Harris-Perry: GOP’ers Concerned Gov’t May Confiscate Kids, As They Did Slaves And Native Americans

Mediaite ^ | April 9, 2013 | Noah Rothman

[2ndDivisionVet]

Following what she describes as a “flood of vitriolic responses” from conservatives outraged at the implication that the state should have more responsibility for child-rearing than individual parents and families, MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry took to the pages of MSNBC.com to mock concerns about the network promo’s implications. She said that conservatives’ fears may be illogically rooted in the fact that America has, in the past, seized and “re-educated” the children of African slaves and Native Americans.

“One thing is for sure: I have no intention of apologizing for saying that our children, all of our children, are part of more than our households, they are part of our communities and deserve to have the care, attention, resources, respect and opportunities of those communities,” Harris-Perry wrote after informing her audience of her intention to “double down” on the statements she made in the MSNBC network promo.

When the flood of vitriolic responses to the ad began, my first reaction was relief. I had spent the entire day grading papers and was relieved that since these children were not my responsibility, I could simply mail the students’ papers to their moms and dads to grade! But of course, that is a ridiculous notion. As a teacher, I have unique responsibilities to the students in my classroom at Tulane University, and I embrace those responsibilities. It is why I love my job....

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

(Let me rewrite a bit of what she wrote to clarify her thinking.)

I want (the government to teach) them to learn in enriching and dynamic classrooms. I want (the government to raise) them to be healthy and well and free from fear. I want (the government to make) them to grow up to agree or disagree with me or with you (but not the government) and to have all the freedom and tools (that the government gives them, that) they need to express what they believe (as long as it does not go against what the government wants).

And no hateful thing that you say to me (or to totalitarian government) or about me (or totalitarian government) will ever change that I want those things for *your* children.

(Note she *didn’t* say *her* children. She said “your” children.)

[CharlesWayneCT]

The government seizes people's children all the time. Sometimes, conservatives actually CHEER this action, if they think the parents are "bad". Most of the time, we attack government for thinking they can do better with children than the parents.

This is the function of "Child Protective Services", to look for reasons to take people's children away, in the misguided notion that the government is better at raising your kid than you are. Then they might give your kids to some foster parents, who they think will be better at it than you.

It won't be long before government categorizes teaching your children that there is a heaven and a hell, and that the kids must be good and not sin, as "child abuse", and take your kids away if you send them to Sunday school.

[Richard_Stairs]

This dumb bimbo is walking back her comments. Big surprise. She must have realized my kids are as big believers in the 2nd amendment as I am!

[Cyber Liberty]

When the flood of vitriolic responses to the ad began, my first reaction was relief. I had spent the entire day grading papers and was relieved that since these children were not my responsibility, I could simply mail the students’ papers to their moms and dads to grade!

The teacher tips her hand to reveal her Union Mentality: Work is to be sloughed off on somebody else. She goes on to "clarify," but if she had a brain she would not have written this remark in the first place.

[Sherman Logan]

This is the function of "Child Protective Services", to look for reasons to take people's children away, in the misguided notion that the government is better at raising your kid than you are. Then they might give your kids to some foster parents, who they think will be better at it than you.

I assume you agree there are some "parents" who are indeed worse than any possible alternative.

[Sherman Logan]

She said that conservatives’ fears may be illogically rooted in the fact that America has, in the past, seized and “re-educated” the children of African slaves ...

The only such history I'm aware of is slave state laws prohibiting the education of slave children at all.

America never "seized" the children of black slaves, though it did permit private property rights to be used to allow families to be sold away from each other.