I'm assuming it has something to do with the Holocaust vid?

thwump.

You remember the parents who complained about my teaching? Who asked, after their child watched a DVD about Anne Frank, why I was teaching Jewish propaganda, and why I didn't teach the kids that Jews were the most cruel people on earth?

They came in today to complain to my boss.

They think I'm racist.

They think this because "I like Jews".

For the record, I'm not a big fan of any of the organised religions. I mean, I respect people's right to believe the world is put together in any given way, because we've all got to make our minds up about that stuff. And I respect people's right to worship their God in whatever way seems best to them, so long as it's not involving harm to another person. But beyond that? I pretty much think religion has a tendancy to put a whole slew of shit and conditional acceptance into stuff, and that it screws people up a lot, if they let it. The whole social aspect of religion is, to me, about society, and about secular priorities, rather than about one's own soul and one's own relationship with one's creator. Too much keeping up with the Joneses/Goldsteins/Hassans involved a lot of the time. But basically 99% of people are all trying to get along with their lives, look after their kids and improve their living conditions, regardless of what relgion or sect they belong to. Surely. I haven't said any damned thing about Judaeism one way or another. But I have covered the fact that Jews (along with gypsies, mixed race German kids, people with physical and mental disabilities, Poles, Czechs and any damned other person who wasn't the Aryan ideal) were the victims of Nazi attempts at 'racial purification' type of deal. And that this is A Bad Thing.

As to Israel - well, I pretty much feel about Israel the way I felt about South Africa during Apartheit. But the handful of Israelis I've ever met have been very nice people, regardless of the atrocities their government may be responsible for. Which figures. People are people.

So it particularly kills me that with these attitudes (which would undoubtedly have me branded anti-semitic in plenty of bits of the US) I'm being told that I'm a racist who's teaching pro-Israeli propaganda.

Also, they think I'm making the children smell my feet as a punishment.

!!!!

Which - needless to say - is not the case. I do threaten them with The Stinky Feet Of Doom from time to time - I have horrifyingly stinky feet, and I sometimes say something like "right, if you're not all lined up in alphabetical order by the time I've counted to ten, I shall unleash THE STINKY FEET OF DOOM and you will all die a horrible Death By Stinky Foot!" which is generally the cause of hilarity and gets them to do the thing they're supposed to be doing in a good-humoured way. I also occasionally threaten to feed them to monsters, or to chop off their heads. I'm reasonably sure they do not think I am actually going to feed them to monsters or to chop off their heads if they don't get on with performing such-and-such a task. They're being terribly giggly and blase about it, if it's a genuine fear.

I'm just - I'm still gobsmacked. Fucking hell.

I'm a racist who tortures the kids in my charge. Who knew?

SMELL MY FEET! SMELL MY FEET!

Bwhahahah! That's horrible for you, but...BWHAHAHAAH!@

Oh, my. And the foot thing is just too much. My word. Will this have a bad effect on you getting the new job? When does this term let out for you, Fay?

Fay, that is such fucking bullshit. You have parents who are objecting because you aren't teaching HATRED? Bad Fay! Bad!

Just fucking bullshit.

Props to my boss - he totally backed me.

afaik, this shouldn't have any impact upon me getting the new job. And I'm really impressed by how cool my current boss was about the whole deal.

You have parents who are objecting because you aren't teaching HATRED? Bad Fay! Bad!

nods

It's a bit of a no-brainer, isn't it? I'm a racist because I don't hate Jews.

????

well, at least your boss backed you up. It is a strange world They must of gone the GWB school of If you ain't withus,yer against us.

Whew, I sure hope the new bosses don't find out that you are a stinky foot racist. Those poor children being forced to smell those toes. and thanks for the new threat I can use now

Cultural mores, eh? Also, people with no sense of humor will get you every time.

Is there a set of curriculum standards where you teach, Fay? I'm just wondering because I'm pretty sure "teach about the Holocaust, talk about Anne Frank" is mandated by the Board of Education in, like, fourth grade over here.

Also, I'd like to say about last night that it was briefly very scary, and then utterly hilarious. I actually don't think I've laughed that much in a very long time, in the relief-from-panic way. Four attractive police officers tramping through our house at 2:30 in the morning, and I'm standing there holding my cat (because the cops left our door open) thinking, oh dear, I would have neatened up a bit if I'd known. How's my hair? One of them actually thanked me on the way out. For what? I dunno. Protecting them from the cat, maybe?

I did feel really awful for vw, though, both for the utter panic and also because it'll be a while before she stops being nervous, since her bed is about six inches from that window. I have a bed far from my windows, but then I have the big room.

ETA: Also, my father should be in Cairo right now!

{{{Aimée}}} I hope you get everything worked out to your advantage!

{{{vw}}} Also, your neighbor is an idiot.

Congratulations DebetEsse!

Happy Anniversary, JZ and Hec!

I am trying to decide whether I should do laundry today or tomorrow. I have enough clothes for work so I'm not desperate (yet) and the idea of actaully putting on clothes besides my pajamas to go to the laundromat is unappealing. Weekends should be about relaxing, right?