Yes indeed, you read the title right! This post is (more or less) about brainwashing.
A few weeks ago, while browsing the internet, I stumbled upon
The Children's Story by James Clavell. I found this short story to be so fascinating that I chose it as my
interp piece for speech.
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| Click on the picture to find the story. |
According to Wikipedia, James Clavell "was an Australian-born, British (later naturalized American) novelist, screenwriter, director and World War II veteran and prisoner of war." He wrote this particular story after a conversation with his young daughter. Apparently, she came home from school one day, rattled off the Pledge of Allegiance, and demanded a dime from her father. When asked for a reason, she replied that her teacher had told her that saying the Pledge would earn her a dime. Clavell handed over the dime, but the encounter had sparked an idea in his mind.
The Children's Story emerged shortly thereafter.
I'd highly recommend reading this story when you get the chance. A quick read should take no more than fifteen minutes (the story itself occurs in twenty-five), and it raises some interesting questions.
*How much does it take for someone to earn our trust?
*How grounded are we in what we believe?
*Do we understand what we are saying when we give the Pledge of Allegiance?
*Are we prepared for an invasion not only of our country but of our minds?
What do you think?
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