You've Got To Be Carefully Taught

[Trajan]

You've Got To Be Carefully Taught

You've got to be taught to hate and fear

You've got to be taught from year to year

It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear

You've got to be carefully taught


You've got to be taught to be afraid

Of people whose eyes are oddly made

And people whose skin is a different shade

You've got to be carefully taught


You've got to be taught before it's too late

Before you are six or seven or eight

To hate all the people your relatives hate

You've got to be carefully taught



Rodgers And Hammerstein - South Pacific

Just a thought for today as the ugly side of humanity again rears it's tiny little head ....

[alphafemale]

1. I saw a picture once of a kid...no more than two in a klan robe.

The kid is standing in front of a black cop who is holding his riot shield down on the ground. The babe has maybe caught his own reflection in the shield or something because he has his tiny little hand on it and seems to be looking through it. The cop behind the shield has such slumped shoulders because it looks like he is longing to sweep the little kid up in his arms...but knows he absolutely can't

[nancyr]

2. Yes, but it can also be undone.

A person might be taught bigotry by their parents, but they are free to change their thinking as they grow, and follow a different path. I speak from personal experience. It isn't neccessary to hang on to a closed mind forever.