Politcal Correctness vs. State History

Genesis1315

Ladies
Caterpillar and I were online tonight looking up the state songs for variuos states. It began with a need to find the Texas state song and went from there (It is not "The stars are night are big and bright, Deep in the heart of Texas). We sang through the Texas state song without any problems, then to the Maryland State song. Growing up, I learned verse three. Little did I know there are like a million verses (okay, only 12). We sang all of them. I did learn that Maryland is a southern state, at least according to Maryland, My Maryland. We then went to the Virginia state song as Caterpillar was born there.

Holy Cow :eek: I know the history of Virginia, but the lyrics were something else. There were words that if said in 2006 would possibly be considered hateful and definately not appropriate for a 6 y/o. Needless to say, we stopped singing it when I saw the lyrics.

So, how would you approach a tender subject as this?:confused:
 
I think you would have to do it very tenderly. :) We have daughters about the same age (gathered from my many talks with sui) and I know that my daughter wouldn't understand half of those lyrics. I know that the subject will be broached with my kids sometime and I would rather it be on terms I could explain rather than leaving it up to someone else. If she really wanted to know the state song of where she was born, I would explain to her that in this country people of other decents were not always treated correctly and that sometime people were acknowledge on the color of their skin. I would also point out that the song in question was writtin by a man of that ethnic background and at the time was acceptable.

I've never used race or color to point out people and try very hard to keep my kids away from that type of talk. (most of my family is from Texas so sometimes it's harder than others unfortunatly) The history of the U.S. isn't all rosey and good-times, and maybe that is a discussion left for when she's a little older. I would wait myself, but I think only you know your daughters maturity and ability to accept stuff like that. :) Does that help or just add to the confusion?

Cory
 
I have started explaining it to her. My problem is more with the lyrics. She picks up music so quickly. I can hear her (in my mind)singing the lyrics while coloring a picture at daycare. Now that would be an interesting conversation to have.

It is amazing though that this one particular song would be allowed, while Under God is not

Gen
 
I don't really want to start a new thread, and I think this fits in (sorta)

If I may pose the following questions (just out of curiousity)... this is mainly to parents, but I am curious too if any of the younger generation do this....


1. Do you make your children stand when the flag passes in a parade
2. Do you make your children stand and observe a moment of silence for fallen heros
3. Do you encourage your children to be quiet while someone is giving a presentation (refering to everyday conversation, not the quick little one word sentences (parent, I think you know what I am refering to))
4. Do you teach your children to respect all adults
5. Daddies- are you teaching your daughters to be treated properly by men (i.e. opening the door for them) are you teaching your sons how to properly treat a woman
6. Mommies - are you showing your daughter what to expect from a man (proper behaviour) are you showing your sons how to treat a lady with respect
7. Have you taught your children the value of our military personell, both past and present


These questions are not meant to be critical, I am really curious to know the answer. When we were celebrating the 4th of July, the group performed an echoing version of taps, with men playing the bugle and trumpet around the permitter of the event after the Colors were presented. We stood (including the little one) through it. We explained it to her briefly in advance, more detail afterwards. She understood the basics of it. There were two teens in front of us who did not initially stand up. Only when they realized they were the only ones sitting did they get up. It really saddened me that they did not recognize the sacrifices that had been made so they could sit there with their portable DVD play and watch a movie instead.

<sigh> What is this world coming to>
 
Teach true history, not partial history, but teach true history when they are capable of properly handling it...

personally, i think people need to desensitize and accept what was as truth, and not fluff it to avoid making people mad.

forgotten history is repeated history

civilizations have risen and fallen, and the characteristics of their fall are similar, and look no further than the bible to prove their falling point.... (pride comes before the fall)

*sodom and gommorah was proud of their great city, proud enough to forget about god
*egypt was proud of superiority little did they think the red sea would swallow them
*Tower of Babble proud of that tower?
*Alexander the Greats Empire... he beleived he was a god
*Roman empire believed that they were the pinnacle of what was to come, the most powerful ever to be..
*napoleons empire was unbeatable...
*Hitler thought he was invincible,
*now we say we are flawless, the gem for the world to view as a perfect example. surely all our past problems are gone right... (ask the textbooks that are taught in school, there is an upbeat note on the progress of american culture) but we are one by one covering our past, not facing and learning from it...

