It seems to me, Ismail, that you answered your own question when you described how privileged your students were. Being so privileged, they have no need to understand the intricacies of the outside world or to have a decent grasp of history. After all what good would that do them? If they should ever have need for that sort of information, they can presumably hire people who do know those sort of things to provide it. Our very own commander-in-chief is a perfect example of this phenomenon.
-- Ismail Lagardien <ilagardien at yahoo.com> wrote:
. . .
The problem I had with my students was, in part, based on the chip I have on my shoulder, and in part real fascination with their naivete. I should explain. The students were all in their Third Year at university. They were all white and most of them were very privileged kids from the most powerful country in the world with what is often considered to be the best education system in the world - at least at university level.
All but one could discuss McCarthyism One knew about the word Sandinista (from listening to The Clash) One had never heard of Mao; the same one (a month ago, a year after taking my class,) did not know who Karl Rove was or who Scooter Libby was. I should say that others knew about Abramhoff a 26-year old told me that she hated socialism because she didn't want to give her money to the poor. not a single one knew who matthew shepard was!!!!
I could go on and on and on...
Now for the chip-on-the-shoulder part.
Some of us from the Third World could (and did 25 years ago), discuss Kent State, the Watts Riots, Paris 1968, the Bolshevik Revolution, 1905, Krystalnacht, even the Tonton Macoutes... things that were so far off our radar in the "coloured" townships that .... we had our own shit to deal with
Really, I can't see ANY excuse for these damn students not to know who the hell Karl Rove is, or ANYTHING about the IRAN/Contra issue....
Oy Vey!!! Sorry about the rant.
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