|
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 > Just to balance ... hope you all understand my side.
Just to balance ... hope you all understand my side.
|
|
magneto
|
Dear Hasan,
I am all for Palestinian people in the Israel-Palestine issue. I believe that the Israeli state is not very different from Hamas in its practices, except for the fact that it is recognised as a sovereign state. To me, it is merely a force of occupation...And I also believe that what happened yesterday was unacceptable and should make us consider a "broadening" of the term "terrorism", by that meaning that the term should also include state terrorism (without excluding other forms of terrorism).
HOWEVER:
1. Denying the Holocaust is falling into the trap of Antisemitism and repeating the theories of Hitler and the like. The Holocaust was very real, and it �s been documented numerous times. It also didn �t only affect Jewish people; it affected communists, homosexuals and various ethnic minorities. And it remains a fact that what happened to Jewish people during those dark times was pure and simple genocide.
2. DO NOT identify the Israeli people with the Israeli state. There are many Israeli people who disagree with their government �s practices and only want to live in peace with their Palestinian neighbours.
3. Crimes have been commited on both sides, as have been commited in many other cases of national conflicts...And the fact that a government follows an aggressive - nationalistic political course does not mean that we must deny history and condemn a whole people for it, because that way the circle of violence continues and that only serves those in power, not the people, who only want to live a decent, peaceful life.
As far as the whole political issues discussion is concerned, I believe that we, as teachers, should be informed and should be able to discuss such issues, as we do not live in our own little fantasy world. BUT if we cannot discuss such issues with respect for each other and without falling into the trap of offensive comments on people �s nationality or religion, then, yes, Victor �s decision to remove the thread and ban the discussion of political issues on the forum was a wise decision.
That �s all. Have a nice day!
|
1 Jun 2010
|
|
|
teachertonyinchina
|
|
I personally think politics and religion should be taboo. I was lucky enough to be born in a multicultural society where the government or church does not try to brainwash the population. I can see both sides of an argument, unfortunately not everybody is as free thinking as I am. I think if these types of discussions are allowed the friendship among some of the members will become strained. Also I do not want to read someones spin on these subjects.
Tony. |
1 Jun 2010
|
|
|
serene
|
Dear Linda,
Last night when I read about Victor �s decision to ban political discussions on the forum, I admit I felt rather uncomfortable, too. It was clear to me, though, that Victor �s intention was to protect the forum from abuse rather than censor it. And since I strongly disapprove of violence in any form, including verbal violence, I agreed with this decision, though not wholeheartedly.
However, this morning, after reading your post, I thought over the subject again and realised that if political discussions are not allowed, perhaps we are losing a precious opportunity to promote tolerance among teachers all over the world. Let me explain my point a little, using my personal thoughts and feelings as an example. I �ve met a lot of nice and interesting people, since I registered on this site, from different countries and backgrounds and gradually I �ve come to admire and respect them for their hard work, their generosity, their kindness and their judgement. Now if some day one of these people posted something I didn �t agree with, I would probably be puzzled and would ask to know more about their point of view but I wouldn �t insult them because I respect them. I would even probably question and re-examine my own views and if I still considered I was right, I would reply presenting my arguments. Even if we didn �t manage to agree with each other in the end, I would still respect them despite our differences.
In this sense, I believe being able to discuss any subject freely on the forum will eventually promote tolerance and understanding. Then hopefully we will promote tolerance and understanding among our students, too.
Finally, I agree with those members who have suggested using the cafe for non esl discussions, or creating a separate thread (but I �m afraid we would be asking Victor too much).
Thank you, Linda, for openly expressing your feelings.
To all of you, have a nice day!
serene
|
1 Jun 2010
|
|
|
class centre
|
Once, I promised myself not to interfere into the forum heated discussions. But now I can �t help saying that no religious or political discussions had ever brought people to consensus. In our country , when I hear someone supporting the political force I oppose to, I never begin even trying to persuade him or her in my politics. It �s absolutely useless! I only understand that this is a kind of person I can not find common points with and that �s it. I will ask about his or her children, work, health etc. The political or more over religious views never change because of someone �s arguments. And in the relevant issue we have political and religious components in a tight knot. So, let �s stop useless discussions and, if someone wants it, carry them out to the Cafe.
I admire the teachers � work and grammar advice here and would strongly wish that it will keep going this way only.
natasha
|
1 Jun 2010
|
|
|
Zora
|
Hi there Linda dear 
As some of you know, I am not opposed to discussing politics as Giovanni pointed out in another thread. What I am against is attacking each other because of religious ideals or beliefs.
I agree with Linda (the other Linda lol) that there shouldn �t be censorship - although there is a huge need to steer away from threads that can cause hatred or lead to bad blood among members.
However, going back to the original idea here about censorship and teaching world affairs (or in a lot of our cases - learning, so we can teach about world affairs if necessary.) I think that in todays world, it is extremely necessary. History repeats itself and if people aren �t aware of what of what is happening around them, they are liable to fall into the same traps. In fact, in many parts of the world that is what is happening.
Spain, for example, has buried 40 years (or more) of history... Nobody wants to talk about the dictatorship, many kids have very little idea as to what happened during that time and history books are extremely vague. This type of thing allows for people to make the same mistakes as before because they don �t know. And people need to know, as painful as the past might be for some, they need to know so they don �t stumble over the same stone again and make the same errors.
I think that as teachers, we are one of the few "hopes" out there to make a change. Heaven knows parents don �t try anymore (basically because many of them don �t know themselves), the news is biased and history books are coloured in many places. It �s becoming a lot like the book "1984" - History is edited and revised to take away or play down the bad things - and that makes me a bit worried. History is history - good or bad - we need to know the truth to understand the present and change the future.
|
1 Jun 2010
|
|
|
priorita
|
|
It was mentioned here many times that we as teachers should discuss various topics and educate students not being biased... Theoretically the statement is great and worth being supported. But practically...
Here, in Ukraine, we witness the situation when new leaders bring new political trends and ideological and historical facts. New generation is being brainwashed that there are new ukrainian national heroes who were supported by the fascists and slaughtered the Jewish, Polish and those who faught against the fascism in ukrainian villiages during the Great Patriotic war. How can I as a teacher be neutral and not to disprove this bloodcurdling information!
Thanks God, the recent newcomers into politics have decided to refute such decision of previous authorities! |
1 Jun 2010
|
|
|
banska bystrica
|
Hello everybody,
just a brief suggestion. . . If some people are for discussing political issues here and some are against, why don �t we make a compromise? Let �s use facebook for this kind of discussions. Victor won �t be pushed to disappoint one group of people by letting or not letting political discussions here, and those who want to discuss them will feel free to do so on FB.
PS: Personally, I would prefer to discuss these issues, as the things I read here are othen much more interesting than newspapers (I really liked the discussion about Greece started by magneto) and they enrich my knowledge and develop my opinions. What makes me sad is that when people have a lack of arguments they start being offensive, but that �s life, the only penalty for them is when you don �t react to them.
best regards, zuzana
|
1 Jun 2010
|
|
|
L. habach
|
|
Good morning everybody.
Well I have just deleted my replies for the different reasons.
- I am not against any religion, philosophy, approach ...
- I do have a lot of respect to all my colleagues in this forum.
- I don �t blame my Jewish colleagues for yesterday �s deed against activists.
- It seems it has become impossible to express an opinion.
- Some teachers back me up on my PM but can �t do it openly.
- The FORUM is not the right place for this type of debate.
- Anybody who says something against some specific countries is found "GUILTY". |
1 Jun 2010
|
|
< Previous
1
2
3
4
|
