This past Friday four adults(I'm in that group!), and ten students went to an anti-prejudice consortium. I think it was more geared to the children, but you know how that story ends, I learned the most.
This gentleman, Dr. Leon Bass, spoke from experience about the evils of prejudice. He served in WWII, at the age of 19, yet could not eat in any restaurant, and sat , of course, in the back of the bus. He fought for our freedom and we denied him his. He witnessed the Holocaust, walked through the camps and it changed his life. He lost his anger. He had seen the devil's work, and that had trumped what he had been exposed too, in his young man life, in the states. He became a gentle-man, full of a desire to change things. It was my privilege to listen to him and shake his aged hand. Did I forget to tell you he was a black man? An angry young black man changed by horror abroad and at home, I think he may have been anointed!!!! and that wasn't what impressed me the most.
We adult educators, of all levels, went into our own group therapy. Some of the games we played, I had played before, so I did not learn a lot of new STUFF. What I did learn was, that in this group of 45 or so people, there were so many interesting stories. These people had tales to tell. They were young and older, educated and worn by life. They had talents, and had seen people and places from all walks of life. One lady even went to school with Luke Skywalker!!!! from STAR WARS!! One girl seated on my right was training for a marathon, the lady on my left was taking care of her sick mother. There were opera singers, and people who worked in Africa, and grandmothers going for their PHD's in education. These are all people who teach in some fashion children. How awesome a thought is that? I was beside myself with awe about the human race. There is hope, we are trying to make a difference, there is Power in one.
I asked the kids if they had a good time, and learned a lot about being good leaders, blah, blah, blah. They mentioned the food, and asked if they could listen to Ipods on the ride home. God I love middle school kids. One day, when they all become famous humanitarians, they will remember that beautiful fall day in Atlanta, and Dr. Leon Bass.
This gentleman, Dr. Leon Bass, spoke from experience about the evils of prejudice. He served in WWII, at the age of 19, yet could not eat in any restaurant, and sat , of course, in the back of the bus. He fought for our freedom and we denied him his. He witnessed the Holocaust, walked through the camps and it changed his life. He lost his anger. He had seen the devil's work, and that had trumped what he had been exposed too, in his young man life, in the states. He became a gentle-man, full of a desire to change things. It was my privilege to listen to him and shake his aged hand. Did I forget to tell you he was a black man? An angry young black man changed by horror abroad and at home, I think he may have been anointed!!!! and that wasn't what impressed me the most.
We adult educators, of all levels, went into our own group therapy. Some of the games we played, I had played before, so I did not learn a lot of new STUFF. What I did learn was, that in this group of 45 or so people, there were so many interesting stories. These people had tales to tell. They were young and older, educated and worn by life. They had talents, and had seen people and places from all walks of life. One lady even went to school with Luke Skywalker!!!! from STAR WARS!! One girl seated on my right was training for a marathon, the lady on my left was taking care of her sick mother. There were opera singers, and people who worked in Africa, and grandmothers going for their PHD's in education. These are all people who teach in some fashion children. How awesome a thought is that? I was beside myself with awe about the human race. There is hope, we are trying to make a difference, there is Power in one.
I asked the kids if they had a good time, and learned a lot about being good leaders, blah, blah, blah. They mentioned the food, and asked if they could listen to Ipods on the ride home. God I love middle school kids. One day, when they all become famous humanitarians, they will remember that beautiful fall day in Atlanta, and Dr. Leon Bass.
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