I was so impressed with the story shared in the article. I was amazed that these three young men shared their stories about the tragedies they had endured. Not only did they share of their past experiences, but they also used story telling as a means to expose American citizens to the events occurring in the Dinkan region. These young men saw as boys the worst life has (murder and war) but yet were able to escape. Then they saw the importance of education as a way overcome their experiences and make themselves better. I thought about how there are many children in my class who whine and complain if they get a vanilla cupcake instead of chocolate for someone’s birthday party at school. These “Lost Boys” have not forgotten who they are or put their culture aside to adapt a new one in which they now live. They were able to appreciate their new home’s language and cultural norms while still holding onto their original values from their African tribes. I was very much impressed with Ezra’s interview in which he stated “ I think there is NOT ANY culture in the world that is superior to any other culture, so it is VERY IMPORTANT for each group of people to KEEP their CULTURE but then LEARN not only to be self-centered in their culture, but also LEARN other cultures and learn to appreciate OTHER CULTURES and LEARN to interact and intermingle with other cultures.” I wish that more people could view the world in this way. When traveling to big cities like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, I do see more of a melting pot. The feelings I get in these cities is one of acceptance and cultural appreciation. Here, in rural land, I do not get the same feelings of openness and acceptance. I want to raise a child that appreciates all people and their cultures. I have spent time abroad, which I think opened my eyes to life outside small town America. My parents and grandparents think that such travel is frivolous and unimportant. I don’t know how to get them to accept other people and cultures.
Another thing that moved me when reading the article was the fact that Francis stated that most of the storytelling was done in the evenings. I wander in today’s society how many families even talk in the evenings now. It seems we are all so busy and television is such a vital role in American family life that there is little time for talking, let alone sharing stories and that is sad. As I read about storytelling in this article I remembered going to my great grandmother’s as a child. She lived in the country and there was no television or air conditioning at her house. We used to sit out on the porch and talk. Older family members would share stories, both fictional and recounts of the past, to us “youngens”. I miss that. My husband and I say that in four years when he is out of the military we are going to live for one summer without the phone, television, and the internet. I am not sure that we can but it is a desire of mine. In all of the articles that we have read family life is the key for most societies. I am not sure I would say that for ours. In America it seems that we work long hours and run from one thing to the other. There are some days I go with only seeing my five year old for fifteen minutes as I get him ready for preschool. I think that storytelling should be an important part of American life, as it was to these guys. Children should know of things from the past, folktales that make them giggle, or just fictional ones to entertain them. Hopefully our children will remember stories that we tell and feel that it is important to pass that on to their children.
Amy Reep
PS I do not think that technology is bad, so please don’t blast me for that.
Comments (6)
Wasn’t that honorable that these young men used their quality of storytelling to share with the whole world the injustice in the Sudan? I am sure it is very painful for them to revisit these memories and tragedies over and over as they retell their stories. But they are doing it for the sake of all who are still involved in the guerilla warfare in Sudan. I don’t think I could do it. I would want to move on and forget about such tragedy that’s why I respect these men so much. You had mentioned that children in your classroom can be petty at times, like having to have the chocolate cupcake and not the vanilla one. I was thinking about how many of my students argue with me and their parents about having to attend school (especially on a Saturday snow make-up day) and these men were so determined to go to school when they arrived in the U.S. They wanted a better life and knew that going to school and getting educated would empower them. They never complained about having to attend school, they wanted to attend school. Something else that you pointed out made me think about a lot of immigrants. You had said that these men learned the new language of their new home. It made me think about a lot of immigrants who can be very defiant when it comes to learning a new land’s language. I know many people, especially parents of past students, who will not try to learn to speak English and who have no intentions to learn how to read or write it. It really puts their children at a disadvantage because there becomes a huge language barrier as well as little help on homework. You would think that for the sake of their children that they would try to attempt to learn English. But these Lost Boys of Sudan were so unwavering about learning to read and write in English. They wanted to adjust to their new land and language. I just applaud them for this. And like you said they were appreciative of their new land’s language and norms, yet they still held true to their own culture and its beliefs. You mentioned how special storytelling was to you growing up. I was thinking about how storytelling and its use could and can bring families closer together. I wonder if a lot of families that are missing being close could use storytelling to bring them together.
Posted by Maria Blevins | June 16, 2010 7:04 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 19:04
I wish we could have folks like this come visit our schools to tell their story. Perhaps if some of our apathetic students heard their story of war and how important education is, they might want to change.
I asked my students this year how many ate dinner together as a family at the table on a regular basis. Out of 70 students, approximately 10 participated in this custom. I agree, Amy, that our children can learn so much about their history from family. And having a simple meal together without television, telephone, radio, etc. is an easy way to accomplish family storytelling. I also think having a family meal and talking within that unit might strengthen children's beliefs and pride in their heritage and make them appreciate where they came from and what they have.
Posted by jennifer wagoner | June 16, 2010 7:13 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 19:13
I had the same thoughts as you did as far as the storytelling or sharing of our culture with our kids. We don't seem to have the time or I guess the interest in doing that as other cultures do. TV, video games, ipods, etc seem to have taken the place of even sitting with our kids and simply talking. I think we as a society could learn from these boys about what's really important.
Posted by Linda Bohland | June 16, 2010 8:57 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 20:57
Amy,
I want to encourage you to spend a summer without the phone, television, or internet. I remember when I was young, when it was dinner time, the television had to be cut off. Living with a family of teachers, our dinner conversations were dominated by "what happened at school" that day. You made a vital point in your discussion of family life and taking time to talk with one another. Communication is key in any type of family. However, our society is too busy to take time for communication which often results in negative outcomes (arguments which lead to separations, or broken families). It would be interesting to challenge our students to spend one afternoon doing nothing but talking to their parents; no television, video games, etc. The results could be fascinating!
Posted by Katie Johnson | June 16, 2010 10:13 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 22:13
Amy, I have wondered the same thing. Why don't we gather around as a family and talk after dinner? Well, this summer grad school has something to do with it! But all kidding aside, I see my family get up from the dinner table and head off in different directions every evening. Gone is the simplicity of our grandparents days. Starting the last week of June and all through July, our family will be working at a summer camp for underpriveledged children. We live there from Sunday afternoon until Friday at noon. I work in the kitchen as the cook and my younger two girls work along side me in the kitchen and help out elsewhere as needed. We do this as a service ministry. While we are there at Camp Joy, we have no t.v., no computer access, no cell phone service, and no other telephones. Last year was the first year we did this and it took a bit of getting used to. But this year I am looking forward to it.
Posted by Karen Chester | June 17, 2010 12:46 AM
Posted on June 17, 2010 00:46
Amy,
I definitely agree with you when you say that storytelling should be an important part of American life.
Recently, I've had two positive experiences related to storytelling. In my first experience, I went to the local middle school to see some of my former students perform dances and play instruments in the winter recital. Between performances, the librairan stood before the audience to tell a traditional story. He told it in Spanish then English, and sometimes he combined the two. He was animated and interesting. I was enthralled. I didn't whisper to a friend, check the time, or look around the room because his storytelling was so interesting and entertaining! The second experience with storytelling comes from listening to and observing a veteran teacher speak about the features and structure of narrative writing. I was so wrapped up in her story that I barely realized the studetns were learning to write. I think they barely realized it, too!
Laura Corbello
Posted by Laura Corbello | June 18, 2010 1:21 PM
Posted on June 18, 2010 13:21