Twilight & Loewen

This section of Loewen, chapter 10, really hit home for me after reading this week's selections from Anna Deavere Smith's book, Twilight. I am familiar with Smith's work, having reading part of Fires in the Mirror and did a project similar to the interview representations she performs.

Other than vague mentions of the Rodney King trial and riots by my parents, I knew very little of what actually happened in LA in 1992. I wasn't even born until July of 1992. I find Smith's work interesting and the information she presents fascinating. I find what Loewen said about the youth of my generation not being taught about the "sasha" or the recent past/living-dead to be entirely true. I wasn't even alive during events like the LA riots, but I was alive during the 9/11 attack and even remember where I was. Despite the differences between the two situations, I feel I know relatively little about either. Yes, I saw the news and have read many conflicting reports concerning 9/11/01 from family, friends, and other sources, but no history course even gave me definitive teaching on either subject.

Loewen has mentioned before, and I have fully agreed, that we cannot be expected to learn from our past mistakes if we are not taught what those are. I feel that the old adage applies to this situation, as well.

I am interested to see what direction today's discussion with take with this subject in class.