A woman named Jillian Curtis from Winona, Minnesota sent me an interesting email one day, asking me to take part in a lesson she is devising for her school-age sons. She wants to educate them about the history of the Holocaust, and how it is through hate and fear that something so horrific could occur in our world.
Her family watched the movie “Paperclips,” about a school that collected six million paper clips to try to represent the sheer magnitude of the Holocaust and its victims. She wondered how she could involve her sons in a similar effort, and developed the idea of asking people to contribute stars to represent those millions of lives lost.
I am taking part in her family’s efforts, and am sending off some stars. If anyone is interested in participating, please jot her an email at:
jillianmcurtis@yahoo.com
Her project brings to mind the South Pacific song by Rogers and Hammerstein that sadly is still pertinent today:
You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!
8 comments:
Such an interesting thought provoking post as ever Sue.
And lovely watercolors as always.
I know that song so well, yet I have to ask is it nurture or nature?
Neuro-linguistic training says: Like likes like.
If you sit across from someone and mirror their gestures, body language, even breathing, they will like you for it.
Yes people tend to isolate themselves from others.
Why else is there a China Town or a German town (used to be in New York) etc.
Who decides these things.
Some get along and then everything changes and they can't get along, like in Bosnia...like so many places.
A very complex issue and I'm glad you brought it up! :)
Interesting observation, Carol. Like most other things, it's probably a bit of each. I do think people tend to gather with others like themselves, but I think nurture has a lot to do with creating the intensity of feeling that could lead to such cruelty.
But think "Lord of the Flies" and "Heart of Darkness," too, and man is sometimes definitely capable of doing disastrous things to his fellow man.
You both have good points to think about. It is true that like likes like but people can and do teach the young ones not to trust.
Sometimes we dont even realize it.
Good post Sue.
Lynn of 'getting my feet wet', would love this. She does a lot on the Holocaust.She is on vacation now but I bet she would do stars for them. Check out her quilt blog and and see her WWll quilt..with the stars... she is working on for a show and leave her the message.
Your stars are beautiful. And what a good and worthwhile project. That movie was powerful, to say the least. I loved the principal.
Cris, thanks for telling me about Lynn--you've given me links to great blogs. I appreciate it.
Jane, thanks. I have not seen the movie myself.
I really like your water color stars, I am not a painter, but would love to try it some day. I too sent Jillian a star, she and her sons have collected over 700 stars!! I feel privileged to have participated, glad you did too!
That is a beautiful song from South Pacific. And how very appropriate for this post. Very thought provoking. Thanks for the link!
Lovely stars, and for a worthy cause. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
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