> Greetings to Brin-L'ers.
> I have been lurking on this mailing list
> for several months reading the
> posts and discussing the ideas with my husband
> (a list member for many years, albeit
> one who hasn't posted in a while).
> Jo Anne Bird suggested that I could (and should)
> introduce myself to the
> list and reply to posts if I wish.
> I am a recently retired secondary school
> teracher from Australia who has been
> touring the US since February. It has
> been fun to immerse myself into US culture,
> so strangely familiar and yet different from
> Aussie culture.
> In reply to the list discussion Re: Racial
> and Gender bigotry: I would like to suggest
> that although education (in schools) is an
> important step in the solution to the problem,
> it is only part of the solution and should
> not be seen as the only approach to be taken.
> Cultural attitudes within the 'oppressed'
> culture, whether these are within familes
> or within larger communities, are often so
> ingrained as to the limits of achievement
> possible, that a child attempting to defy
> defy these limits is so ostracised that
> they tend to give up. The Matilda's of this
> world (Roald Dahl reference) are indeed a rarity.
> Education in its broadest sense is needed within
> and without communities and the problem still
> takes several generations to break down stereotypes.
> In a way US television could have a
> much larger role in changing stereotypes in this
> way. Alas, I have not seen any programs that do
> this in my channel surfing (admittedly limited)
> this year.
> Regards,
> Maree Ludenia
Welcome to the list and to America, Maree! I have travelled extensively in AUS
and New Zed and would be curious to hear how different racial and gender bias
is in America, compared to down under, and how it is dealt with in your
educational system, and in families?
American television is being exported all over the world, but not Fox News
Network, yet... (although Rupert Murdouch is now an American citizen, I
believe.~) We do have many television programs that do promote tolerance and
sensitivity, many of which are spinoffs from European programs.
If you pass by Santa Monica, CA in your travels please contact me.
Jon Mann
(310) 664-3712
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