Going back a few years - just a few mind you, I'm not THAT old - I remember my parents getting a phone call from a friend who'd been teaching English in Japan. One of his students and her mother were visiting the states and one of the places they wanted to see was the Rio Grande. To my knowledge my family has NEVER turned down a guest so they came out and spent a week here. The family ate their first steak and we took them out to the river to explore. They were thrilled - and even showered us with gifts, some of which I still have.
We had to ask them why - out of all of the United States and what this country has in the way of sites to see - did they wish to see the Rio Grande. The answer was quite simple. In order to get out of the 8th grade the young girl had to pass a test and on this test were several questions regarding the Rio Grande. Yeah, to say we were ignorantly floored was an understatement. Another country was 'tested' over knowledge of our river and it was barely covered in our own classrooms.
Really!?!?!
This summer I've been helping out part time at a riding stable across the state line and I've run into a couple conversations that had me thinking "Really?!?!" *insert deer in the head lights look here*. The town the riding stables is located in is a happy little much visited tourist town so people from all over the world may happen chance to stop in. And when dealing with people, there's just no telling what's going to happen. And yes, I've kept in mind that when on vacation sometimes the mind has left us. HOWEVER....there are conversations that just make me wonder sometimes....
One of those conversations was in answering the question "Where do you live?" When I answer "A little town on the state line north of here." The question of "What state is that?" comes up. Well...we're in New Mexico and there is and for as long as they've been in the union, only one state that borders New Mexico to the north. These are Americans mind you!
Another of the conversations comes up when I help people onto a horse named Geronimo. I joke and tell them, "Now just because we're riding next to cliffs and you're riding Geronimo, don't worry." To which I've gotten the "What's that mean?" to which I have to explain, "You know...Geronimo went off the cliff to avoid prison." To which I hear, "Who's Geronimo? and why would he do that?" So...feeling slightly put out because school has failed to teach one of the coolest parts of history, I give the history lesson. I mean...really!?!?!? how can you teach racism (and I believe racism is taught and taught very well - a shame that's not on the state tests) and not teach about Geronimo. Of course, then I realize that Geronimo and his people were rebelling against the government and then I understand in this day and age why that can't be taught - don't want to give the public ideas or anything after all.
Now going back to Japan and their study of the Rio Grande and what this has to do with Geronimo ...
Yesterday, a family from France came into the stables. At first we were a little nervous because none of them were speaking in English and I haven't spoken French in years!!!! One of them rode Geronimo. Fifteen minutes into the ride and my efforts at trying to remember French - while throwing several Spanish words into it - I discovered one of them spoke English fluently. She translated the rest of the ride for me and the question of their horses' names came up. She beamed at hearing her horse's name. It was a great ride and one in which I finally started remembering a little more French just as they had to leave.
When we got back to the stables and got everyone off their horses, the father came up to me and asked, "Which one is the Apache?" It took me a moment to realize he was asking, "Which one is Geronimo?" Geronimo is a paint horse so I at first thought he was asking about one of the paints. To which he relayed the history in saying, "No, the Apache who led his people..." to which I had to grin while at the same time wonder at a few things.
A family from Japan knew more about the Rio Grande then most American students. A French family knew Geronimo - our Western heritage and history.
Really!?!?!
We take much for granted in this world. I grant that it's very possible I could travel to France and Japan and know something that the local people are not entirely in tune to ... I kinda doubt it but it's possible.
It seems we are so pressed to pass those state tests we forget to teach/learn and come to understand that which is so much a part of us that if we lose it...we lose us. Think about it. The Rio Grande is a river - a water source - that provides life to most of the state of New Mexico, a good part of Colorado, and some of Texas. If it were lost there'd be a shortage of chili, pecans, pistachios, wine, milk - alfalfa farms that feed the Holsteins. Dairies would be shut down, Barley would be in short supply(Coors drinkers everywhere would cry), a good source of potatoes would be lost...just to name a few crops. And that's NOT to mention, the economy of those two states and the people who would lose their jobs or their lives. The story of Geronimo is the story of our history - where instead of understanding and accepting neither side could and thus battle erupted and blood was shed. Yes, the government attempted to take their weapons and 'civilize' them. (Sound familiar? Just checking.)The blood of white, Apache, Mexican, Spanish, and probably the Zuni was shed. We could learn from that if it were taught and maybe come to not make the same mistakes. I'd like to think some courage could be learned from that history as well.
Our surroundings and our history are a very important part of our lives and they should be taught. If we lose our resources and our history...we lose ourselves...and no amount of anything tested on the state testing will gain that back. It shouldn't be taken for granted and we should not live our lives in ignorance - simple or otherwise.
Really!?!?!
Just something to think on.
