NationStates Jolt Archive

According to MSN today high school students and incoming college freshman don't know what the Berlin Wall is. They were born after the Cold War ended, an event that was marked by the deconstruction of the infamous wall that seperated east and west Germany, which land mines on both sides, razor wire and machine guns on the top to stop families on one side from visiting relatives on the other.
The wall was a symbol of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the old name for Russia at a time when Russia was trying to conquer the world.
Today's kids have never heard the term "Kraut", a derogatory racist term used to refer to Germans and, in some cases, white people in general.
They don't know that the term "chink" is a racist term applied to people of far east asian origin in a derogatory way.
They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia. They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could do whatever they wanted.
Many of these kids think the holocaust is just a fake story that is used to scare people. Many have never heard of the "Relocation Camps" that hundreds of thousands of Japanese were forced into after World War II because of both the war and because of racism that was much much worse then than it is today.
Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college because you had substandard performance in high school. Yesterday, racism was when you were forced to sit at the back of the bus, were refused service in a restaurant, refused work based on the color of your skin, were not allowed to go to school because of your race.


Their worldview is very different. They don't know that the real world is filled with lots of evil and that Bush didn't invent those evils. They think he did invent them.

I wonder how many of them are getting psychiatric counseling with this war on terror and the nastyness of the immigration debates.

We never heard of the Berlin Wall in school, but I watch a lot of TV, so of course I know about how the Hoff made it famous.

According to MSN today high school students and incoming college freshman don't know what the Berlin Wall is. They were born after the Cold War ended, an event that was marked by the deconstruction of the infamous wall that seperated east and west Germany, which land mines on both sides, razor wire and machine guns on the top to stop families on one side from visiting relatives on the other.
The wall was a symbol of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the old name for Russia at a time when Russia was trying to conquer the world.
Today's kids have never heard the term "Kraut", a derogatory racist term used to refer to Germans and, in some cases, white people in general.
They don't know that the term "chink" is a racist term applied to people of far east asian origin in a derogatory way.
They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia. They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could do whatever they wanted.
Many of these kids think the holocaust is just a fake story that is used to scare people. Many have never heard of the "Relocation Camps" that hundreds of thousands of Japanese were forced into after World War II because of both the war and because of racism that was much much worse then than it is today.
Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college because you had substandard performance in high school. Yesterday, racism was when you were forced to sit at the back of the bus, were refused service in a restaurant, refused work based on the color of your skin, were not allowed to go to school because of your race.


Their worldview is very different. They don't know that the real world is filled with lots of evil and that Bush didn't invent those evils. They think he did invent them.

I wonder how many of them are getting psychiatric counseling with this war on terror and the nastyness of the immigration debates.

Surely Holocaust denial isn't going mainstream? That really is scary.

Can you post the URL for this story?

The Berlin Wall. Wasn't that the thing that David Hasselhoff sang on? :confused:

*Shudder*

The Berlin Wall. Wasn't that the thing that David Hasselhoff sang on? :confused:

lol :D

Blanket meet youth.

Berlin Wall? What's so special about a wall in Berlin? We have so many walls here in the U.S.A., why aren't they special?

I thought German history would be compoulsory in American schools. The two countries share so much in common. Both peoples are mostly fat, like mullets, have bad fashion sense and enjoy the forceful invasion of other countries. Both armies are also responsible for many English soldiers death's.

:rolleyes:

I hear Ya!

THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp-is6S_b_g) is something that demarks the difference between now and then. It too is a hideous outrage! And do the kids today remember it? No!


They don't know that the term "wannabe" is a racist term applied to people of far white origin in a derogatory way.
They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia. They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could persuade dumbasses to do what they wanted.

Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college. Yesterday, it was Vanilla Ice.

I think you might have taken a single thing and stretched it so thin it's not even visible anymore...


Oh, in fact, you have. here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20378451/) is the article.

It doesn't say that they don't know about the Berlin wall, merely that they where born after it.

The class of students entering college this month is the first post-Cold War class, according to the Beloit College Mindset List, a compilation of the events, technology, people and social trends that shaped the incoming crop of freshmen.

To them, it’s always been normal for Russia to have multiple political parties and U.S. rock bands to stop in Moscow on their tours, according to the list released Tuesday by the private school in this city that hugs the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

Worst "Damn kids" rant ever.

I hear Ya!

THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp-is6S_b_g) is something that demarks the difference between now and then. It too is a hideous outrage! And do the kids today remember it? No!


They don't know that the term "wannabe" is a racist term applied to people of far white origin in a derogatory way.
They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia. They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could persuade dumbasses to do what they wanted.

Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college. Yesterday, it was Vanilla Ice.
I first heard 'wannabe' in reference to Madonna Wannabes. And then later in Spike Lee's Skool Daze the light skin students where "Wannabes" because they wanted to be white (according to the dark skinned, or 'jigaboo' characters). For what you're describing I always heard the offensive and irritating term 'wigger.'

I thought German history would be compoulsory in American schools. The two countries share so much in common. Both peoples are mostly fat, like mullets, have bad fashion sense and enjoy the forceful invasion of other countries. Both armies are also responsible for many English soldiers death's.
Haha, I'll drink to that. :D To celebrate German-American relations, I'll down this All-American cheeseburger with two beers, a Weiß Bier and a Warsteiner.
Freundlichen Grüßen aus Florida!

For what you're describing I always heard the offensive and irritating term 'wigger.'Yeah? This would be a great opportunity for you to be quiet then...

You are ruining my thing, see..?

Berlin wall... Berlin wall... Oooh! I know about that! They did a Simpsons parody of it!

:P

Yeah? This would be a great opportunity for you to be quiet then...

You are ruining my thing, see..?

No.

This generation were born after the fall of the wall(lol, rhyme), therefore they are completely ignorant of it, of racism and of evil in general. Sorry bub, you'll have to find some other way to criticise those damned kids.

Maybe that's because you guys aren't Canadians. Ask any white Vancouverite what a chink is and he'll be more than willing to rant. If anything, all of my peers are more informed than our parents. But I'm not surprised, as most Americans are completely ignorant of the world outside their own state. My favourite remarks have been:
"Do you guys wear like, tennis raquettes on your feet?"
"Isn't the Mexican border with us longer than the Canadian one?"
"Do you have a dog sled?"
"No, Toronto is the capital of Canada, quit fucking with me"
"France... isn't that around near Texas?"

This generation were born after the fall of the wall(lol, rhyme), therefore they are completely ignorant of it, of racism and of evil in general. Sorry bub, you'll have to find some other way to criticise those damned kids.

Especially since these kids grew up with the greatest access to information of any generation.

WTB [Care].

There's always a gap in history classes. I never had one make it past 1951.

According to MSN today high school students and incoming college freshman don't know what the Berlin Wall is.

I'll address this since I'm part of this generation you dislike so much.

They were born after the Cold War ended, an event that was marked by the deconstruction of the infamous wall that seperated east and west Germany, which land mines on both sides, razor wire and machine guns on the top to stop families on one side from visiting relatives on the other.

Hmm... You may be right so far...

The wall was a symbol of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the old name for Russia at a time when Russia was trying to conquer the world.

Too bad the US conquered it first, huh?

Today's kids have never heard the term "Kraut", a derogatory racist term used to refer to Germans and, in some cases, white people in general.

Nah, I've heard of that, but only in movies. Seriously, Kraut isn't that widespread in the good ol' US anymore.

They don't know that the term "chink" is a racist term applied to people of far east asian origin in a derogatory way.

Now "chink" i've heard before, I learned that one around the same time I learned what ****** meant.

They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia.

Yeah, that was great, wasn't it?:p

They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could do whatever they wanted.

...Don't corporations still run the show & do what they want?

Many of these kids think the holocaust is just a fake story that is used to scare people.

...Not after all those years we had to study & re-study the holocaust, I don't think so. Everyone knows about the holocaust. Everyone.

Many have never heard of the "Relocation Camps" that hundreds of thousands of Japanese were forced into after World War II because of both the war and because of racism that was much much worse then than it is today.

...No, we learned about that two over & over.

Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college because you had substandard performance in high school. Yesterday, racism was when you were forced to sit at the back of the bus, were refused service in a restaurant, refused work based on the color of your skin, were not allowed to go to school because of your race.

...Ok, whats up with the racist stuff? Just couldn't resist, huh? Like my generation experiences no racism at all? We just have it so good, don't we?:mad:

Their worldview is very different.

Thank god for that.

They don't know that the real world is filled with lots of evil and that Bush didn't invent those evils. They think he did invent them.

Nah, I don't think Bush invented all the evils in the world. He like many others sure has contributed though.

I wonder how many of them are getting psychiatric counseling with this war on terror and the nastyness of the immigration debates.

...Are you trying to imply we're weak minded?

