I'm with you on this one, Jim. I think even giving the Klan the time of day
is a mistake.
Yes, kids need to know there are groups like the Klan out there.
Unfortunately, (in my opinionated opinion), there is a huge lack of morals,
conscience, whatever you want to call it, in this society we think is so
civilized. These children are so far removed from all the racial 'tensions'
of the past that they have no real context. Show them as many videos and
documentaries of past events as you want. Many 13-year-olds are nowhere near
the level of maturity needed to make wise distinctions. And I don't care how
many of you out there think your own little 13-years olds can.
If we think that showing kids the actual sites of Klan members is somehow
'teaching' them, we need to wake up. This takes 'free speech' and
'censorship' to extremes that were never meant to be breeched. If the
teachers are showing the kids the sites and saying "Look what these people
believe - don't you believe it now" who is to say the little kiddies are
going to behave themselves and not start thinking 'what fun!' instead? The
kids have to know that such behaviour is unacceptable. To let them 'make up
their own minds' in this matter is dangerous. Kids only learn acceptable
behaviour if they are taught. As the saying goes where I come from 'Monkey
see, monkey do'.
Do I think Klan sites should never see the light of day in any situation?
DAMN RIGHT! (Censor this!) By allowing such material to persist under the
guise of some misplaced notion that censorship is bad, we allow hate to
persist. But oh, no, we can't censor hate, can we? It is a natural
expression! We can't let those poor Klan people not have a place to express
themselves, right? That wouldn't be fair to them! Gimmie a break!
Peace,
lonely painter
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