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From: Wendy Blaxland <wendyblaxland>
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 10:22:17 +1000
Yes, I was also appalled at the strength of the reactions, and saddened that the tolerance we preach and own at public levels seems to be only a veneer.
Still, it has at least raised the issue and it is now being debated. My feeling is that it's awfully easy talking about issues with one's friends who think the same way. But that doesn't change things. The real challenge is to enter into respectful and meaningful debate with people who think very differently from us, because we are all part of the same society in the end.
Wendy Blaxland Writer, educator Sydney
Message----From: MShuttleworth at slv.vic.gov.au [mailto:MShuttleworth at slv.vic.gov.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 June 2004 2:17 PM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: [ccbc-net] GLBT
While the fascintaing and engaged discussion of GLBT is going on within this group, I thought I might share, briefly, a little story of how Australian politicians have reacted to the appearance of a lesbian couple on a children's program. Play School is screened twice daily on the ABC,our national broadcaster. It predates Sesame Street, so to say it is an institution in Australian life is putting it mildly. The story ran in May 2004.
Not so mild was the reproach from Federal government ministers, and indeed, the prime minister, to a scene in which a girl accompanies her "two mothers" to the the zoo. The angst centred to a large degree on a view (not mine) that Paly School was pushing its own values, not those of the audience. Yes, okay, the audience is pre-school children and (probably) mothers and carers. The ABC view is that this represents another strand of community life, just as showing a Muslim family, or a cultural festival other than obvious western celebrations, would be valid.
Actually, I wonder if Play School went far enough. What about the enormous range of family configurations that exist. I would suggest that introducing children to a wide spectrum of families, not just the traditional Dad, Mum and 2.4 kids, is probably helpful. Just look at the number of kids growing up in families other than the "norm". In all likelihood, my own five-year-old daughter could have seen this. Would it worry me? Not at all.
And so it goes for GLBT literature, I suspect. It may not be for everyone, but making the offer is part of what tolerant societies do, don't they?
What was really surprising in the Play School case was how vociferous, and frankly, anti-gay, much of the opposition was.
It certainly made me wonder what was driving them.
Mike Shuttleworth Program Co-ordinator Australian Centre for Youth Literature 328 Swanston Street Melbourne VIC 3000 PH: 03 8664 7262 FAX: 03 9639 4143 http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/acyl/
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Received on Tue 15 Jun 2004 07:22:17 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 10:22:17 +1000
Yes, I was also appalled at the strength of the reactions, and saddened that the tolerance we preach and own at public levels seems to be only a veneer.
Still, it has at least raised the issue and it is now being debated. My feeling is that it's awfully easy talking about issues with one's friends who think the same way. But that doesn't change things. The real challenge is to enter into respectful and meaningful debate with people who think very differently from us, because we are all part of the same society in the end.
Wendy Blaxland Writer, educator Sydney
Message----From: MShuttleworth at slv.vic.gov.au [mailto:MShuttleworth at slv.vic.gov.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 June 2004 2:17 PM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: [ccbc-net] GLBT
While the fascintaing and engaged discussion of GLBT is going on within this group, I thought I might share, briefly, a little story of how Australian politicians have reacted to the appearance of a lesbian couple on a children's program. Play School is screened twice daily on the ABC,our national broadcaster. It predates Sesame Street, so to say it is an institution in Australian life is putting it mildly. The story ran in May 2004.
Not so mild was the reproach from Federal government ministers, and indeed, the prime minister, to a scene in which a girl accompanies her "two mothers" to the the zoo. The angst centred to a large degree on a view (not mine) that Paly School was pushing its own values, not those of the audience. Yes, okay, the audience is pre-school children and (probably) mothers and carers. The ABC view is that this represents another strand of community life, just as showing a Muslim family, or a cultural festival other than obvious western celebrations, would be valid.
Actually, I wonder if Play School went far enough. What about the enormous range of family configurations that exist. I would suggest that introducing children to a wide spectrum of families, not just the traditional Dad, Mum and 2.4 kids, is probably helpful. Just look at the number of kids growing up in families other than the "norm". In all likelihood, my own five-year-old daughter could have seen this. Would it worry me? Not at all.
And so it goes for GLBT literature, I suspect. It may not be for everyone, but making the offer is part of what tolerant societies do, don't they?
What was really surprising in the Play School case was how vociferous, and frankly, anti-gay, much of the opposition was.
It certainly made me wonder what was driving them.
Mike Shuttleworth Program Co-ordinator Australian Centre for Youth Literature 328 Swanston Street Melbourne VIC 3000 PH: 03 8664 7262 FAX: 03 9639 4143 http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/acyl/
***NOTICE - This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended only for the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute or rely on any information or advice contained in this email or any attachment(s). Please notify the sender immediately and then delete this email.***
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Received on Tue 15 Jun 2004 07:22:17 PM CDT
