Yet another offensive chain email.

[johnaries]

Here is what I got from an old friend of mine who has moved to IN:

1. Teaching Math In 1950s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5
of the price. What is his profit?

2. Teaching Math In 1960s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100 His cost of production is 4/5
of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

3. Teaching Math In 1970s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is
$80. Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Math In 1980s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80
and his profit is $20 Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Math In 1990s
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the
preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20.
What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class
participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels
feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if
you feel like crying, it's ok.)

6. Teaching Math In 2007
Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la
producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?


Here is my response:

OK, you KNOW I had to say something about this!

Although it is true that our educational system has severely declined over the past few decades and we are way behind some other countries in the field of mathematics (especially Asian countries), this feeble attempt at humor is ignoring the real problem and trying to redirect it to a non-existent problem that was created by xenophobes.

Here's a joke for you:
What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bi-lingual.
What do you call someone who speaks three languages?
Tri-lingual.
What do you call someone who speaks only one language?
American.

Because of their close proximity to other countries and other cultures, many people in the world speak more than one language. Only in America do people "take pride" in their lack of knowledge.

As far as the "illegal immigrant" issue is concerned, yeah, something should have been done a long time ago. If the Indians had controlled their borders better, we wouldn't have all the problems we have now.

Whatever happened to "give us your poor, your needy...."
What happened to us?
When did we stop being a country that wanted to help the world
And become a country that said "screw you, world!"?

Our founding fathers must be rolling over in their graves.

[beam me up scottie]

1. That was outstanding!

Is it okay if I use it?

[Mnemosyne]

2. "Only in America do people "take pride" in their lack of knowledge."

It is one of the saddest truths about America. The lack of knowledge is exactly how the traitors were able to pull off and maintain their power.

Excellent reply!

knr

[Toasterlad]

3. Actually, I Thought It Was Pretty Funny.

:hide:

[Big Pappa]

4. Me too.

Both were superb!

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Doesn't sound like they taught civics or logic back in the 50's though, from your friends

idea of a clever cut and paste.

At least he knows how to cut and paste though. So he can't be totally ignorant.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Addendum to number 5:

A logging company spends $100.00 in petition forms and submits them to his state government requesting permission to clearcut a public forest. He losses. The next year, the logging company spends $100,000 to help steal an election to install crooked politicians who promise to change the laws on clear cutting. The year after that, the laws change and the logging company is not only allowed to go in and clearcut the forest, but the local government spends public money to construct roads into the forest to facilitate the work. The logging company then proceeds to demolish the forest, collect his lumber, then sells it to Japan. So, the question is, what is the dollar to yen conversion?

[TalkingDog]

7. Nice....

See....I would've gone on a rant about no child left behind, teacher pay scales, grade inflation and so on.....

But your's was much snarkier and to the point. Kudos.

[salin]

8. right on!

:hi:

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Hi salin.

Wish I could fix the spelling errors on that post but it's too late now. I wrote it so early in the morning and I remember looking at the word "losses" and knowing that it was spelled wrong, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.

[mcg]

12. Pictures of results of clearcutting ...

Environmentalists and Forest Landowners: Why We Must Work Together
http://www.vje.org/journal/VJEL10011.html

Landslide caused by clearcutting...



http://www.saveamericasforests.org/CorzineGoodall/TranscriptP1.htm

[teamster633]

9. It's gotten to the point that if I see...

FWD in the subject line of an e-mail I automatically delete it.

[AwakeAtLast]

11. Oh yeah, that one makes the rounds quite frequently in IN

But now I've got two (so far) really good answers, and I won't just hit "reply". It will be "reply all". Thanks!

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

13. Attach this:

[treestar]

14. Right wing attempts at humor always fail

And the end shows that xenophobia is the true reason for this "joke."

The 90s one is just plain stupid. You have to be a right winger to think that's funny. Humor must contain some element of truth in order to be effective, and that's only "truth" to a wingnut.

[AspenRose]

15. It also fails because it's mean-spirited.

The right wing likes to poke fun at other people's expense. Always. (And they don't have a creative bone in their bodies....so they steal other people's ideas and ruin them.)

[adamuu]

16. great job ! n/t

[JitterbugPerfume]

17. I have deleted that e mail a couple of times

but I am about ready to tell my niece , and my cousin,that I do NOT appreciate homophobic right wing propoganda.

I refrained from doing so because in spite of their profound ignorance I do love them.

I try to counter it with truth when I can,but I don't think it is working.

My cousin just says "oh ! that M , she has always been a rebel" Grrrrr

[jmowreader]

18. How that should REALLY be written

Teaching Math in 1950s
A plumber is paid $100 for a full day's labor. He spends four-fifths of his pay on materials. What is his profit?
(Copyright date on math book: 1949.)

Teaching Math in 2007
(Letter to students pasted inside the front cover of the math book:
"Dear Student: This district receives $872,500 in funding every year. Because we graduate one student per year that goes on to receive a football scholarship and two students per year that go on to receive men's basketball scholarships, we spend $500,000 on our athletics program. We then spend $500 fixing the holes in the roof, $72,000 defending ourselves from lawsuits, and $300,000 on NCLB test prep. Your assignment: Figure out why we're going to teach you math from a book published in 1949.")

[superkia]

19. The country has changed because

half the country would write that and laugh at it while the other side would read it, get angry and make attacking comments against the other side. Notice there are two sides here? No one is in the middle or wants to look at both sides perspectives or where they came from, they only think to retaliate which just continues to divide instead of come up with ways to bring the two together. Just my opinion, I need to express them before the Government takes that right away from me also!