tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post618821785131104354..comments2022-07-18T06:46:28.554-05:00Comments on Jake Beal's Next Step: Racism, fond memories, and toddler educationJacob Bealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03294188694250217754noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-50264078230060332952021-03-07T05:57:35.863-06:002021-03-07T05:57:35.863-06:00Anonymous poet, I'm sorry that rather than cho...Anonymous poet, I'm sorry that rather than choose to engage further, you've decided to back away into contradicting yourself ("I never asserted no racist depictions." vs. "There is not one jot that I think is racist") and that you aren't willing to share anything about your own experiences.<br /><br />You've put in quite a bit of time and energy into your poetry, which I appreciate. I genuinely wish that I could learn more about your own experiences of growth and changing perspectives (for good or for ill). Whether you choose to share or not, however, is up to you and not to me.Jacob Bealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294188694250217754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-72780209853726976002021-03-06T17:39:19.003-06:002021-03-06T17:39:19.003-06:00I’m sorry sir, but you are mistaken
There is not o...I’m sorry sir, but you are mistaken<br />There is not one jot that I think is racist <br />including people from all different places.<br /><br />My reference was to a different Seuss book<br />That will no doubt offend you if you were to look.<br />But I am not disappointed nor am I offended.<br />People evolve in their thoughts and fences are mended.<br />But by the turn of your phrases it does seems to me<br />You’ll only be satisfied if I agree<br />To the way that you think and the way that you feel<br />I’m sorry but I won’t agree to that deal.<br /><br />And so I am done leaving you to your thoughts<br />I think that you should feel a bit less distraught.<br />Please keep in mind to remember my friend<br />Not how you feel now, but what you felt then.<br />When this book was just whimsy when this book was just fun.<br />When you were a child walking under the sun.<br />The book hasn’t changed what’s changed sir is you<br />Change is the thing that time makes us do.<br /><br />You are not a bad person for loving this book<br />Read it again just give it a look.<br />Seuss changed its language as he knew it was wrong<br />But left in the melody to the Seuss song<br />About a young child and their imagination <br />Not about society’s mental castration.<br /> <br />Seuss taught us to read and taught us to grow<br />To see beyond the things you think that you know.<br />A lesson you might revisit some time<br />When there were just verses and pictures and rhyme<br />That taught us to look beyond one’s appearance<br />And reach for the stars without interference.<br />This is the legacy Seuss leaves behind<br />I hope you’ll remember these lessons sometime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-71878596093245983762021-03-05T15:34:14.342-06:002021-03-05T15:34:14.342-06:00Anonymous poet, I'm glad that it sounds like y...Anonymous poet, I'm glad that it sounds like you at least recognize that there <i>is</i> significant racist content in "To Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street." <br /><br />I'm saddened, however, to read the rest of the response that you have written. What I get from that is that you aren't hearing what I was hoping to communicate, about the complex feelings that can happen when you discover something upsetting about something that you love.<br /><br />Have you ever had an experience like that with a book that you've loved? I'd love to hear something about the choices that you, personally, have made when you are balancing your love for a book with your recognition of its problematic content.<br />Jacob Bealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294188694250217754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-48624629570506135832021-03-05T13:53:48.839-06:002021-03-05T13:53:48.839-06:00I never asserted no racist depictions.
I addresse...I never asserted no racist depictions. <br />I addressed the one that you posted with no citation inscription .<br />Your opinion of Seuss it drips from the page,<br />You were barely able to hold back your rage.<br />You said you were “burned up,” by monstrosities,<br />What should I conclude with phrases like these?<br /><br />You have your opinion it’s well understood,<br />I’m sure you’re convinced that your high horse is good.<br />You’re entitled to it and so sir good day,<br />No doubt you’ll let us know you have more to say.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-75874633547057818482021-03-05T12:56:24.972-06:002021-03-05T12:56:24.972-06:00Anonymous poet, I would not disagree with your ass...Anonymous poet, I would not disagree with your assertion that there some circumstances where even inclusion in the form of racist stereotypes may be preferable to complete invisibility. I would argue that we can do much better, however, and that even at the time many authors <i>were</i> doing much better.<br /><br />You seem to go on to claim without support, however, that:<br />(a) the books do not have racist depictions, and<br />(b) I think that Dr. Seuss stinks.<br />I don't see how either of those claims can actually be defended.<br /><br />Would you care to attempt to do so?Jacob Bealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294188694250217754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-38482191325234580452021-03-05T12:39:41.525-06:002021-03-05T12:39:41.525-06:00I once taught two boys, both were Chinese
When the...I once taught two boys, both were Chinese<br />When they saw this they both said,<br />“We use chopsticks like these.”<br />And for Lunar New Year they wore robes like those<br />Their traditional garb, you’d be shocked I suppose.<br /><br />They weren’t pained by racism you see<br />They just thought there’s man there who looks just like me.<br />That this is racist you think is conclusive<br />But to these young boys they thought it inclusive.<br /><br />Now you can go on and think what you think<br />That Seuss books are racist and the author just stinks.<br />Here’s one more piece of info I think that you need<br />They used these books by Seuss and by three they could read.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-57020878157404435582021-03-02T14:21:38.185-06:002021-03-02T14:21:38.185-06:00Do any of you commenting have any actual argument ...Do any of you commenting have any actual argument that you'd like to make in favor of an alternative viewpoint? <br /><br />If so, I'm happy to consider it and respond. If not, I will kindly show you the door.Jacob Bealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294188694250217754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-23446045858086686102021-03-02T11:13:59.967-06:002021-03-02T11:13:59.967-06:00Geez.. "This leaves me with two dilemmas tha...Geez.. "This leaves me with two dilemmas that I struggle with."<br />If this is what you struggle with... wow, just wow. Putting your political and racist views in place of what a child would get out of Dr. Seuss is pretty sad.<br />How about getting us out of the Middle East? That's a dilemma.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-32385301108643454742021-03-02T11:07:41.527-06:002021-03-02T11:07:41.527-06:00Racist minds see racism in everything. Sometimes ...Racist minds see racism in everything. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.Tired of thishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08448524037036368475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-39242550121700698252021-03-02T11:06:00.242-06:002021-03-02T11:06:00.242-06:00Geez dude, are you just looking for a reason to be...Geez dude, are you just looking for a reason to be angry? This in nothing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35412705.post-22512090003516430332021-03-02T11:02:36.086-06:002021-03-02T11:02:36.086-06:00What a load of total crap.What a load of total crap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com