Comments on: Introduction to Curtis White’s The Spirit of Disobedience http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/ Unsolicited Historical Commentary Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:43:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Michelle Kostka http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4328 Michelle Kostka Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:59:57 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4328 I disagree, I think that we are taught to conform to society. I have been searching for a new station which would actually tell me what is going on in the world. All I have been able to find is cute stories about children who pretend to be a news caster or kids who can sing opera. I wish that we had the kinds of news that other nations have, where you actually get the facts. Our teachers may not be able to beat their students anymore, but there are other ways of punishing students. The one rule my high school had which kept me conforming to their rules was if you got a detention you had to serve it during lunch time, this was the worst sort of punishment since I did not have a lot of classes with my friends so lunch time was the one time that I had to see all of them, if I had gotten a detention I would not get to see them. It was like being grounded by the school. Hardly anyone disobeyed for fear of not seeing their friends that day. We are definitly being taught to conform, even if it is only with subtle hints. I disagree, I think that we are taught to conform to society. I have been searching for a new station which would actually tell me what is going on in the world. All I have been able to find is cute stories about children who pretend to be a news caster or kids who can sing opera. I wish that we had the kinds of news that other nations have, where you actually get the facts.

Our teachers may not be able to beat their students anymore, but there are other ways of punishing students. The one rule my high school had which kept me conforming to their rules was if you got a detention you had to serve it during lunch time, this was the worst sort of punishment since I did not have a lot of classes with my friends so lunch time was the one time that I had to see all of them, if I had gotten a detention I would not get to see them. It was like being grounded by the school. Hardly anyone disobeyed for fear of not seeing their friends that day.

We are definitly being taught to conform, even if it is only with subtle hints.

]]> By: William Schwatrz http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4323 William Schwatrz Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:56:42 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4323 I do not believe that we are thought to obey. I grew up in Germany when teacher still had the right to beat students who did not conform. Where 14-15 year old hang themselves in barns, or jump in front of a train because they received two D’s, in there finals. Their chances of getting a good job just went out the window! The News media had 10 minutes of world news, 15 min. national, and 5 min. sports. When I moved to my Dad in the U.S. I did another year of High School, I was shocked how relax everyone was. The news media talked for 15 about sports, 2 min world news, 3 min weather, and 10 min. how much milk farmers Joe’s cow gave. I visited East Germany (I grew up in the West) after the wall came down. I received a special tour of Kahla, form a Professor at the Jena University. We walked into a store, which at that time had hardly any food on the shelf, but the beer and hard liquor filled up three shelves. I ask him why they had so much alcohol, he said “you give the people what they want, and they will be happy”. If you want to see what it is like for the media feeding us information you should watch “1984” or visit North Korea. We get what we want, this is why we have Democrats who complain about what the Republicans are doing, and vise versa. No one does what is most important for this country because we can not get together on anything. If all the students would unite, and go on strike, we would pay less for tuition. I do not believe that we are thought to obey. I grew up in Germany when teacher still had the right to beat students who did not conform. Where 14-15 year old hang themselves in barns, or jump in front of a train because they received two D’s, in there finals. Their chances of getting a good job just went out the window! The News media had 10 minutes of world news, 15 min. national, and 5 min. sports. When I moved to my Dad in the U.S. I did another year of High School, I was shocked how relax everyone was. The news media talked for 15 about sports, 2 min world news, 3 min weather, and 10 min. how much milk farmers Joe’s cow gave. I visited East Germany (I grew up in the West) after the wall came down. I received a special tour of Kahla, form a Professor at the Jena University. We walked into a store, which at that time had hardly any food on the shelf, but the beer and hard liquor filled up three shelves. I ask him why they had so much alcohol, he said “you give the people what they want, and they will be happy”. If you want to see what it is like for the media feeding us information you should watch “1984” or visit North Korea. We get what we want, this is why we have Democrats who complain about what the Republicans are doing, and vise versa. No one does what is most important for this country because we can not get together on anything. If all the students would unite, and go on strike, we would pay less for tuition.

]]> By: Erica Spurgeon http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4321 Erica Spurgeon Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:52:28 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4321 I disagree with the fact that we have been taught to obey societies rules. It seems the more society tries to rule us, the more we rebel, hence the reason why our prison rates are so high and why they are prejudice towards minorities. For example, if we truly obeyed everything our teachers asked of us, everyone would have an A in every class--and there would be no attendance sheets because our teachers would have complete faith in knowing we would come to class because we have learned to obey them. I disagree with the fact that we have been taught to obey societies rules. It seems the more society tries to rule us, the more we rebel, hence the reason why our prison rates are so high and why they are prejudice towards minorities. For example, if we truly obeyed everything our teachers asked of us, everyone would have an A in every class–and there would be no attendance sheets because our teachers would have complete faith in knowing we would come to class because we have learned to obey them.

]]> By: Thomas http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4310 Thomas Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:44:53 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/introduction-to-curtis-whites-the-spirit-of-disobedience/#comment-4310 I find White’s book very interesting so far. He book goes great with what I am learning in other classes about the Mcdonaldization of the world in how we are taught to obey what every our teachers, bosses and the mass media tell us to. White expresses that as a society the enlightenment has hurt us. That the thought processes of the enlightenment has made us reason that we must obey in order to become or get anywhere in life. As my mind has been opened to many things over the years, I see this happening to our society in a fast and quick manner. We must regain our independence and creativity, to over come and redefine the enlightenment to pursue our own goals. I find White’s book very interesting so far. He book goes great with what I am learning in other classes about the Mcdonaldization of the world in how we are taught to obey what every our teachers, bosses and the mass media tell us to. White expresses that as a society the enlightenment has hurt us. That the thought processes of the enlightenment has made us reason that we must obey in order to become or get anywhere in life. As my mind has been opened to many things over the years, I see this happening to our society in a fast and quick manner. We must regain our independence and creativity, to over come and redefine the enlightenment to pursue our own goals.

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