Fellow Koss-i-topians may have noticed all the crazy stuff happening around healthcare reform. I, for one, am one who desires the single-payer option. It's simple. It's easy. It's the human thing to do. I am getting a number of my middle school students together at an upcoming event held by my Rep. to counter protest the thugg-a-dugg-duggery taking place at these Town Halls. I asked my learners to provide some ideas. This is the one that won out:
More below the fold...
Naturally, what troubles me most is the violent acts taking place around the country (yelling hateful things is violent, in my opinion) over a simple Christian principle: love thy neighbor. You see, I was in one of those meetings (at a local VFW!)with NM Senator Tom Udall. People were acting certifiably crazy. They were hateful and not at all concerned with having a real discussion on the tremendously difficult issues facing our WORLD, much less our nation.
So...I stood up and with my more-than-ample teacher voice, articulated that this group of folks were more unruly than my mid-schoolers. (Note, I have had more civil disagreements with my students than I have with the majority of teachers I've engaged.) I was told, ahem, "F&*k you, we don't even believe what you believe."
This, I found odd, for I had not spoken as to my party affiliation and was wearing a nice shirt and tie. But, I must admit, he was right. I doubt he believes in the spiritually restorative power of Spinal Tap's music as intensely as I do. Nonetheless...
When I shared this story with my class, they wanted to engage the next meeting available. So we planned which meeting to attend. We selected one and the kiddos then started brainstorming on what to do once we arrived. Needless to say, the ideas ranged from the violent to the silent and many possibilities in-between. This was the one we selected:
Rather than yell back when people start shouting or being rude, we will engage in acts of...well...fun. I have purchased party favors: hats, whistles, slide whistles, horns, noise makers, and so on. The idea is this:
The only way to make people who are acting crazy realize they are acting insane, is to be even crazier than they are! I don't like violence but I do like protest- when it is civil. My class decided that if people are going to be disagreeable, we should help them feel agreeable by throwing a party every time their anger overwhelms their reason.
And they say our youth is disengaged. They're just busy throwing a party with a purpose.
I don't know if it will work, but I have to say that this kind of Counter-Protest is something I never would have thought of. Ironic that these hippocrats from the "Republican Party" want a Tea Party. Perhaps I should bring cake too! I wonder...will a birthday hat fit a pin-head?