RWLD #2: The Struggle Against Intolerance

 "The Soiling of Old Glory," Stanley Forman, Boston Herald American, 1977

Life isn't fair. It's something that we've all heard at one time or another, usually when we don't get our way. Perhaps we've even said it when we were at the other end of a good deal, or when we try to help our family or friends come to grips when things when they don't get their way. In the general scheme of things we as individuals probably get our ways as many times as we don't get our way - it's just that the times we don't get our way stand out in our mind. Sometimes it's because we are democratically outvoted; sometimes it's the law of statistical probability catching up with us; sometimes, the deck is stacked against us and we didn't have a chance to begin with. And then sometimes, it's because we are the victim of others who cannot tolerate what we are doing or what we represent. Intolerance.


The photo above is a graphic symbol from the 1976-77 desegregation protests in Boston against busing students to create more ethnically diverse schools. It created tension, then violence between the African American and white populations - exposing the intolerance that people had toward each other for nearly two centuries in explosive form. This is only one example of intolerance of people because of who they are, what they represent, where they come from or their ethnic background. Can you think of any other times during history where intolerance drove the debate or the conflict?


This week we will be reading A Doll's House, a play by Henrik Ibsen in 1879. Ibsen, from Norway, took on topics of social importance and create stories that depicted corruption, disillusionment, the disregard of traditional values and intolerance. A Doll's House is a play that took on the theme of the rights of women (which was controversial at that time) and the relationship between husband and wife. The intolerance that is shown by the husband in the play is one that is universally understood and often times debated or reenacted by societies and cultures around the world. The rights of women is an issue that is still a hot-button topic in many parts of the world today.


As you read A Doll's House, think about the following questions:
Where do you find intolerance today
How was the role of women changed since Ibsen's day?
How do we deal with financial misrepresentation today?

Watch here for notes, slides and other supporting media for this week's material.

Thursday, September 9th:
Here is a video example of the tarentella dance that Nora in A Doll's House is to dance at the ball. The costumes worn are likely similar to what Nora would wear. The video is about three an a half minutes long

Friday, September 10th:

Here is the response questions that is due at the end of the hour on Friday, September 10th. (See Mr. Lammers if you need more time or an extension.

Tuesday, September 21st

View the TEDTalks video of Karen Armstrong persuading the global embrace of "The Golden Rule."



Thursday, September 23rd
Here are the questions for the written assignment over the film Life is Beautiful.

Tuesday, September 27th 
Here is an interview with author Khaled Hosseini about A Thousand Splendid Suns

Thursday, September 29th

Here is the Character Brief assignment that is due at the end of the novel. Exact date will be determined later, but plan on having this done by the week of October 18th.

Monday, October 4th Here is the Reading Breif Assignment for Part One. Due on Wednesday, October 6th.

 Friday, October 8th

Here is Part one of the interview with Khaled Hoseini we viewed in class:



Here is Part Two:



Here is Part Three:



Monday, October 11th

Here is the Reading Brief assignment that is due on Wednesday, October 13th.



Thursday, October 14th

Here is the extra credit opportunity presented in class today: