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February 12, 2004
She Should Have Just Taught Birth-Control
It's going to be a long year for intellectual diversity and free thought - I can tell already. Exhibit A: a teacher in suburban Albany, New York is in deep doo-doo for asking students to debate the pros and cons of Hitler. I'll pause to let you all find something to throw at me. Good. Now that that we've finished with silly, reactionary responses, maybe we can discuss this like adults. Probably not, but I'll pretend, OK?
Now, what is wrong with this scenario? What is the cause for the uproar? NOTHING! Ms. Lyons didn't have her students, whom, I might add, are in HIGH SCHOOL, write a paper on why Hitler was good, she told them to debate about it. When pressed for an example of good, Ms. Lyons suggested to her students that the Nazis did a lot of helpful medical research. This is true; it is also one of the ethical conundrums of our time, so much so that it is probably going to get Ms. Lyons fired, in spite of her apology.
The point of the exercise was not to justify Hitler, it was to encourage critical thinking. Unless you are trying to take advantage of an opiated mass, critical thinking is a good skill for people to have. What better way than to try to come up with good things that Hitler did? Well, he salvaged the German economy, created a great spirit of patriotism, and amassed an incredible war-machine. German technology, music, record-keeping, etc. were all amazing. He ensured that no one will ever again wear a moustache like that. "Alright, students, that's good; now let's use our critical thinking skills to decide whether or not the good outweighs the bad!" This could also serve as a good method for thinning out the gene pool; anyone who still thinks that Hitler/Nazi Germany was an overall good can be shot, and the world will be a better, smarter place (if you don't see the irony in this suggestion, you should probably get in line for the shooting).
I can understand parents initially balking at the idea, especially when it was relayed incorrectly by the students. I can hear Kyle's mom: "Hitler?! Good!?! What-what-what?!?!?" But if we make the whole subject taboo, along with anything else remotely controversial, no one will be able to think for themselves. Sound silly? Perhaps, but you won't be laughing when we have a bunch of young people who can't distinguish the difference between an elected President and a psychotic German dictator.
Posted by Pat at February 12, 2004 11:46 AM
Comments
Solid.
Posted by: Heather at February 12, 2004 12:24 PM
Hitler and the Nazis have become the incarnation of evil itself. The idea of putting forth anything good about evil is a falsehood, and therefore evil.
At least that's how those people are thinking.
Posted by: Adam at February 12, 2004 02:52 PM
Interesting points. Other good things done by the Nazis - developing the Autobahn, the model for the American Interstate system, and funding the development of Volkswagen, now a powerhouse in German industrial might.
Hitler was a demented man, responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews, gypsies, gay men, intellectuals and the mentally handicapped. Not encouraging our youth to learn about evil, and how evil can sometimes disguise itself behind some very worthwile cause, condemns us to experience that evil again.
Posted by: Mike F at February 12, 2004 02:55 PM
Didn't the Nazi's strive to eliminate critical thinking of the masses? Hmmm....are we breeding a bunch of future Nazi-like people? Indoctrinated with liberal ideologies without the faintest clue of the implications? Just a thought...for what it's worth. Good site P!
Posted by: AK at February 15, 2004 05:42 PM