tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post2486626310858840769..comments2023-08-01T08:38:43.951-07:00Comments on CuriousGirl: You Can't Handle the Truth!Nicole Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11847231791131970750noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post-47993486728381321622007-02-27T09:46:00.000-08:002007-02-27T09:46:00.000-08:00Thanks for all of your comments.Regarding the teac...Thanks for all of your comments.<BR/><BR/>Regarding the teaching of history - it just makes me crazy that we're still glossing over things that we could LEARN from... I mean, is it any wonder we get ourselves into trouble again and again? As a country - as a people? Although lies maybe be easier, more swallowable, they lead us down the same dark paths on repeat. <BR/><BR/>Chrissie - I would agree - ALL of life is beautiful. How we know what is "good" is by knowing the direct opposite - by knowing "evil/bad." I've gotten in trouble more than once by simply keeping my mouth closed as others fawn over a deceased person whose life was never as beautiful, as fulfilling, as wonderful as it was after their death.<BR/><BR/>I'll admit to sometimes not wanting to see the truth - and sometimes telling lies to spare others - but when you're talking about history - or family history -things that are important - things that are critical in terms of who we are as a people/who we've become/who we could become - the truth is a sometimes painful ESSENTIAL.<BR/><BR/>Cassandra - I would agree around cultural tradition sometimes governing our behavior around truths that could hurt or embarass others. The thing is - here in America - I get the sense that people will SAY they want to hear the truth (I don't know how many times I've heard someone say "I'd rather someone tell me the truth than try to spare my feelings"- but when someone actually has the nerve to either speak up - or say something very clearly with their body language that comes near the truth - they'll face the wrath of a very angry person.Nicole Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11847231791131970750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post-89615006607479513612007-02-27T00:06:00.000-08:002007-02-27T00:06:00.000-08:00i love studying about "history" for these same rea...i love studying about "history" for these same reasons. it is one of my favorite things to read about. because history is by nature biased, in that in order to write about anything at all, you must NOT write about something. the past is just as infinite as the future, and it is interesting to sit down, and question a perspective of what may have happened, and try to seep through biased information to see what any particular author is hiding, or how their politics effect their views, and effect how we remember things. <BR/><BR/>of course, there are all kinds of "lies" and "truth" regarding the less-grave and more personal things. in that area, i tend to be one of the notorious many that you mention here. i get it from living in japan i am sure and i am certainly my mother's daughter. when it is about things like telling someone they look fat in a dress, stuff like that, i go with saving face. it is a subtle art for some, but it works well among people in certain cultures. to not say what is on your mind, because it is not necessary to say it. it may seem like mind-reading to many people i guess. growing up in american culture and japanese, i found the extreme value of "honesty" by americans, and see many americans interpret japanese reactions as the opposite. it isn't seen as dishonest though to refrain from saying things you think here though. because you may convey your true feelings through body language and tone of voice. it saves people embarassment, and feeling uncomfortable.<BR/><BR/>sorry to go off on a tangent there. i know you are talking about something else. and your example you gave of the school presentation, well, i totally see that, and i can identify with that having experienced similar situations myself. <BR/><BR/>there really is no clear differentiation of why i feel both things sometimes. i guess it depends on the situation for me. <BR/><BR/>^0^ i think you are awesome and your straightforward nature are an asset to you though!cchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06344475955069046453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post-90777439121867508722007-02-26T04:04:00.000-08:002007-02-26T04:04:00.000-08:00First of all, I'm so glad you are back on your blo...First of all, I'm so glad you are back on your blog! I missed your postings.<BR/><BR/>About the truth, I think nowadays there is no such thing. People are so accustomed to lying that their lives depend on it. I guess it's in human nature to prefer lies to truth, as it's just easier to live that way and not be totally disguised with yourself and others. People only see and hear what they want to see and hear and therefore lies make it so much easier. People are not capable of being honest with themselves first of all, and when you can't be honest with yourself, completely honest and not pretending like you are, you can't name yourself an honest person or the one that prefers truth to lies. Truth stings your eyes out and that's the truth, lies are sweet and comfortable. The world, as it is now, developed a new ability - to not just make others believe in lies one is telling but actually convince oneself that those lies are true. <BR/><BR/>The world is so much different from what we believe it is but we are too afraid to open our eyes to see it.<BR/><BR/>Great post by the way.Sashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702759951795435702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post-54725143960856030702007-02-23T22:19:00.000-08:002007-02-23T22:19:00.000-08:00I agree totally with the content of this post. I w...I agree totally with the content of this post. I wish we could discuss views on truth and history in more detail. Why is it so difficult for people to see the whole truth and see the beauty of success for those who have gotten through and truly suceeded like your parents? Your parents struggle and ultimate success is diminished if we do not have the guts to see the whole truth. Life IS a struggle. If you only acknowledge the positive elements, how can we understand the struggle and ultimate glory of success. <BR/><BR/>My father recently died. Now I love my father - but he did some terrible things. And he did some good things. Within the family some of us wanted to just pretend the bad didn't exist. That is bullshit. I am for seeing the whole truth, exposing it and finally accepting the bad and loving the good. Why must history be turned into a fictitious glossed over story? All of life is beautiful. The struggle is beautiful, because it is so hard. If everything were simple and easy, we would not be able to understand the glow of even partial success. I respect you Nicole. Don't change.<BR/><BR/>I agree, most people just do not have the guts to accept the good and the bad.Chrissie in Belgiumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02556806942193998413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post-68788563557971696452007-02-23T17:45:00.000-08:002007-02-23T17:45:00.000-08:00Have I mentioned how glad I am that you're back to...Have I mentioned how glad I am that you're back to blogging regularly?<BR/> <BR/>You made some good points here. Learning from history, from family to the world, is important. I think high school is an appropriate time for students to learn truths.If not a mother...https://www.blogger.com/profile/16439565019650943028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post-16418095563124463252007-02-23T16:05:00.000-08:002007-02-23T16:05:00.000-08:00I don't know that people are getting tired of lies...I don't know that people are getting tired of lies...lies, or even have-truths, are easier to handle. I just taught my students (college kids, freshmans to seniors) two slave narratives. I gave them a brief overview of the history of slavery as we began our unit (try writing a brief overview of that!) Then one student said, "Surely slavery wasn't as bad as these books say? Aren't they exaggerating?" He also wanted to know why one slave wanted his freedom when he was "allowed" to work and keep some of his own money and was fed and had a place to sleep...<BR/><BR/>The "truth" is hard because we have to deal with the guilt of the past (all of my students, whites, felt upset because they felt "guilty" reading about slavery). It's easier not to learn it at all.Nichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08626200558614529328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941147.post-20202185440941124262007-02-23T14:36:00.000-08:002007-02-23T14:36:00.000-08:00I went to a Catholic high school, and one of the f...I went to a Catholic high school, and one of the few history teachers was, as many parents characterized him, "a socialist." Truly, his politics were liberal in a school of conservative thinking parents and students. <BR/><BR/>Mr. Lennon taught us from a book called "Lies my Teacher Told Me." I think it's become pretty popular. Basically it retold U.S. history without the lies about Columbus discovering America and explained the truth about the conquest of the country and the autrocities that occurred. It was very eyeopening to a lot of 15 and 16 year olds. <BR/><BR/>I agree wholeheartedly with this post. Modern society (and I'd say the United States in particular) thrives under the lies it has set up. Maybe people are finally getting tired of it? Hopefully.Kelseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158609377041501796noreply@blogger.com