|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Message board > Tomorrow is a big day for "us" Americans
Tomorrow is a big day for "us" Americans
|
|
Mietz
|
Sorry that I chose the Gaza example. That was the last one I could remember that somebody had been told off about for posting on the forum. BTW - Didn�t I read, that Obama declared, that he will go for Al-Quaida in Afghanistan and the border areas there. What will the consequences be for the people living there? Never mind. That�s political...
Am I allowed to state though, that I�d rather wait and see about Obama? I really, really wish I could share everybody�s enthusiasm about Obama and about all the good things he will hopefully bring. Is that happy enough?
I am rather unenthusiastic about people�s election promises. We�ve just had a re-election in one of the German states because the party that kind of won in the first place promised before the election, that they wouldn�t form an alliance with the left party. After the election they decided they had to, because there was no other choice... They lost the re-election... How does that compare to Obama? Promisses made during elections ... As I said - I wish...
I do see the point about the "Merry Christmas", "Happy Easter", "Happy Hanuka" "Happy Ramadan"(?)... I would define them as a border, because they mean well. I really don�t want these wishes to go, as I often found them to be a sign of tolerance and openess here, which I really like. Again - Where�s the line? Happiness?
OK let�s post happy political issues. Whoever defines happy...
|
19 Jan 2009
|
|
|
BRAHIM S
|
|
I hope Obama will bring some change: he can if he wants, and I do feel happy, but dear fellow teachers just a simple question,
Whenever we point out the suffering of the people of Gaza here (and they (children and women in particular) have suffered too much for the last three weeks), each time almost everybody would instantly protest and sing the usual song "no politics here, no religion" and you are bringing this political issue (obama�s election) to the forum
What is politics, and what is not politics????
Brahim |
19 Jan 2009
|
|
|
Mar (itxasobcn)
|
|
Yes. we can!!!!!!!! 
Dear Lisa,
We all feel SO happy about the change it�s about to happen. Many Europeans believe
America needs a change and we think Obama�s the best option ever so:
CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA and CONGRATULATIONS to the whole world!!!!!!!! |
19 Jan 2009
|
|
|
anaisabel001
|
Most Spanish people are reallynhappy about the change.I hope the change will come true.i agree it�s a really important event but I think Mietz is also right.Let�s hope we all can make our world better.!!!!
|
19 Jan 2009
|
|
|
Olindalima ( F )
|
Hi, LibertyBelle
I share your hope for a better world, so may Obama help the way so many people are waiting.
Congrats to all of you, American teachers.
Olindalima
|
20 Jan 2009
|
|
|
libertybelle
|
If we can�t speak about an historical event such as the inauguration of the first American of color becoming president of one of the biggest countries in the world(in turbulent times) - then we can�t have worksheets here about slavery or racism or Martin Luther King, or Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln or any other person in history who fought for justice or tried to make things better for many people or changed the tide of history.
And as far as I can see, we have many worksheets about these people.
Everything in life is political - how can it not be?
As long as we live in this world, we�re part of the big political machinery.
As teachers, we should be able to talk about these without people
going ga ga.
An inauguration is not the same as a war.
There are no sides to take - no choosing of right or wrong.
No people getting maimed or killed.
War is a very sad thing - a new president is not.
Not being able to talk about an occasion like this is like
hiding your head in the sand.
That�s all I have to say in this matter.
L
|
20 Jan 2009
|
|
|
Mietz
|
Just because I am having a different opinion doesn�t mean I�m "going ga ga". That much on your tolerance! I�m happy for you if you are happy. I never implied it�s a taboo subject. I raised the question where to draw the line. Originally the consensus was, that political issues were off the limit in the forum here. That has obviously been redefined now. The consensus seems now, that people want only happy political subjects here and unhappy political issues are still of the limit. OK. That�s fine by me.
One more question @libertybelle:
"War is a very sad thing - a new president is not." Phew! Again - Bush was new at some point. He caused war and death and... we all know that. That is, why most people are hoping, that Obama will make up for that. Again - I hope he will and can. But how can you be sooo sure he will?!
|
20 Jan 2009
|
|
|
flaviatl
|
I�m writing just to say that I agree with Mietz and aftab57.
If we all agree that political issues should be left out of this forum, then we shouldn�t be posting about the new president of the USA.
I agree that it is a big issue and all that but just to be fair with the rest of the members who might also think that what happens in their countries is as important...
In order to avoid debating where to draw the line or what can be accepted or not (and therefore running the risk of being terribly unfair with other members) I believe that ALL members should refrain from making reference to political issues.
|
20 Jan 2009
|
|
|
Mietz
|
@ flaviatl
Thanks for your support.
The thing is - I don�t want to create taboos. That�s why I�m asking where to draw the line. I think it�s important, that people are reflecting this without calling people with different opinions ga ga!
To be quite honest - some of the points in this discussion are actually really good points. I don�t have a solution for this question. That�s why I keep asking where to draw the lines, but nobody is answering that one... And on that note I�m off to bed...
|
20 Jan 2009
|
|
|
Zora
|
Okay... before I go off to bed.
Who is bringing politics into this? Obama is a PERSON - a historical figure actually because he is the first Black President in US history! That is all we have said or implied, we are not talking about war here, or American involvement in anything... THAT would be political... talking about or mentioning a person is not political - its factual, it�s news, it�s cultural as well as, in this case - historical.
And just so you guys get it right... Bush is not historical in anyway - just because he was a US President doesn�t make him historically relevant in any such way. In fact, he probably will not be remembered for much in 50 years time so I don�t know why that was even mentioned... whereas Obama will be remembered because he was the first Black President in a country that has traditionally always been "white"... I think that is a great thing, and we should be rejoicing about that.
Also, it is a great topic for the students - what better than discussing how this change will affect minorities and women... and if this could ever happen in your own country? Goodness, the discussion value of this is HUGE and it doesn�t need to be "political" ie war or suffering related...
|
20 Jan 2009
|
|
< Previous
1
2
3
|
