Posted on 11/13/2002 6:34:54 AM PST by mhking
Pre-schoolers protest possible war in Iraq
Allegations of exploitation arise
By Steve Sexton
They still believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. They don’t know how to spell their last names or tie their own shoes. But they do know that “war is bad,” and that “Bush is a bully.”
The next generation of Berkeley peaceniks gathered on the steps of City Hall Tuesday to demonstrate their opposition to a pending war in Iraq- after school, of course. Armed with protest signs, microphones, and Harry Potter lunch-boxes, elementary and pre-school children demanded city leaders contact President Bush and halt his hawkish “war for oil.”
Two hundred students from Berkeley schools met local dignitaries, including Mayor Shirley Dean, city council members and a representative for Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Berkeley. Surrounding a ‘peace bell’ fashioned out of melted guns taken off of East Bay streets, children took to the microphone saying, “I don’t want people to die,” and, “we can’t keep killing each other. Then we will all die and suffer.”
Though most students at the rally could not even name Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, many seemed certain the pending U.S. led war in Iraq is about oil.
Celia, age 6, who could not spell her hyphenated last name, told the crowd President Bush “wants to make war because he wants oil.”
“What is so important about cars anyway,” she asked.
Later, when asked if she could name the president of Iraq, Celia, stumped, turned to a friend and asked, “Is it a boy or a girl?” Her friend, equally puzzled, responded, “I think it’s a boy.”
Noah, who declined to give his last name, also age six, asserted the looming war is not only about oil, but also “other things, like Bush wanting land.”
“It is like us squashing ants,” he said.
With city officials looking on, the children sang a song about “peace in the world-that means no fighting.” They held colorful homemade signs calling for peace and no war. One boy had a blue bumper sticker emblazoned on the front of his t-shirt that read: “War in Iraq: NO.” Another held a sign saying, “No War on Children.” With her mother holding a bullhorn, one child shouted a chant for peace across the City Hall plaza, as if taking cue from UC Berkeley students on Sproul Plaza.
The delegation of city leaders addressed the amassed children, telling them “we heard your message.” Berkeley City Councilmember Linda Maio said, “We hear it loud and clear. Bush needs a time-out.”
The elected leaders then signed a pledge to call President Bush and tell him “children want peace” and to urge him to “use words to resolve conflicts as we are learning.”
The rally was organized through several Berkeley pre-schools that pride themselves on their alternative curriculum. At New School, academics are set aside for physical activities like yoga. And at Berkwood Hedge, a private K-5 school with 115 students, the curriculum focuses largely on issues of social justice. This year’s theme at the school is peace. Students in after school programs at public elementary schools in the city also comprised the congregation of young peace protesters.
Sandy Morrill, mother of a seven year old at Berkwood Hedge, accompanied her son to the protest, saying it is important for the children to have a voice in politics.
“This is what they’ve been learning at school,” she said. “They have been taught about conflict resolution, and here they see it in action. The kids get to wrestle with bigger questions.”
Director of New School in Berkeley Susan Hagen said the children are “very concerned about what is going on in the world.” “They don’t want war. We teach them about talking, discussion, and negotiation.”
But Skyler Johnson, 5, hadn’t learned much about the conflict in Iraq. When he was asked who is the President of Iraq, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “My mom might know.” After she came over and gave him little coaching, he was able to muster, “We don’t want war. Oil kills lots of people.”
The rally, which seemed a logical extension of classroom learning to organizers, struck Berkeley College Republicans Treasurer Andrea Irvin as exploiting the children for their parents’ political beliefs.
“It is incredible that these parents are using their children to advance their political agendas,” she said. “That these teachers are indoctrinating the young children is unconscionable. They are using the kids as puppets.”
Mayor Dean said she didn’t think the rally was exploitive though. She said the kids instinctively know about solving conflicts. “They know the best way to do it is to talk things out,” she said.
The rally ended after an hour with students ringing the peace bell and then marching back to their schools waving their signs.
(Alleged) Teacher: Now, class, see this picture?
Children who still poop their pants occasionally: Yes , MZ. Castro-Marx.
(Alleged) Teacher: This is a very bad man. His name is GW Bush. He stole the election and pretends to be President. He was selected not elected. Repeat that now, mmkay?
Children who still poop their pants occasionally: Selected not elected. Selected not elected. Selected not elected.
(Alleged) Teacher: Very good! He's also a very bad man because he wants to kill children in a far away peaceful land.
One of the children who still poops his pants occasionally: But, MZ. Castro-Marx, why do him want a do dat?
(Alleged) Teacher: Because he's a very bad man. He wants to kill the people and steal their oil, just like he stole the election. He wants to give the oil to his rich friends so they will have more money. Then, he can give his rich friends tax cuts so you won't have enough food to eat because he hates children.
Another one of the children who still poops her pants occasionally: He's a mean man!
(Alleged) Teacher: Yes, he is a very mean man. Now everyone repeat our mantra for today, mmkay?
Children who still poop their pants occasionally: Selected not elected. Selected not elected. Selected not elected.
Prediction...This girl will not feel this way when she is fifteen and approaching driving age.
"Hitler Youth, the Nazi party's youth movement, indoctrinated German youth to continue the existence of the "1000 year Reich." Hitler Youth emphasized activism, physical training, Nazi ideology and absolute obedience to Nazi authority."
I see the LW socialist kooks are at it again.
I have long said and will continue to say, NEVER, EVER trust a women with a hyphenated name. NEVER!
My wife would get mad at me for saying this in regardes to her former boss, who had a hypenated name and that my wife loved dearly and thought the world of. Well, after her boss took a promotion and moved to another operation center my wife would continue to talk to her, seek guidance from her, and other such things. Well, my wife said some things in confidence and was assured as such and her former boss betrayed her and spoke of what my wife had told her to someone she shouldnt have.
I told my wife, I TOLD YOU! NEVER trust a women with a hypenated name! She has now come over to my side as I have pointed out other hypenated women who are scum.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is example #1!
Come now.
Did you really think that "the City of Evil" hadn't already done it a month ago?
Here's a picture:
Once again, Ithaca shows why it, not Berkeley, is the true "City of Evil."
The dog is the only sane one in the picture.
No way. Having watched kids in Ithaca get indoctrinated like this for years, I can attest that they grow up to be "educated idiots," who are so liberal, they write editorials that argue "Bin Laden is Human too."
Ithaca is the City of Evil.
She looks like Selma Blair.
Selma Blair
When we got married, my wife (She-who-must-be-obeyed) insisted on hyphenating her name. We had a long, knock-down, drag-out about it.
I lost.
No matter. We're still going strong after seventeen years. And after all this time, the point is a non-issue for me.
Besides, Hitlery didn't hyphenate her name - she just chose to use three names...[gak!]
:)
Congratulations on such an enduring relationship!
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