(no subject)

[charliesmum]

In reference to my last post, I have a question to pose to all of you.

There's a passage in Terry Pratchett's Johnny and the Bomb where the main characters are talking about WWII and one of them says something about how they should mind because it happened a long time ago. (Of course, being Terry Pratchett and being a book about time travel, another character pointed out that it was happening NOW.)

I just wonder if, by reading about something that happened a long time ago makes it easier to dismiss it as something that 'used to happen' and thus ignore the more subtle signs of racism that we see today.

What do you think? I am not saying kids shouldn't be taught how things were, but in the context of reading materials, do you think it would be more helpful for them to read something that is more contemporary - something that highlights problems that exist today, so they can think and learn and maybe not do that themselves?

Comments

[cheekyassmonkey.livejournal.com]

you know, i think it depends on the person. most people, in my experience, need that reminder. remember, people need to see movies like schindler's list, thin red line, born on the 4th of july, crash, etc. because the recent horrors perpetrated by humanity are not clear in their minds. they're some 'bad thing that happened in the past'.

i can't watch those movies. hell, i can't even watch the news. i know every horrible thing that goes on everyday, all over the world, and if i think about it for more than 30 seconds, i start crying. not 'oh that is terrible' crying, but feeling the actual pain and suffering type. tj constantly reminds me that i am a unique little flower, and that the rest of the world operates in a different way.

so, while i think it is important to make it crystal clear what happened in history, i think that has to be approached very carefully with kids, and just having them read a book is probably not the best approach. there needs to be discussion, and a variety of sources. something from the point of view of the oppressed might be more appropriate, like "incidents in the life of a slave girl". when the context of history is applied, the contemporary issues become clearer.