The usual idiots at the National Educational Association (aka the teacher’s union) say that we shouldn’t blame anybody for what happened last September 11. It was, you know, like an accident, or some kind of natural occurrence. No harm, no foul.

What’s worse, they recommend that this nonsense be included in teaching guides.

Here is an excerpt that contains one of the many myths of modern society, and one of my pet peeves.

“Blaming is especially difficult in terrorist situations because someone is at fault. In this country, we still believe that all people are innocent until solid, reliable evidence from our legal authorities proves otherwise.”

Yeah, it’s really tough to teach this “don’t blame anybody” silliness when someone is obviously at fault. What to do, what to do…?

[scratching head, a noggin filled with various useless molding detritus from some school of education, slightly verdant, musty dust poofing out of the ears with each finger tap…)

Oh, that’s right. Here’s the answer. In America, no one is guilty until proven guilty, in a court of law. We haven’t had a trial yet, so we should consider bin Laden and his buds innocent until we have.

Right. And we should consider OJ innocent because twelve men (and women) noble and true (and extremely confused, and bigoted, and utterly innocent of logic, science and the law) couldn’t find it in their hearts to call him guilty.

Repeat after me, everybody.

Innocent until proven guilty applies only in a court of law. It only means that he can’t be deprived of liberty or life by the state for the crime. It does not mean that we are not entitled to have an informed opinion about the matter.

And it’s not meant to apply to the court of public opinion. And certainly not to our public education system, particularly when teaching history (which last fall’s events have become). By their standards, Hitler would be innocent of gassing Jews, since no trial was held.

This sort of mealy-mouthed mush, in which no one is ever responsible for anything, and forgiveness should be granted by everyone (even by those against whom no trespass has occurred) to everyone (even those who don’t admit that they’ve done anything wrong, or express regret for it), is making us into a nation of milquetoast moral midgets, unable to pass judgement on anything or anybody.

Except, of course, those evil people who would have the temerity to judge anyone else’s behavior.

Sigh.

Oh, but wait! What a relief. Phew.

In the very next paragraph, it turns out that they didn’t really mean it. It is someone’s fault.

But another of the suggested NEA lesson plans ? compiled together under the title “Remember September 11” and appearing on the teachers union health information network Web site ? takes a decidedly blame- America approach, urging educators to “discuss historical instances of American intolerance,” so that the American public avoids “repeating terrible mistakes.”

“Internment of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor and the backlash against Arab Americans during the Gulf War are obvious examples,” the plan says. “Teachers can do lessons in class, but parents can also discuss the consequences of these events and encourage their children to suggest better choices that Americans can make this time.”

That’s right, children. It’s our fault. If we only hadn’t been so mean to those terrorists, and put those Japanese people into camps during World War II, they wouldn’t have had to destroy our skyscrapers, and kill all those people. We made them do it.

This is an argument fit for a playground, but it’s being taught as serious curriculum by supposed adults. I think it’s past time for a time out for the NEA.

A permanent one.

[via Charles Johnson]