Return-Path: <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f8EI8Tf11704; Fri, 14 Sep 2001 14:08:29 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 14:08:29 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <01C13D1E.503A5D40.eness@leh.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Dana Eness <eness@leh.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:591] RE: response to Tuesday's attacks X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 Status: O Content-Length: 2836 Lines: 62 Eileen, Eileen, I always appreciated your contributions to this list; thoughtful, analytical, wise, and often provocative. I have subscribed to this list since its inception, listening attentively but never posting myself, but feel the need to make the following comment today. I work with a reading and discussion program for low-income families of emerging readers. The model is designed to promote discussion and dialogue within families. The subtle message behind everything we do is "We can talk it out." We encourage critical thinking skills, creative problem-solving, nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution. I find myself asking why we bother when this nation's role models and ostensibly "high-functioning" leaders can't get the words "revenge," "aggression," "retaliation," "war" out fast enough without even stopping to ask "Why?" I know some 6 year olds that could share some critical thinking and peaceful resolution skills with this country's policy makers. Dana ********************************** Dana Eness, Assistant Director PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Louisiana Humanities Center/Turners' Hall 938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300 New Orleans, LA 70113 http://www.leh.org Tel. 504-523-4352 Ext. 126 1-800-909-7990 Fax 504-529-2358 E-mail: eness@leh.org -----Original Message----- From: Eileen Eckert [SMTP:eileeneckert@hotmail.com] Sent: Friday, September 14, 2001 8:57 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:590] response to Tuesday's attacks The early postings to this list were a mix of earnest discussion, provocation, and occasional proseltyzing--tense, sometimes irritating, but usually generating reflection. I have been disappointed with the devolution of the list into a forum for announcements as critical discussion has disappeared, but I am profoundly disgusted with the jingoistic postings in response to the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and the crash in Pennsylvania. These events, the likely retaliation, and the backlash against Arabs and Muslims (and anyone who appears to be Arab or Muslim), highlight the need to think critically and discuss openly the issues of racism and injustice, poverty and illiteracy, and our roles individually and as a nation in both perpetuating and responding to them locally and globally. If our own response is a simplistic flag-waving, how can we expect critical thinking from our students? If we cannot discuss both the attacks and the reasons we are hated by significant numbers of people around the world, how can we hope for anything but a spiraling escalation of mindless violence in response? _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
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