Imagination, a Learning Tool
Poliltical motivation misunderstands5 total reviews
Comment from WryWriter
Very well-written opinion. I would say the life of a slave (both white and black) was quite the same as the life of poor people (black and white) who worked for share croppers. Hours and hours of backbreaking work for no or very little pay, pay required to be spent in the share cropper's store purchasing necessities at outrages cost that could never be paid off and further indebted the poor so the vicious cycle would continue. I would say having little money in your pocket after working a ridiculous number of hours today is no different from slavery just because you are paying for the roof over you head instead of your owner. It still leaves nothing to live on. I would say the violence endured by slaves is no different from the violence endured by the poor (white and black and Hispanic) today who cannot pay for "justice" and "equality," not to mention healthcare and decent groceries. Most poor eat rotten food purchased at "outdated food item" stores or junk food with little or no nutritional value. The poor pay the highest interest rates on loans and are cheated without penalty to those cheating them. The poor are used as a money making resource for for-profit prisons and other institutions. They die younger from lack of being able to afford healthcare. Prejudice exits today, just as it has from the beginning of time. I do not believe children should be pawns on this chessboard of opinions. Let their minds be filled with happiness and looking forward to something wonderful for as long as possible. Childhood is short enough. The work in education should be aimed at making the world better for them, giving them a future, not filling their minds with the past they can do nothing about. I find that sad.
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2019
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Very well-written opinion. I would say the life of a slave (both white and black) was quite the same as the life of poor people (black and white) who worked for share croppers. Hours and hours of backbreaking work for no or very little pay, pay required to be spent in the share cropper's store purchasing necessities at outrages cost that could never be paid off and further indebted the poor so the vicious cycle would continue. I would say having little money in your pocket after working a ridiculous number of hours today is no different from slavery just because you are paying for the roof over you head instead of your owner. It still leaves nothing to live on. I would say the violence endured by slaves is no different from the violence endured by the poor (white and black and Hispanic) today who cannot pay for "justice" and "equality," not to mention healthcare and decent groceries. Most poor eat rotten food purchased at "outdated food item" stores or junk food with little or no nutritional value. The poor pay the highest interest rates on loans and are cheated without penalty to those cheating them. The poor are used as a money making resource for for-profit prisons and other institutions. They die younger from lack of being able to afford healthcare. Prejudice exits today, just as it has from the beginning of time. I do not believe children should be pawns on this chessboard of opinions. Let their minds be filled with happiness and looking forward to something wonderful for as long as possible. Childhood is short enough. The work in education should be aimed at making the world better for them, giving them a future, not filling their minds with the past they can do nothing about. I find that sad.
Comment Written 10-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 10-Mar-2019
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I agree wholly with all you said except the last two lines. I believe we must teach and learn from the past so the same mistakes are not repeated. The past is a starting point for making better solutions for the future. If we only heed the consequences.Thank you so much for your time and comments.Much appreciated.
Comment from Scarbrems
Amen to that. I hadn't heard about this, sounds like an excellent way to teach about slavery to me. Well done on this, it was interesting and informative. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2019
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Amen to that. I hadn't heard about this, sounds like an excellent way to teach about slavery to me. Well done on this, it was interesting and informative. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 09-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 09-Mar-2019
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Thanks much for your read, review and comments.
Comment from humpwhistle
The 'rise from slavery'? I'm sorry, but human beings don't 'rise from slavery'! Human beings are emancipated! Freed! You're suggesting that wrongly enslaved human beings have to 'rise' to human status. That's wrong! That's insensitive! That's bigotry! You want to talk about education? Chose your words with more care.
Processed cotton balls represent the horror of slavery in no meaningful way. Not to whites. Not to blacks. The symbolism is insulting to anyone with a modicum of empathy. Mrs Northam's gesture amounted to cheap, tone-deaf theatrics. She should be ashamed of herself.
I hope you'll reconsider your defense of such crass jingoism.
Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2019
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The 'rise from slavery'? I'm sorry, but human beings don't 'rise from slavery'! Human beings are emancipated! Freed! You're suggesting that wrongly enslaved human beings have to 'rise' to human status. That's wrong! That's insensitive! That's bigotry! You want to talk about education? Chose your words with more care.
Processed cotton balls represent the horror of slavery in no meaningful way. Not to whites. Not to blacks. The symbolism is insulting to anyone with a modicum of empathy. Mrs Northam's gesture amounted to cheap, tone-deaf theatrics. She should be ashamed of herself.
I hope you'll reconsider your defense of such crass jingoism.
Peace, Lee
Comment Written 08-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2019
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Thank you for your view, but I will not reconsider my use of the term "rise." Please note "Up from Slavery" is the title of the 1901 autobiography of American educator Booker T. Washington. I tend to agree with his view that blacks have risen from the lowest position a human being may be accorded (note not subhuman) by their fellow men to being equal citizens in most of the United States. The cotton ball is surely a representation of why the South fought so hard to keep slavery and as such may inspire thinking about the horrors caused by the system that mid-19th century politicians called the South's "peculiar institution." I do not agree with your interpretation of my essay. It is neither, crass nor jingoistic in my opinion, but rather argues for the use of imagination as a learning tool. Peace for both of us.
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Like you, I'll stick to my guns. Our nation's attitudes have changed vastly since 1901--I hope. Beyond that, a sterile cotton ball from Walgreen's bears no relevance to the issue of slavery.
We disagree.
Peace, Lee
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
I enjoyed the sentiments here. Do you mean, embarrassment or embracement in the phrase below? Not sure embracement makes sense. Love Dolly x
not one of (embarrassment) or (embracement) as claimed by Ms. Price. Blacks truly, by their tremendous, bootstrapping efforts, have made great progress in spite of Jim Crow and other discriminations still taking place today.
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2019
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I enjoyed the sentiments here. Do you mean, embarrassment or embracement in the phrase below? Not sure embracement makes sense. Love Dolly x
not one of (embarrassment) or (embracement) as claimed by Ms. Price. Blacks truly, by their tremendous, bootstrapping efforts, have made great progress in spite of Jim Crow and other discriminations still taking place today.
Comment Written 08-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2019
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I meant embarrassment, I will edit. Thank you for the read and review. I will edit.
Comment from KatyM
I agree that if the governments do not look at the past we will indeed repeat history. We repeat it when it comes to fashion. Even the hairstyles for today are coming back from the 70's. lol I am subbing at the high school and see it happening today. This one particular boy in the class I am in has wild curly hair all over his head. I am thinking, he better enjoy it cause come 30 years from now he might not have any hair on his head. lol Take care, katy
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2019
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I agree that if the governments do not look at the past we will indeed repeat history. We repeat it when it comes to fashion. Even the hairstyles for today are coming back from the 70's. lol I am subbing at the high school and see it happening today. This one particular boy in the class I am in has wild curly hair all over his head. I am thinking, he better enjoy it cause come 30 years from now he might not have any hair on his head. lol Take care, katy
Comment Written 08-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 08-Mar-2019
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As a former school superintendent, I admire teachers who are willing to substitute especially in today's climate. My concern is not with hairstyles or clothing, but previously submerged bigotry on both sides. Thank you for your read and your comments.
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Yes, the climate for bigotry is very real. I remember when we lived in upper SC and went to visit a church close by. It turned out to be an all black church. Our kids were little at the time and we really didn't want to be rude or be a bad example to our kids so we stayed for the service. There were some people that welcomed us. However, the older people there were not too happy that we were there. It's sad that people look at the color of someone's skin like that. It shouldn't matter. Thanks for your writing, katy
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Thanks for sharing cannot agree with you more.
