From Vietnam Rice Paddies to Parisian Heroin Addicts

The Greater Voice Radio Show...

Here are the stats...

The National Endowment for the Arts says that more than 40% of kids under 44 did not read a book last year. And, on this show last fall, Lisa Adams of Why We Read told us most American males only read one book a year and most females read only nine. So what are they doing?  The New Strategist Publications survey says Americans watch more TV than any other activity outside of sleeping and work.

What are they watching? I don't GET it. Do they have different programming than I do??

Book Recommendation

I interviewed Maxim Jakubowski  for the show - he's the part about Parisian heroin addicts. I really liked the book he edited - a collection of  stories from the underbelly of Paris - most  involving drugs and alcohol. I really liked him, too - he was an easy interview - really forthright.  He also contributed to the book - his favorite character is a stripper/hit man.   I asked why and he said that stripper lives inside. Amazing. I wonder what his inner (female) stripper looks like. But he so unflinchingly pushed the envelope - I love that kind of energy.

As for the stories - you can imagine they push the envelope, too. Perfect for people who commute to work. Open the book, read a story, reach your destination and you've had a complete experience in another universe. Taps into feelings and experiences most people forget, ignore or never had.

About the show...

The Feb. 22 show focused on international literature. So why bother with something as specific as that? Here's the answer, via anecdote.I live in a small town in West Virginia. I’m not far from Washington DC but still, our lives, especially my son’s life experience, is pretty limited. To make matters even narrower, I’m a lenient mother as are most of the other mothers – and, actually, the fathers – in my town.

 Three times a week, though, my son takes a martial arts class with a man everyone calls Master Lee. He’s a black belt from South Korea, former military guy and rumor has it, former body guard to the South Korean president. And, he carries with him, not only his weapons, uniforms, and martial arts stances, but his personal and cultural heritage.

 When the kids enter the studio, they must take off their shoes, bow to the mat and stand. Quietly. In even rows according to height. No talking. Have a wrinkle, smudge of dirt on your uniform? 100 push-ups. Forget your weapon? 100 push-ups. Start to cry because your feelings are hurt? Or a task is too difficult? Suck it in or --- 100 push- ups.

 Granted – for mothers like me the whole routine is rather painful to watch, especially the crying part. We are of a generation that teaches our kids – especially the boys - it’s ok to cry! Be in touch with your emotions. But not so for Master Lee. Even more, for him, self-esteem is not something that you just have but something you must earn. No belts unless you pass the tests. Miss a move? The onus in on you. Late for class? Your problem – don’t blame your mother. As for Master Lee’s approach to discipline? Oh please, don’t even ask!!

 So, you’d think parents drag the kids kicking and screaming. But there they sit, long-haired, in hippie-style jeans, watching Master Less prepare for class. I’m talking about the parents. As for their kids – those who never had a bottom slapped or a punishment more than a two-minute time-out? They’re warming up, straightening their uniforms, and getting in the severe rows he requires for the class. Master Lee brings challenge, a sense of belonging and something else – a different perspective on life, on who they are, and what’s possible in their lives and in the world.

You probably see where I’m going here. International literature has the same influence on readers as Master Lee does on kids. It takes us to new places. Gives us a new sense of who we are and the possibilities in the world and our own lives. Especially poignant since a National Geographic-Roper survey tell us that nearly half of all kids between 18 and 24 don’t know where news-breaking countries are on the map.

 This leads to another point. What if we were to insist that every English class from grade six up – had an international literature component? And every college had a mandatory International Literature 101? Granted we’d have to make the classes fun. The students would have to enjoy them – and we’d resist giving them those angst provoking tests. Of course, if they didn’t pass, that would be ok. We wouldn’t want them to struggle. Well, maybe. I wonder what Master Lee would say about that?

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Comments

[prescription drug addiction treatment]

Thank you for sharing this to us, This would be a better way of expressing the feelings of everyone.

-jomie-