<<You tend to rant and try to create a sense of shame against America. That's what I constantly read here, Mtee.>>
Well, I'm sorry about the ranting, I try to keep it logical and concise, but you're right, it often does degenerate into "ranting" and I gotta watch that.
I believe that America has done and is still doing some very shameful acts, but what bugs me most of all is not the shameful acts themselves but the total lack of shame on the part of many contributors to this group. Of course, most Americans - - and certainly the ones I know or have met personally - - are in fact deeply ashamed of the actions of their country, but in this group, I guess what is the most appalling thing to confront is the bare-faced shamelessness of so many, mostly with deep connections to the South, and my efforts described by you as "trying to create a sense of shame against America" are, from my own POV, just a challenge to their shamelessness. It's a hard thing NOT to confront, IMHO.
BTW, I'd like to thank you for answering the questions I put to you so thoughtfully and honestly. It's too bad we don't agree, but at least I have a good window into your way of thinking, and I thank you for it.
PS - Regarding your not discussing these issues with your students - - I went to what was generally regarded as the best public high school in the City of Toronto and its suburbs at the time, including its junior high school, where many of our teachers were well-educated veterans of the Second World War, almost all with Master's Degrees in the subjects they taught. These were men (and one woman) who really understood what they had been fighting for, and I still remember a talk that our Grade 8 history teacher gave us on academic freedom and something that our Grade 10 to 13 French teacher said about the brotherhood of man. I credit those teachers (and my dad) with the instillation of unshakeable liberal values in me (all of them, BTW, firmly opposed to communism in principle, but equally opposed to knee-jerk anti-communism of the McCarthy type) and I'm always grateful to them for instilling such values in me and my class-mates but also for allowing and encouraging us to question and challenge them so freely. I don't see the harm in a teacher allowing her students to know where she stands on an issue if the issue comes up in the normal course of a curriculum-related subject. (Although I can see how your "Nazis are heroes too" POV could land you in a lot of hot water up this way.)
Well, where do I begin.
First of all, you are a good egg on here in terms of being a gentleman to me. This is clear. I thank you for that, Michael. You have the right to your opinion, albeit, as BSB inquired....what the heck did you mean BY THAT statement; ONe of us is wrong?? LOL
That statement did not pass me by. I meant to address that too, but frankly it was so blantantly "typcial of your broad stroke thought process" with all due respect.
I didn't pay it much mind...as they say in the south. (my mama is southern)...
anyway.....
Michael Tee: The accusations you make here sometimes are no different from those "crimes and misdemeanors" that you accuse the US of A of committing. Ex:
"I believe that America has done and is still doing some very shameful acts," but what bugs me most of all is not the shameful acts themselves but the total lack of shame on the part of many contributors to this group".......
Or really? Shameful acts? That's like saying that those idiots who flew into the twin towers represented everyone is Iraq/Afghanistan! That's like saying that one of my students who has an issue with bullying---somehow that represents all of my students! No way.
You tend to broad stroke, dear MTee...you do. My god, man.....we can't even begin to compare Hitler to Bush..as much as you seem to want to do with the way you rant.
You set up that sort of comparison and the scenario for me in your last post by bringing up the issue of Hitler....I wasn't expecting THAT...but you jump to such an extreme comparison...my gosh....,dude. you really do.
I would never compare the military in this United State to any group such as Hitler's army. But my darn you brought it up and I am going to address it. So you don't think that the German mother who sent her boy off to war didn't think of him as a hero??
Come on!
Of course, most Americans - - and certainly the ones I know or have met personally - - are in fact deeply ashamed of the actions of their country,
OH REALLY? MOST??? That's laughable, Michael. Again, you jump! Leaping through the air with the greatest of the old rubber necking ease.
That's not an accurate portrayal of anyone, especially AMERICANS. You need to create a poll...give a few of us a call, and see how the slices comes out. Face it, dear.....face it ... you do want MOST of us to be on the side of your passion....
Ok, of course we all want support. But, to broad stroke the way you do....come on.
I guess what is the most appalling thing to confront is the bare-faced shamelessness of so many, mostly with deep connections to the South, and my efforts described by you as "trying to create a sense of shame against America" are, from my own POV, just a challenge to their shamelessness. It's a hard thing NOT to confront, IMHO.
THE SOUTH ...huh? Hmmm, I am a southwesterner...does that count in your bias poll?
South of France, South of Korea.....South Vietnam...now what the hell do you mean?
You are not happy with us, this I can tell. You make accusations against a broad base of folks in the country and on this board. That does not bode well for your point,however, MTee....honestly.. imho. Make your stance, as Brass does or Xavier...and stop the borderline steaming mad vent towards a nation!!..a NATION.. of folks. If you want to get your point across, keep it simple and on the ground floor level. OFten times, I wonder what is your point. . . But I always come back to a sort of
disdain for America.
I also do not agree that we should revisit the time of the early 50's overkill fear of commies....OF course not.
But, when you told Brass the other day that he should celebrate the new world to come.....ahh, he should perk up..why? Because you believe that our nation is going to end up completely socialist. You want that. Ok, I am not quick to accept that. I try to listen to the fathers of the past. I give them the benefit of the doubt. I believe radical beliefs in any form are dangerous....as is the right wing religious nuts of this country.
as for my job.....A BIG NO WAY.
I teach 8 year olds.
we'll talk about that issue another day.
Thanks,
Cindy
