tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post7695610146402257016..comments2024-03-29T03:43:45.977-04:00Comments on Of Battered Aspect: NazziesDave Hingsburgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918601687946534172noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-1631579112571965382011-08-31T09:32:23.580-04:002011-08-31T09:32:23.580-04:00Dear Dave:
Four is way to young to know all about...Dear Dave:<br /><br />Four is way to young to know all about the nasties - you are right. We forget how young she is because she is such an "old soul".<br /><br />ColleenColleennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-86103245397160379942011-08-30T11:57:43.944-04:002011-08-30T11:57:43.944-04:00I agree with all of you that Ruby, and all kids, n...I agree with all of you that Ruby, and all kids, need to learn these things and that its important for her to have a 'real world' understanding of cruelty. But, like I said, she's still four. Many children in the world, by four, know cruelty as a constant companion, I grieve for them. Ruby will know, because she will demand to know, the truth. I believe I told her the truth - but over time, the truth will be drawn out in stark detail. But right now, she's four.Dave Hingsburgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918601687946534172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-35688394274790150402011-08-30T07:54:38.746-04:002011-08-30T07:54:38.746-04:00Ouch. It's always hard to find the right expl...Ouch. It's always hard to find the right explanation - but I think yours was the right one.<br /><br />I'm uncomfortable, though, about ducking something which (if my memory of the book is any basis for judging the film) is a delight for a child, on the basis that it refers to darker things. She will, eventually, have to know about the extraordinarily nasties of this world, and that's a sad thing - in a way I hadn't quite realised until you said it. My nephew still imagines that the police are concerned with grown-ups committing childish infraction; the more serious ones aren't yet on his radar, and that's a good thing.<br /><br />Both he and Ruby already know that there are nasties, however. (Children generally do, and it's quite clear from your posts that she, specifically, is observing the points at which people fail to be kind, or thoughtful; the points where they 'other' people or deny them respect.) Your answer made sense to her because she already understands - I hope, not yet too personally - that some people are nasty.<br /><br />That's as much explanation as she needs, now; and it seems to me that, gradually, little bits of extra explanation (never an ounce more than needed), over the years when her own world is still safe-enough, will prepare her (a bit) for the day when she discovers the real horror of the world. I'm less sure that hiding all references will.<br /><br />I might be wrong.<br /><br />Ruby, however, isn't so very far off with "their mums should hug them more".Baba Yaganoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-18576052373123097072011-08-29T20:14:39.833-04:002011-08-29T20:14:39.833-04:00Wow, that's what the movie's about? I reme...Wow, that's what the movie's about? I remember watching it as a young kid, and not having the slightest idea what it was about. I knew there was a magic bed, and sometimes cartoons. And I was upset that my bed didn't have any bedknobs, so it couldn't be magic.... I have no memory of the nasties, and I didn't figure out the nasties in Sound of Music until much later either.Kristinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06868874343026873104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-11502157131125008532011-08-29T11:49:07.526-04:002011-08-29T11:49:07.526-04:00Dear Dave:
Yes the nasties have been and are stil...Dear Dave:<br /><br />Yes the nasties have been and are still here. And some day Ruby will have to learn that history because if she doesn't she won't recognize the nasties and their work when she sees them. My immediate thought on reading your post Dave was that you can introduce her to Victor Frankl at the same time - to give her hope.<br /><br />It is a daunting thought that a child has to learn that there is evil in the world. But better that than to have her naieve and vulnerable.<br /><br />Heather - people value individual choice over the value of all human life - and the myth out there is that Down Syndrome is a terrible thing. When my daughter was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome the doctor told us it was "even worse than Down Syndrome" - which didn't have the expected impact because I had a beloved brother with Down Syndrome so it was like telling me it is worse than blue eyes.<br /><br />There are people in this world who I love and who also happen to have Down Syndrome. Quite frankly the world would be a much poorer place without them. What will be the next "imperfection" that we eliminate? and where does it go from there?<br /><br />ColleenColleennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-678003289190827022011-08-29T07:14:02.158-04:002011-08-29T07:14:02.158-04:00What the heck? I'm sorry my comment was poste...What the heck? I'm sorry my comment was posted twice and I do know your name is Dave!! I have no explanation for Kathie except to blame the ridiculous word predictor thingee on my iPhone.<br /><br />HHeather Carleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-41562371813148992432011-08-29T07:10:41.120-04:002011-08-29T07:10:41.120-04:00http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion...http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/deselecting-our-children/article2136096/?service=mobile<br /><br />Hi Kathie,<br />I am a long time fan of your work and a parent of a child who has Down syndrome. I wondered if you'd seen this recent article in the Globe and Mail. Just as upsetting as the article was the COMPLETE lack of response I got when I posted it on twitter multiple times (I have a large disability network) and also on facebook. Not one comment or question. I feel quite nearly manic about the need to act in some way about this. I don't want my kids to grow up in a world where any person or group of people is so devalued that the idea of their extermination elicits No Comment. I am pro-choice bit this is something quite different...Hello Hitler. The nasties are alive and well. My kids are experiencing the attitude of devaluing on a daily basis. Kali hears & feels how people talk to her and about Down syndrome'. Her sisters hear it too. I can't shield them from it and so we must talk about it. The nasties have succeeded in making the extermination of Down syndrome socially acceptable. More than that it is now a social responsibility. <br /><br />Is this something that you could or would comment on?<br /><br /><br />Heather CarleyHeather Carleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-10058554290831010132011-08-29T07:10:39.845-04:002011-08-29T07:10:39.845-04:00http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion...http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/deselecting-our-children/article2136096/?service=mobile<br /><br />Hi Kathie,<br />I am a long time fan of your work and a parent of a child who has Down syndrome. I wondered if you'd seen this recent article in the Globe and Mail. Just as upsetting as the article was the COMPLETE lack of response I got when I posted it on twitter multiple times (I have a large disability network) and also on facebook. Not one comment or question. I feel quite nearly manic about the need to act in some way about this. I don't want my kids to grow up in a world where any person or group of people is so devalued that the idea of their extermination elicits No Comment. I am pro-choice bit this is something quite different...Hello Hitler. The nasties are alive and well. My kids are experiencing the attitude of devaluing on a daily basis. Kali hears & feels how people talk to her and about Down syndrome'. Her sisters hear it too. I can't shield them from it and so we must talk about it. The nasties have succeeded in making the extermination of Down syndrome socially acceptable. More than that it is now a social responsibility. <br /><br />Is this something that you could or would comment on?<br /><br /><br />Heather CarleyHeather Carleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-58780240679131181352011-08-29T00:31:36.138-04:002011-08-29T00:31:36.138-04:00I learned very early that people are evil and the ...I learned very early that people are evil and the world is cruel, today I try to believe some people are good and the world is neutral, sometimes I can, most times I can't, it makes me happy to know that some kids dont think like that and have people who love them letting them believe innocent good things for longer, in the future these children will know reality but will have faith and hope too in the goodness of things, those innocent good days make a difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com