a bit over the years, particularly the highly
detailed fold out maps they frequently publish in NG (no, Spike, the
nude native girls are only an occasional feature).

However, something has come to pass with NG that is really incensing
me. NG has made it a mission to improve geographic education in the US,
and sponsors the National Geographic Bees for school age children. Last
years winner was a boy from the New Hampshire town of Francestown who
happens to be homeschooled. This is not an accident, as home schooled
children regularly take many top placements in this annual competition,
which has helped significantly to promote the idea that homeschooling
produces quality educated children, contrary to the bible-addled
backwoods hick that the NEA likes to promote.

This year, NG has a new rule that bans all homeschooled children from
the Geography Bee competition. This is not just prejudiced, bigoted,
and discriminatory, it is a violation of the 14th amendment. It is
apparently in response to NEA pressure, which sees homeschooling and
education vochers as a threat to its agenda to teach its
socialist/statist ideas to all of Americas children. The NEA is
responsible for promoting the Geography Bee in schools and influences
buying decisions for school district purchasing of geographic education
materials.

As such I am part of a group of folks who are announcing a complete
boycott of all National Geographic products until this policy changes.
This means no tv programs, no magazines, no NG sponsored ecotourism,
etc. You are encouraged to communicate your own disapproval of NGs
actions to its leadership, which you can find a list of at:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/about/masthead.html 
the phone number for National Geographic headquarters is 202-857-7000.
(Hit (3) to get the staff directory). You can email the NG with your
own opinions of their discrimination at:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/community/email.html

This is an issue that you can have an enormous impact on by copying the
above text into an email to your local newspaper's "letters to the
editor" mailbox and posting it to some of your favorite lists, fora, or
websites. Thanks for your help.

Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://intlib.blogspot.com


		
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