Baldo by Hector D. Cantú and Carlos Castellanos for October 11, 2011
October 10, 2011
October 12, 2011
Transcript:
Teacher: Okay, this is the final week of hispanic heritage month... Teacher: Let's explore the ramifications of 15th century spanish colonialism. Nora: I was hoping we'd explore the inside of a piñata.
Note the inherent contradiction—he’s planning to bash 15th-century Spanish colonialism (edit: the Spaniards and Portuguese were practically the worst of the European colonisers in terms of treatment of subjects—at other end of spectrum pre-WW1 Germans), when he wouldn’t be AROUND to “explore the ramifications” if it hadn’t happened!
Why is that a contradiction? If my great-grandfather was a notorious criminal, I could deplore his actions while recognizing that, were it not for him, I wouldn’t be alive today.
The past is unalterable but, for better or for worse, it shaped the present, as our actions in the present will shape the future. Remember Santayana…
Besides, why are you assuming he’s planning to bash, or ONLY to bash? He’s teaching young children, and they can be taught how European traditions live on in Latin-American culture without having to be told of the rape, murder, and slavery that brought it about.
The teacher is treading on dangerous ground. No one is allowed to disparage Hispanics, even dead Hispanics. Teachers, always remember: white males (Americans especially) are the evil enemies of everyone else. Learn it, live it, love it. George Orwell would be proud.
Let’s see: Population overgrowth thanks to the Catholic church which partnered with the conquistadores. Loss of national treasures from destruction by said church. One common language. Loss of native religions. Plunder of resources (gold, silver, etc). any more?
As if the Incas (or the Mayas, Aztecs, etc..) were better colonizers… Why do you think Pizarro had such good luck in Peru? The worst besides the Belgians in the Congo were the Italians who gassed the Libyans and the Ethiopians in the 1930’s!
prasrinivara about 13 years ago
Note the inherent contradiction—he’s planning to bash 15th-century Spanish colonialism (edit: the Spaniards and Portuguese were practically the worst of the European colonisers in terms of treatment of subjects—at other end of spectrum pre-WW1 Germans), when he wouldn’t be AROUND to “explore the ramifications” if it hadn’t happened!
fritzoid Premium Member about 13 years ago
Why is that a contradiction? If my great-grandfather was a notorious criminal, I could deplore his actions while recognizing that, were it not for him, I wouldn’t be alive today.
The past is unalterable but, for better or for worse, it shaped the present, as our actions in the present will shape the future. Remember Santayana…
fritzoid Premium Member about 13 years ago
Besides, why are you assuming he’s planning to bash, or ONLY to bash? He’s teaching young children, and they can be taught how European traditions live on in Latin-American culture without having to be told of the rape, murder, and slavery that brought it about.
DavidMac about 13 years ago
The teacher is treading on dangerous ground. No one is allowed to disparage Hispanics, even dead Hispanics. Teachers, always remember: white males (Americans especially) are the evil enemies of everyone else. Learn it, live it, love it. George Orwell would be proud.
momazilla about 13 years ago
But without them, (white, Anglo males) we wouldn’t be here.
fritzoid Premium Member about 13 years ago
He doesn’t.
Number Three about 13 years ago
Awwwwww, LOL.
xxx
Potrzebie about 13 years ago
Let’s see: Population overgrowth thanks to the Catholic church which partnered with the conquistadores. Loss of national treasures from destruction by said church. One common language. Loss of native religions. Plunder of resources (gold, silver, etc). any more?
Potrzebie about 13 years ago
I know about the smallpox/gift blankets to the Indians, but that could have been Dutch, British, French, etc. And then there are the rats….
TheEtruscan about 13 years ago
As if the Incas (or the Mayas, Aztecs, etc..) were better colonizers… Why do you think Pizarro had such good luck in Peru? The worst besides the Belgians in the Congo were the Italians who gassed the Libyans and the Ethiopians in the 1930’s!