OKAY SO like, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Vehicles, was a noted racist. He hated jazz because he thought it was a Jewish conspiracy to corrupt the masses and take over the world. RIDICULOUS, am I right? (This must have been wild news to the African-Americans who actually invented it, but ANYWAY...)
Long story short, he poured a shitload of money into promoting square dancing as a wholesome (aka. "white") alternative to the moral decay supposedly brought on by jazz and its ilk. He published a book. He required all his employees to go to square dancing events. Funded fiddling contests and radio programs, created square dancing clubs... and it finally made its way physical education classes for kids, where it remains today.
The irony of all this, of course, is that America's square dancing tradition originally comes from African Americans, but it got whitewashed much like everything else.
And THAT'S why we all had to do it in gym class! (I am not making this up. I bet I could find a book on it in the library if you need me to cite my sources.)
Why WOULDN'T I be interested in this??? Some weird raging racist got a lot of money and now half the country blindly teaches some old dances to kids??? That's fascinating! Where did you learn about it?
I hope I'm not remembering this one wrong but it's seasonal at least! Thomas Jefferson refused to observe Thanksgiving when he was president. He thought declaring a state-sponsored day of giving thanks felt too much like the government pushing a religion!
I had a GREAT Thanksgiving! Got to spend time with some of my favorite people, learn something new about white supremacy, AND several children validated my balloon animal skills, I don't know what else a man might need!!
I will PERSONALLY send everyone in a the Quad a thank you note for not getting grievously injured on a holiday so you can enjoy it.
Oh, giraffe, butterfly, dog — the classics! But I'm gonna need to get my hands on some more twisting balloons if I ever set foot in Lundegaard again or the children will consume me and turn ME into a balloon animal.
I think we did!! At least I hope she sees it the same way!!
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DM 11/28, late
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OKAY SO like, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Vehicles, was a noted racist. He hated jazz because he thought it was a Jewish conspiracy to corrupt the masses and take over the world. RIDICULOUS, am I right? (This must have been wild news to the African-Americans who actually invented it, but ANYWAY...)
Long story short, he poured a shitload of money into promoting square dancing as a wholesome (aka. "white") alternative to the moral decay supposedly brought on by jazz and its ilk. He published a book. He required all his employees to go to square dancing events. Funded fiddling contests and radio programs, created square dancing clubs... and it finally made its way physical education classes for kids, where it remains today.
The irony of all this, of course, is that America's square dancing tradition originally comes from African Americans, but it got whitewashed much like everything else.
And THAT'S why we all had to do it in gym class! (I am not making this up. I bet I could find a book on it in the library if you need me to cite my sources.)
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You got any weird facts that you remember for no apparent reason?
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Did you have a good Thanksgiving at least? State-sponsored religion or not?
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How about you??
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What did you make for the kids?
You and Zelda seemed to hit it off?
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Oh, giraffe, butterfly, dog — the classics! But I'm gonna need to get my hands on some more twisting balloons if I ever set foot in Lundegaard again or the children will consume me and turn ME into a balloon animal.
I think we did!! At least I hope she sees it the same way!!
DM 11/28, late
I think she did? She invited you to come eat lumpia she made for you, right?
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She did!! I think I can officially say you raised a GREAT kid.
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Awww, thanks! I might be biased, but I think she's pretty darn amazing.
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And based off those two, I think what I like is when the romance is a little questionable. Try not to think about what that says about me!!
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Oooooh, you're a little risque. But I won't think about it, nope, not at all.
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