Why do the Americans still have friends?
Real American Heroes...
This is the title of the chapter that I started teaching to my class today in Social Studies. The chapter is telling the story of different people who have had a positive impact on American society.
The chapter was full of stories about people who fought against unfair treatment in America.
1. Rosa Parks- fought against unfair treatment towards African Americans.
2. Caesar Chavez- fought against unfair treatment towards Mexican Americans.
3. Chief Plenty Coups - decided to not fight with the white man who was taking over their land. They looked for peaceful means to settle their disputes...
etc, etc, etc...
After reading these stories one of my students raised his hand to ask a question. I call on him..
"Miss Nora, why do so many people want to go to America if they are mean to everybody? They are mean to the Mexican Americans, they are mean to the African Americans, they were mean to the Native Americans, and now they are mean to the Arabs.... Why do the Americans still have friends if they are bullies?"
What do I say to answer that question.
What can I say that would not be complete and utter bullshit?
How can I convince him now that this world is still a good place.....
This student is 8 years old... and he left me speechless!
posted by Nora @ 11:13 PM
5 Comments:
haha, ooooooooh that is a good one!
I guess one thing you can tell this boy is that all those three people were also Americans, and that there's plenty of people that agree with them and their ideas.
Or bring Kait and some other americans in for a game day?
Well, my students already know that I am American. I do not think they need to see a couple nice Americans. I think the boy meant it more from a political point of view.
They know that these people are Americans. They just noticed that Americans are mean to a lot of people.
Mis-representation is the only word that comes to mind here. Half the American population don't like their governments and think that the war against this and that is cruel and pointless and a waste of money when they already have long lines of unemployment and distress inside their own country..
the other half thinks that Egypt is in Asia, that Afghanistan is just another Stan country somewhere that probably has oil stashed somewhere under their feet.
I think that the truth is.. many non-Americans still love America the same reason why some people still pay for a prostitute. She's usually attractive enough and gets the job of satisfaction done... and the next morning, those people wake up with HIV.
I, personally, have nothing against the American people, but I do resent every bit of gov't that they have.
i swear ur students are the most interest group of kids i've ever hear about...very insightful
I oompletely agree...
They are so smart, cute, adorable, and all those other nice things...
They are short "adults".. Sometimes I forget how young they are because they say such adult things...
Damn, I love those kids....
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