March 6, 2008

The Honorable Alan Lowenthal

Senate 27th District

State Capitol, Room 2032

Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: SB 1322 (Lowenthal) – Oppose

Dear Senator Lowenthal:

Log Cabin Republicans strongly opposes SB 1322, which seeks to remove prohibitions on teaching Communism for indoctrination purposes in schools among other provisions.  While most formerly communist nations have properly consigned communism to the ash can of history, there are many places in the world, including several here in California, which never felt the brunt of the oppression of full Communism, yet still seek to impose its principles through local and state legislation.  While Communism still rules in countries like China and Cuba, we should maintain a healthy vigilance against its revival, just as firefighters continue to monitor a fire after it is extinguished to ensure no spark reignites a conflagration.  Further, removing the findings about communism and its oppression distorts history and removes the background that legislators and historians will need in future generations to understand why we did what we thought was right and good.  Those who amend history are doomed to repeat it.

Gays and lesbians are aware that while our rights to equality have mostly been achieved in California, there are still forces that seek to undo those advances towards freedom. We maintain vigilance against all forms of oppression whether from the far left or the far right.  And we need not forget that Communist governments forcibly imprisoned and tortured gays and lesbians in the name of rehabilitation and desire to exterminate them. According to Wikipedia, "The American Revolutionary Communist Party’s policy that 'struggle will be waged to eliminate [homosexuality] and reform homosexuals'  wasn't abandoned until 2001" long after Republicans were opposing anti-gay initiatives (Ronald Reagan in 1978) and signing pro-gay legislation (Pete Wilson and the anti-discrimination bill for gays and lesbians).

To whitewash or erase that history of oppression against all Americans is an insult to the memories and lives of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation from that evil. It is a slap in the face to the significant number of Log Cabin Republican veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.  We strongly call on you to withdraw this bill.

Sincerely,

James Vaughn

Director

California Log Cabin Republicans