Puppet Shows - Austin Style (Spring: living, pollution, train)

[gigi927]

For those of you not living here and looking to relocate, here is a great example of something that I think makes Austin really special.

We had a great time at Zilker Park this morning with our kids. As we were riding the Zephyr, a group of folks was carrying a puppet show tent and yelling, "come see the puppet show after the train ride." Never one to pass up a free puppet show, we sat down with our 4 and 2 year old in the grass to watch.

As it turns out, it was a puppet show to raise awareness about pollution in the Edwards Aquifer, sponsored by volunteers for the S.O.S. (Save our Springs) Alliance. I loved how they outlined the history of Barton Springs and made fun of the "white man" arriving in Texas and claiming land for themselves "My land. It's mine. Mine. All mine."

My kids loved it and I enjoyed it as well. I'm impressed with the technique of using a kid-friendly, fun activity to raise awareness about an important issue instead of resorting to confrontation. It really showed Austin's heart. I encourage everyone to go check it out on Sunday afternoons at Zilker!

[sanmiguel]

Originally Posted by gigi927

I loved how they outlined the history of Barton Springs and made fun of the "white man" arriving in Texas and claiming land for themselves "My land. It's mine. Mine. All mine."
I'm impressed with the technique of using a kid-friendly, fun activity to raise awareness about an important issue instead of resorting to confrontation.

It may not be confrontational, but I hardly think making fun of the "white man" is a good way to teach children of any skin color. Just my dos centavos...

[gigi927]

Maybe you should actually go see the puppet show and determine whether or not it was teaching or encouraging racism. I don't think it was. And I'm Caucasian. It's a historical fact that Caucasians came into many parts of the US and claimed land for themselves that they had no right to. That we can admit it bad behavior in retrospect by poking fun at ourselves is better than perpetuating it. MY dos centavos.

[love roses]

Well, I know the White settlers came and killed the natives, etc...So if we're going to be fair, why isn't there one of Spaniards going into Mexico, or one of the Mexicans raiding indian villages, or warring Indian Tribes attacking each others territories. White people don't hold the prize for being the only race of people to go somewhere and virtually decimate entire races of people for expansion reasons. Something like that is unnecessary in trying to raise awareness of pollution. If a jab needed to be made, it should have probably only been about the history of the area. And also on the flip side of this, I have heard from some moms in playgroup that the puppet shows tend to vary and can be a neat thing to check out. I don't think that all the puppet shows are like this.

[gigi927]

Originally Posted by love roses

Well, I know the White settlers came and killed the natives, etc...So if we're going to be fair, why isn't there one of Spaniards going into Mexico, or one of the Mexicans raiding indian villages, or warring Indian Tribes attacking each others territories. White people don't hold the prize for being the only race of people to go somewhere and virtually decimate entire races of people for expansion reasons. Something like that is unnecessary in trying to raise awareness of pollution. If a jab needed to be made, it should have probably only been about the history of the area. And also on the flip side of this, I have heard from some moms in playgroup that the puppet shows tend to vary and can be a neat thing to check out. I don't think that all the puppet shows are like this.

It's been a while now, but I think it WAS only in the context of the history of this area and I honestly can't even remember if THEY used the term white man. It may have just been me using that term (in quotes) to explain part of the puppet show in my post. And this is a forum for adults, not children.

Since my recollection is not 100% accurate on whether the term was used or not, I AGAIN encourage everyone to go see the puppet show for themselves, learn something about pollution in our environment and support the Save our Springs alliance before implying they are racists. It's a puppet show, for God's sake.

[love roses]

I agree with you, and I hear it's a good thing to see from other people as well, so I'm sure I'd check it out.