Comments on: Schools Using History as a Vehicle for Promoting Political Correctness http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/ Author, Designer, Problogger Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:05:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: deborah.woehr http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12844 deborah.woehr Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:56:28 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12844 I hope it opens a few eyes, too, Michael. We really need to take a stand on this political correctness crap. I thought it was exclusive to the United States for a long time. Now, I see it sprouting to other countries. Fred, we're letting this group erode our rights and our way of life while the people we are trying not to offend run slipshod over us. That's cool about China. ;) I hope it opens a few eyes, too, Michael. We really need to take a stand on this political correctness crap. I thought it was exclusive to the United States for a long time. Now, I see it sprouting to other countries.

Fred, we’re letting this group erode our rights and our way of life while the people we are trying not to offend run slipshod over us. That’s cool about China. ;)

]]> By: fred charles http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12843 fred charles Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:16:51 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12843 We live in very interesting and scary times. Everyone is so afraid of being offensive. Censoring history is just downright wrong. Who knows what will be censored next. On the plus side, I recently found out that my blog is not being censored in China...which is pretty sweet :) We live in very interesting and scary times. Everyone is so afraid of being offensive. Censoring history is just downright wrong. Who knows what will be censored next.

On the plus side, I recently found out that my blog is not being censored in China…which is pretty sweet :)

]]> By: michaelm http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12842 michaelm Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:44:27 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12842 I'm gobsmacked. This is absolutely ridiculous. Think about how far reaching this could be. The party/person responsible for bringing this to light has done a great disservice to the learning children and the world. I'm stunned and saddened by this. How does it end? And when? Thanks for posting this, Deb. Let's hope it opens a few eyes. ~m I’m gobsmacked.
This is absolutely ridiculous.
Think about how far reaching this could be.
The party/person responsible for bringing this to light has done a great disservice to the learning children and the world.
I’m stunned and saddened by this.
How does it end? And when?
Thanks for posting this, Deb. Let’s hope it opens a few eyes.

~m

]]> By: deborah.woehr http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12841 deborah.woehr Thu, 12 Apr 2007 05:00:08 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12841 Marti: Yes, children should learn the facts about history and from multiple viewpoints. Because the history books are often written by the heroes, I agree. Steve: My mother-in-law's father had a great saying about education: Education teaches you how to think, not what to think. Sadly, too many people sacrifice their minds to win the popularity contest. Marti: Yes, children should learn the facts about history and from multiple viewpoints. Because the history books are often written by the heroes, I agree.

Steve: My mother-in-law’s father had a great saying about education: Education teaches you how to think, not what to think. Sadly, too many people sacrifice their minds to win the popularity contest.

]]> By: Steve http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12840 Steve Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:49:38 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12840 As human beings we have the ability, to a certain extent, to change the future: the decisions we make today, and the actions we take today will, inevitably affect the future. So if we censor history today will not future generation grow up ignorant of the mistakes of their predecessors? And then, through that ignorance could they not be condemned to repeat those same mistakes? Mistakes that are forgotten or buried in a hidden history are not something that anyone will ever be able to learn from. What we cannot do is change history – what has happened, has happened. Unfortunately, we can forget the lessons of history (Hitler etc) if we so choose. Sad really, because it sounds like that is where this kind of mind-set could lead. Do we have to wallow in ignorance to be politically correct? God, I hope not. When I was at school, in RE they taught us that God created the world in seven days. Then off we went and toddled down to Physics, where they taught us The Big Bang Theory, which expounded that an explosion created the world. We learnt two opposing theories and, being aware of them, had the privilege of being able to make up our own minds. My point is this: can a child not learn one thing in the mosque and another at school and then make up his or her, own mind about how he/she feels about it? As human beings we have the ability, to a certain extent, to change the future: the decisions we make today, and the actions we take today will, inevitably affect the future. So if we censor history today will not future generation grow up ignorant of the mistakes of their predecessors? And then, through that ignorance could they not be condemned to repeat those same mistakes? Mistakes that are forgotten or buried in a hidden history are not something that anyone will ever be able to learn from.

What we cannot do is change history – what has happened, has happened. Unfortunately, we can forget the lessons of history (Hitler etc) if we so choose. Sad really, because it sounds like that is where this kind of mind-set could lead. Do we have to wallow in ignorance to be politically correct? God, I hope not.

When I was at school, in RE they taught us that God created the world in seven days. Then off we went and toddled down to Physics, where they taught us The Big Bang Theory, which expounded that an explosion created the world. We learnt two opposing theories and, being aware of them, had the privilege of being able to make up our own minds. My point is this: can a child not learn one thing in the mosque and another at school and then make up his or her, own mind about how he/she feels about it?

]]> By: Marti http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12839 Marti Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:31:13 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12839 That is horrible. Students should learn facts. I realize that history is usually written by the victors, but there is still factual information that simply exists - events that happened and are clearly documented. It is a disservice to a child to withhold this information from their education. (Stepping down from soapbox now - lol) That is horrible. Students should learn facts. I realize that history is usually written by the victors, but there is still factual information that simply exists - events that happened and are clearly documented. It is a disservice to a child to withhold this information from their education.
(Stepping down from soapbox now - lol)

]]> By: deborah.woehr http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12835 deborah.woehr Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:42:23 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12835 Don't be sorry. I asked for your opinion. ;) You hit the nail on the head. These politicians and the media are doing a great job of spreading hatred and misery. It's all about power and greed. Unfortunately, we are stuck in the middle. Don’t be sorry. I asked for your opinion. ;) You hit the nail on the head. These politicians and the media are doing a great job of spreading hatred and misery. It’s all about power and greed. Unfortunately, we are stuck in the middle.

]]> By: Benjamin Solah http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12833 Benjamin Solah Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:10:28 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2007/04/09/schools-using-history-as-a-vehicle-for-promoting-political-correctness/#comment-12833 I have a Muslim friend who is really offended when stories like this comes up. Within it, it's promoting a racism of Muslims as uncaring monsters. My Muslim friend is totally horrified by the Holocaust and in no way tries to deny it. I think it comes from this assumption that a lot of Muslims are horrified by what's going on in Palestine and disgusted by Israel's actions, and the media love the confuse this with anti-Semitism despite the fact that many Jews are against the state of Israel. In my opinion, all this political correctness has nothing to do with trying not to offend other cultures considering how racist politicians in the US and Australia can be. I think it has something to do with trying to divide society and breed more racism as if these people are destroying our 'way of life,' when really, these people have a lot in common with us. (Sorry for the long comment; just my thoughts) I have a Muslim friend who is really offended when stories like this comes up. Within it, it’s promoting a racism of Muslims as uncaring monsters. My Muslim friend is totally horrified by the Holocaust and in no way tries to deny it.

I think it comes from this assumption that a lot of Muslims are horrified by what’s going on in Palestine and disgusted by Israel’s actions, and the media love the confuse this with anti-Semitism despite the fact that many Jews are against the state of Israel.

In my opinion, all this political correctness has nothing to do with trying not to offend other cultures considering how racist politicians in the US and Australia can be. I think it has something to do with trying to divide society and breed more racism as if these people are destroying our ‘way of life,’ when really, these people have a lot in common with us.

(Sorry for the long comment; just my thoughts)

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