On 30 Dec 2008 at 19:53, Jim Clark wrote [about the Sneetches] > > I wonder whether children incorporate the clear object lesson of this > Seuss poem, and what its impact on adult attitudes might be in a very > general way. It is not specific to race, ethnicity, gender, whatever, > but clearly communicates the arbitrariness of much discrimination. > > > A number of Seuss's other poems are similarly enlightening, depending > perhaps on your political orientation (e.g., Yertle the Turtle). >
On the other hand, in a previous millenium, when I was reading to my children, I found myself disturbed by racist elements in one of the earliest Seuss efforts, the otherwise delightful "And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street". It was a long time ago (Wikipedia gives the original publication date as 1937, although I read it much later than that), but I remember something about a cartoon "Chinaman" with yellow skin and long pigtails. Fortunately, it looks as though Seuss's sensibilities changed along with society in general as reflected in his later books. But it's still in print. Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
