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HUMOUR
A Canadian Child’s Understanding of MLK Jr.
Who’s to say he couldn’t have lived in Pompeii?
Up here on the Canadian tundra, the schools don’t teach a lot of American history beyond the fact that we kicked their invading asses out of the country in 1776 and again in 1812. But our school boards lean progressive, so in the interests of shared smugness, the kiddies do learn about the US civil rights movement.
Below is a conversation I had with my son Conall a few years ago when he was in Grade 1 — that’s first grade to you Yanks — following his first instruction on Martin Luther King Jr.
Note: I don’t know whether my child’s take on the great leader and Nobel Prize laureate exposes inadequacies in the Ontario school system, or simply reflects Conall’s unique understanding of historical events.
Me: So what did you learn about him?
Conall: I don’t remember anything.
M: Nothing?
C: No.
M: Really?
C: He stopped…the white thing.
M: What does that mean?
C: I don’t know.
M: Do you remember where he lived?
C: Pompeii?
M: No. Where do they get the day off?
C: The United States!
M: Right!
C: If he lived in Pompeii lava would fall on the church and all the people would run out screaming, and he would fall down because his feet would turn to ashes!
Conall wanders off musing on this exciting and little-known episode in American history.
