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Bill Ayers, educator & author, recalls being a 10 year old and having his idyllic suburban childhood profoundly shaken by the suicide of an 18 year old neighbor.
Bill Ayers, renowned peace activist and social justice advocate, grew up during the idyllic '50's America, immediately after the end of World War II. A lover of movies, Bill spent his childhood weekends at the local cinema, admiring the characters portrayed by John Wayne and other American war "heroes." One day, while playing "war" in the streets with his friends, the police and firefighters of his town arrive in front of his house. Initially intrigued and excited by the commotion, Bill is transformed when "Jimmy," his eighteen year old neighbor, is brought out into the street on a stretcher, dead of a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Subsequently, Bill learns that Jimmy's distress was in part the result of being called into military service to fight in the Korean conflict.
From that moment on, Bill no longer looked at war as a game to be played, but rather, as a tragedy with profound consequences.
Bill Ayers, Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago (retired) has written extensively about social justice, democracy, and teaching as an essentially intellectual, ethical, and political enterprise. His books include About Becoming a Teacher; Teaching toward Freedom; and To Teach. He writes the podcast "Under the Tree: A Seminar on Freedom."
Tell Me What Happened features the music of Susan Salidor.
Get Susan Salidor’s One Little Act of Kindness Children’s Book
Get Susan Salidor’s I’ve Got Peace in My Fingers Children’s Book
More Information about other quality publications from our sponsor can be found on Sidelineinkpublishing.com
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By Jay Rehak
5
88 ratings
Bill Ayers, renowned peace activist and social justice advocate, grew up during the idyllic '50's America, immediately after the end of World War II. A lover of movies, Bill spent his childhood weekends at the local cinema, admiring the characters portrayed by John Wayne and other American war "heroes." One day, while playing "war" in the streets with his friends, the police and firefighters of his town arrive in front of his house. Initially intrigued and excited by the commotion, Bill is transformed when "Jimmy," his eighteen year old neighbor, is brought out into the street on a stretcher, dead of a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Subsequently, Bill learns that Jimmy's distress was in part the result of being called into military service to fight in the Korean conflict.
From that moment on, Bill no longer looked at war as a game to be played, but rather, as a tragedy with profound consequences.
Bill Ayers, Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago (retired) has written extensively about social justice, democracy, and teaching as an essentially intellectual, ethical, and political enterprise. His books include About Becoming a Teacher; Teaching toward Freedom; and To Teach. He writes the podcast "Under the Tree: A Seminar on Freedom."
Tell Me What Happened features the music of Susan Salidor.
Get Susan Salidor’s One Little Act of Kindness Children’s Book
Get Susan Salidor’s I’ve Got Peace in My Fingers Children’s Book
More Information about other quality publications from our sponsor can be found on Sidelineinkpublishing.com
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