Florida - why do we pretend?

Why do we pretend this is part of our country? Why do we pretend it's part of Western Civilization? Why do we pretend that the Enlightenment ever happened, for this benighted place?

Florida state officials who are in charge of disciplinary actions for teachers' misconduct are witch-hunting their way to find out who bought a copy of Gender Queer for Orange County high school libraries. Presumably, an example will be made.

Story here: here (paywalled: also archived here)

Yes, we have all read the tales of Nazi Germany as the Third Reich consolidated its power. People's jobs were threatened and they were also subject to violence from random thugs who were mysteriously never seriously pursued, let alone caught, by the police. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

Asking for a friend.