Re: Teddy Bear Trouble in Sudan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skinwalker
No I don't think so. The secretary was the one who made the complaint about naming the teddy bear Mohammed to the Ministry of Education and she testified for the prosecution. I think the political scapegoat was Mrs Gibbons.
|
What Jams is trying to say is that no one forced them to be morons about this. The secretary was a moron herself, but the officials and other people who reacted to this "story" chose to react the way they did, rather than dismiss it for the inane waste of time that it is. In the process they managed to mistreat and drive out of the country a woman who was offering her time to help teach their children.
The heck of it all is that I am quite certain this "controversy" revolves not around the naming of the bear but around the fact that this woman is a Westerner. All of the people who are in fits of apoplexy over this incident and claiming that the woman was "culturally ignorant" are themselves ignoring the plain fact that the bear was named not by her but by a SUDANESE child. However, it is inconvenient to recognize that fact because it strips people of an excuse to rail against the West.
__________________
"Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness,
But it's better than drinking alone."
-- B.J.
Leaves from the vine, falling so slow.
Like fragile, tiny shells,
Drifting in the foam.
Little soldier boy, come marching home.
Brave soldier boy, comes marching home.
-- Iroh
|
