Fables and Faith : You’ve got to be carefully taught
Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008
Yesterday was Mother's Day - a very special day in the life of all who have given birth, and nurtured and loved little children. My mother used to tell me, even when I was an adult," You will always be my little boy. "She taught me so much about life, about the value of friendships, about forgiving yourself and others. She always spoke of others with kindness, and when someone mistreated or berated others, she would say," But he or she means well."
I thought of that line at the funeral of my brother when a friend of his said Dick would always add the same caveat to discussions of other people. "But he means well. "That phrase would forever stick in our minds because of our "upbringing," as folks used to say.
The other day I was introduced to a book by the publisher's mother. The title of the book is "The Nancy Book," and it is about the artist, classic cartoonist, poet and painter Joe Brainard. That book is the first collection of Brainard's Nancy texts, drawings, collages and paintings and has almost 80 full pages of four-color and black-andwhite reproductions. The reason I bring all that up is that I was intrigued by a poem that evidently captivated Brainard's mind. It's called "You've Got to Be Taught."
When I first read it in "The Nancy Book," I thought perhaps the words were from some long, lost poem. I learned, however, that the lyrics came from the Broadway musical "South Pacific. " They reminded me of how much I learned from my mother about the importance of getting along with others - even when they were different. I think the lyrics of that song really related to the kindness and wisdom of my mother and most certainly apply today to all of us.
For those of you who are South Pacific fans, I'm sure you will remember the song: "You've got to be taught to hate and fear; You've got to be taught from year to year. It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear. You've got to be carefully taught.
"You've got to be taught to be afraid of people whose eyes are oddly made; And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade. You've got to be carefully taught.
"You've got to be taught before it's too late, before you are six or seven or eight; To hate all the people your relatives hate. You've got to be carefully taught."
As I reviewed those lyrics, I was touched by the whimsical way those lyrics hit at the heart of prejudice and hatred that we sometimes find in this world of ours. Once we understand the "heart "of the lesson taught by that song, we can adjust our lives to be more tolerant and loving, even of those who are not exactly like us. My mother and father took me and my younger brother to see "South Pacific"when it was performed as a part of the summer musicals that were held in St. Louis. I'll never forget that experience, nor will I forget how much I loved my mother. My prayer is that all mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day. Shalom !
• • • Bob Haynes'column appears on Mondays.
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