America the proud..

(sorry didnt mean to rant, just in one of those moods :-)
 
My parents taught me!!!

Since I'm not a parent, I'll tell you how my parents taught me....

1. Do you make your children stand when the flag passes in a parade?

My parents always taught me to stand when the flag passes. Ever since I was really young we would go to the opening of the beaches parade, and they would have the flag and colorguard from the local high school. My parents would give me one of those little flags, and when the big flag came by, not only did they teach me to stand but hold my little flag up high. With my grandpa being in the Navy, he would always go all out, even after he was retired he would put his uniform on for such events. I don't know that they 'made' me do it - I think it was kinda like they were doing so I did it, and it kind of grew on me, and now I never think twice about standing or not.

2. Do you make your children stand and observe a moment of silence for fallen heros?

We did this in school growing up, and it wasn't a choice. We always said the pledge and then had a moment of silence. Everybody stood...no questions asked.

3. Do you encourage your children to be quiet while someone is giving a presentation (refering to everyday conversation, not the quick little one word sentences (parent, I think you know what I am refering to))

Oh yeah, my parents were very big on respecting people who are making a presentation. "It is common courtesy" they would say...or else I would hear "mind your manners."

4. Do you teach your children to respect all adults

My parents did teach me to respect all adults. Even adults that I didn't care too much for, I was still taught to respect them.

5. Daddies- are you teaching your daughters to be treated properly by men (i.e. opening the door for them) are you teaching your sons how to properly treat a woman

My dad has changed a lot since I was growing up. I don't remember seeing too much of this growing up, but I've seen him change a lot and become a better man. I'd say he has gotten a lot better with setting that kind of example with my two younger sisters. With the age difference between me and my brother (10 years) the change in my dad had already taken place and he always makes a big deal about teaching my brother to treat the girls with respect. He always says to my brother 'remember what I told you about the girls.'

6. Mommies - are you showing your daughter what to expect from a man (proper behaviour) are you showing your sons how to treat a lady with respect

Proper behavior - yes my mom has always showed us that....however...she always makes excuses for people. Something might be going on but she'll say 'oh he's having a bad day' or 'he's upset' and the issue is always something larger. She does what she can to teach my brother respect, but usually my dad goes overboard showing my brother.

7. Have you taught your children the value of our military personell, both past and present?

They have definately done this. My moms dad was in the Navy. My parents have always instilled us the value of what those men and women do for us.
 
Not that I don't agree with you Gen, but I looked up the state song of Virginia and saw nothing wrong with it. Now it may only be me, but what did you see wrong with it? If I may ask...
 
1. Do you make your children stand when the flag passes in a parade

Yes, when we are at events when the flag is presented, I make our children stand with us. Our 6 year old is just getting to where she understands this sort of thing. Our 3 year old is clueless.

2. Do you make your children stand and observe a moment of silence for fallen heroes?

When it is presented as such yes. It is not something that I can say I see done very much anymore.

3. Do you encourage your children to be quiet while someone is giving a presentation (refering to everyday conversation, not the quick little one word sentences (parent, I think you know what I am refering to))

Yes. Interrupting people or speaking out when someone is talking is rude. Our daughter sits with us for the first service of our church (we go from 9:30 to 12:30 divided into 2 services) and has learned very well to be quiet when someone is speaking. Our son starts this with us in the fall...it should prove to be a battle of wills at the start. :) Hopefully he will learn quickly.

4. Do you teach your children to respect all adults

Yes, I have to say we do. I have a hard time with this myself though.

5. Daddies- are you teaching your daughters to be treated properly by men (i.e. opening the door for them) are you teaching your sons how to properly treat a woman)

Yes! It is very important to instill in young children how the opposite sex should treat each other.

6. Mommies - are you showing your daughter what to expect from a man (proper behaviour) are you showing your sons how to treat a lady with respect?

N/A to me :D

7. Have you taught your children the value of our military personell, both past and present

We do try to do this, along with our law enforcement.

Cory
 
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