Kids will learn about the horrors of communism
A bill that was approved unanimously during Florida's legislative season, was passed to Governor Ron DeSantis on May 5 for signing into law.
Bill HB395 was approved without objection in both the house and the senate, and was introduced and sponsored by Republican Reps. David Borrero and Alex Rizo and Republican Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. It proposes that November 7 will be designated as 'Victims of Communism Day'
The initiative was first suggested during 2021:
What it means in practise
Senator Manny Diaz Jr. will take over as education commissioner for Florida in a change that was announced last month. He begins the role on June 1 and has already indicated that the new law will mean that from the 2023-24 school year, social studies curriculum will include at least 45 minutes instruction in the misery and horror that communism has caused for many people around the world.
The bill's text refers to various significant figures from the history of communism including Karl Marx who was the originator of economic philosophies behind the political ideology. The bill's text also outlines various leaders that will presumably feature in lessons. It states:
"...communism has proven incompatible with the ideals of liberty, prosperity, and dignity of human life and has given rise to such infamous totalitarian dictators as Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot."
Pupils in schools from 2023 onwards can expect to learn of the horrors of those who lived under such regimes.
Effects of communism felt closer to home
While many of the dictators named in the bill are figures from history, many living in Florida today have had first-hand experience of living under communist dictators themselves.
Commenting on the legislation, Miami Senator Annette Tadeo (who fled the communist regime in Colombia as a child) had this to say:
“Any victim of communism knows very much that we need to learn from the experiences of the victims (of communism) and we should teach it and we should celebrate the fact that we talk about it, that we are willing to teach our kids about it,”
The regular and steady influx of immigrants seeking a new life in Florida after crossing the oceans from Cuba will also be painfully familiar with the challenges of living life in a communist state.
Politicians from both sides of the aisle have been quick to resort to accusations of communist behavior by members of their opposition.
Gov. DeSantis has recently also been quick to call out the Biden administration's proposed creation of a Disinformation Governance Board as a means of controlling and censoring information. Comparisons with communism on this level however, overlook the millions who have died and suffered while living under communist regimes.
Unlike some of the more divisive new laws that have been introduced in schools this year, including the 'Stop WOKE' act, this seems that this is one bill that will surely be widely appreciated and accepted by Floridians regardless of their political allegiance if it means kids are better educated on political ideologies like communism.
Are you in favor of kids being taught about communism in schools to broaden their world view? Have you or members of your family experienced life in a communist state? Let me know in the comments section below.
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