As she stands in front of the class, her eyes scan the room. Soft giggles begin to fill the silence and she notices a few students covering up their smiles. The laughter suddenly becomes more prevalent and she sees that shy smirks have taken over many of the children's faces. A young boy in the front row opens the note that has made its way around the room leaving several of his classmates with the giggles. As he unfolds the sides back, the image is slowly revealed. The smile that before covered his face immediately disappears as his eyes well up with anger and embarrassment. She rips the paper from his hands and sees the image drawn across it. Her mind is immeadiately brought to a similar stereotypical drawing she once saw of a Jewish man with a rat like nose. Her heart seethes with fury, as she is well aware of the "war" that is taking place. But where does she even begin? They don’t understand; they don’t know why? It is at this moment that she realizes the importance of her role as a teacher. For it is not just to teach about subjects in the classroom, it is to educate others about tolerance and acceptance; about similarities and differences; about the past and about the present. Teachers are more than just advocates in a classroom, teachers are all of us. We all have the ability and responsibility to educate one another on such subjects. By collaborating through similarities and coming together as one, instead of seperating ourselves as individuals by differences, we can begin to free ourselves from the sufferings of hatred and hostility and walk together in harmony and peace.
Watch this clip to better understand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0PRB4YsXn4
LEARN TO LOVE, NOT TEACH TO HATE
The sky is dark, the clouds release their tears.
Students are terrified and start running from their peers.
The air is filled with hate, animosity and fear.
Who do we turn to? Where do we go from here?
When did we start teaching to hate one another?
What happened to my neighbor, my friend, my sister and
brother?
Lives shot short and more hatred fills.
This is what happens when people decide to kill.
LEARN TO LOVE, NOT TEACH TO HATE
How do we teach our children to forgive but not forget
Solve their problems without violence, and later regret?
Anger, aggression, violence and hate,
Is seen too often and in many is great.
Man bumps into man and that begins a brawl.
One pushes the other, and they both begin to call:
"Watch where you're goin'. Next time look to your right?"
"What did you say to me bro? You wanna fight?"
One of them pulls out a gun, shots ring out, the echo fills the air
One man now lies face down upon the street the other stands scared.
Darrent Williams, a former Denver Bronco player, was shot and killed in an act of violence and anger.
Virginia Tech now compared to Columbine.
Columbine, Columbine, a dear friend of mine.
LEARN TO LOVE NOT TEACH TO HATE
Where did we learn to be so mean?
Did we not learn from the great Dr. Martin Luther King?
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Let's end this together. Let's remind one another that
solving our problems with violence
and hatred has never been cool.
We should love each other no matter the color of our skin.
Love one another not for what you see on the outside but for what can be found within.
May we be guided from angels up above.
Let them teach us a thing or two about what it means to
love.
"If your enemy is hungry feed him
If he is thirsty give him something to drink"
(Romans 12:20)
Before you turn to hatred, stop for a second and think.
Turn your rival into a friend
Say you're sorry and show them love;
And if something should happen
May you leave this world knowing that you'll have no enemies up above. -- Andrea Bucci written April 2007
"How our children live tomorrow depends on what we
teach them today." -- unknown
"In acceptance there is peace" -- unknown
"...be the kind of people that have enough passion to change the world. If we let ourselves be fire, thunder, or lightening, we could alter everything." -- Freedom Writers Diary Diary entry 43
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