You’re not quite America, Arizona

What the hell is wrong with Arizona these days?

In the last month, it seems that whoever is running the Copper State has no idea what they're doing. At the very least, state officials have not been making the best decisions regarding immigrants or people who seem ‘un-American' in general.

It started with the immigration law, in which police officers may ask for proof of citizenship from any person they suspect of being an illegal immigrant.

Do you know what that law amounts to? It will simply translate to officers walking their beats, using their "best guesses" to decide if anyone of darker-than-white skin should be given the deportation boot.

It's racial profiling at its finest; the law that allows it is disgusting. Though the law was slightly amended so that officers may only check for legalization under suspicion of a crime, it doesn't change how unnecessary and petty the law seems.

Don't forget the Arizona legislators who passed this law. What was running through their intolerant heads?

Strike two was a law passed last week that banned classes in Arizona school systems that "promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular
ethnic group."

What in heaven's name is that? What idiot in their right mind thinks that the biggest U.S. domestic threat is in a classroom within spitting distance of the Grand Canyon? (Yes, that's in Arizona.)

Unless Al-Qaeda has created a new headquarters in the Arizona desert, there is no terrorist threat to worry about.

The third and most ridiculous strike against America's least favorite family member is the latest move by the Arizona Department of Education.

The department recently began telling school districts that they must remove English teachers whose speech is heavily accented or ungrammatical. Basically, anyone without a perfect American accent cannot teach English in an Arizona school.

Let's see, who does that rule out? Besides the obvious 90 percent of the world that doesn't live in America, that means New Yorkers, Southerners, Texans and George W. Bush could never be Arizonan English teachers.

This is simply an arbitrary act instigated by ignorant xenophobic politicians. Maybe it's arguable that the rest of the country is moving forward as a society, but Arizona wants to single-handedly reverse the civil rights movement, and they're starting with the kids.

I can't possibly think of a good excuse for any of these decidedly inexcusable actions. Next, they'll probably ban non-whites from walking the streets. Maybe they'll disallow short teachers to be P.E. instructors. Or maybe they'll institute a breathing tax.

I can't begin to predict what ridiculous move is next for the Angry State.

Fernando may be reached at news@su-spectator.com