Belfast and cultural awareness

This week, I've been working with a small group of high school juniors about the history of "The Troubles" in Ireland. NONE of them had heard of it, let alone known any of the long history of violence and sectarian hostility. What I hope they will see is that it's not just the Middle East, or Ukraine/Russia, that has such difficulties. I want them to make some connections about religious prejudice and real bloodshed in the modern world. I am starting to wonder if this kind of zealotry is spilling into our own streets; it seems so, with the rise of anti-Semitism, the knee-jerk reaction to Muslims, and the horrifying rise of Christian Nationalism, especially in our own government. 

This is valuable stuff, I think, for kids to know. To recognize that these kinds of destructive forces are not just somewhere else or back in time is to give them some tools to use in their lives beyond school, I think. 

To this end, we are watching and talking about Kenneth Branagh's Belfast, which is, if you haven't seen it, a phenomenal film that documents the experiences of 1969 through a young boy's eyes; his own, in large part, and it feels very real. I know it was front-and-center in the news when I was about the same age as Branagh, so watching it is like seeing the lives behind the news reports for me. 

I want my students to be compassionate and aware, and I hope that this is one small step in the right direction.

Be safe,

C

photo: gagdaily.com