According to MSN today high school students and incoming college freshman don't know what the Berlin Wall is.
No, that isn't what the article said. What is said was "The class of students entering college this month is the first post-Cold War class, according to the Beloit College Mindset List, a compilation of the events, technology, people and social trends that shaped the incoming crop of freshmen."
Appearently, you only read the first sentence and made a huge leap in logic.
They were born after the Cold War ended, an event that was marked by the deconstruction of the infamous wall that seperated east and west Germany, which land mines on both sides, razor wire and machine guns on the top to stop families on one side from visiting relatives on the other. Yes. And you were probably born after the US Civil War, yet you probably know something about it
The wall was a symbol of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the old name for Russia at a time when Russia was trying to conquer the world. Right...only the USSR was involved...the US was always fighting on the side of Truth and Justice (tm)
Today's kids have never heard the term "Kraut", a derogatory racist term used to refer to Germans and, in some cases, white people in general. Kraut refers specifically to Germans, same as Mick is only to Irish, Frog is only French, Spic is only Spanish/Latino.
Yes, most of us have heard Kraut. It just isn't that wide spread.
They don't know that the term "chink" is a racist term applied to people of far east asian origin in a derogatory way.
Yes, we do.
They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia.You mean besides Iraq invading Kuwait and Gulf War in 1990, terror attacks in Tokyo, Oklahoma City, WTC (1993), India and Pakistan both developing nuclear weapons and constant rising tension between the two...real peaceful.
No, they wern't world wars. But it wasn't exactly peace.
They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could do whatever they wanted. Not the first time in history, and won't be the last. Just look to Standard Oil and the like.
Many of these kids think the holocaust is just a fake story that is used to scare people.Um...wrong. Blatantly wrong, as WWII and the holocaust are covered almost yearly from 5th grade on...
Many have never heard of the "Relocation Camps" that hundreds of thousands of Japanese were forced into after World War II because of both the war and because of racism that was much much worse then than it is today. Um...that information has become MORE widespread over the last decade, not less. It is now covered in most major history textbooks.
Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college because you had substandard performance in high school.No, we don't.
Yesterday, racism was when you were forced to sit at the back of the bus, were refused service in a restaurant, refused work based on the color of your skin, were not allowed to go to school because of your race. It was also the same things that qualify as racism today: prejudice based off skin color, etc.


Their worldview is very different. They don't know that the real world is filled with lots of evil and that Bush didn't invent those evils. They think he did invent them. Of course we don't. Now go back to forming your entire image of a generation of millions of youth based off what FOX, CNN, ABC, and NBC tell you.
Yes, there are evils. We aren't that fucking naive. No, Bush didn't create most of them. Some he did, and many he exacerbated, but no. We aren't as dense as you care to portray.

I wonder how many of them are getting psychiatric counseling with this war on terror and the nastyness of the immigration debates.

Cute cheap shot.



The least you could do is provide a decent "This generation is going to hell" rant. Really, this one just kinda sucked. Wide brush and all.

Uhh, it's not the Berlin Wall, it's the Anti-Fascist Protection Barrier.

Worst "Damn kids" rant ever.

Indeed.

Uhh, it's not the Berlin Wall, it's the Anti-Fascist Protection Barrier.

I want to hop the fence of truth.

According to MSN today high school students and incoming college freshman don't know what the Berlin Wall is. They were born after the Cold War ended, an event that was marked by the deconstruction of the infamous wall that seperated east and west Germany, which land mines on both sides, razor wire and machine guns on the top to stop families on one side from visiting relatives on the other.
The wall was a symbol of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the old name for Russia at a time when Russia was trying to conquer the world.
Today's kids have never heard the term "Kraut", a derogatory racist term used to refer to Germans and, in some cases, white people in general.
They don't know that the term "chink" is a racist term applied to people of far east asian origin in a derogatory way.
They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia. They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could do whatever they wanted.
Many of these kids think the holocaust is just a fake story that is used to scare people. Many have never heard of the "Relocation Camps" that hundreds of thousands of Japanese were forced into after World War II because of both the war and because of racism that was much much worse then than it is today.
Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college because you had substandard performance in high school. Yesterday, racism was when you were forced to sit at the back of the bus, were refused service in a restaurant, refused work based on the color of your skin, were not allowed to go to school because of your race.


Their worldview is very different. They don't know that the real world is filled with lots of evil and that Bush didn't invent those evils. They think he did invent them.

I wonder how many of them are getting psychiatric counseling with this war on terror and the nastyness of the immigration debates.

I'm a kid today, and I already knew that stuff.

I'm a kid today, and I already knew that stuff.

Of course you did, because he was mis-representing the article.

Of course you did, because he was mis-representing the article.

Yeah, and isn't quoting without a link against the rules?

According to MSN today high school students and incoming college freshman don't know what the Berlin Wall is. Wrong already.

They were born after the Cold War ended, an event that was marked by the deconstruction of the infamous wall that seperated east and west Germany, which land mines on both sides, razor wire and machine guns on the top to stop families on one side from visiting relatives on the other.
The wall was a symbol of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the old name for Russia at a time when Russia was trying to conquer the world. We know that.

Today's kids have never heard the term "Kraut", a derogatory racist term used to refer to Germans and, in some cases, white people in general. We know what it means. It's not used in the US anymore.

They don't know that the term "chink" is a racist term applied to people of far east asian origin in a derogatory way. We know what that means too.

They grew up in the 90's when there almost total world peace except for the hotspot in Africa and Serbia. World Trade Center, Persian Gulf War, Oklahoma City... very peaceful indeed.They grew up when the corporations were running the show and could do whatever they wanted. They still do that.

Many of these kids think the holocaust is just a fake story that is used to scare people. Many have never heard of the "Relocation Camps" that hundreds of thousands of Japanese were forced into after World War II because of both the war and because of racism that was much much worse then than it is today. Many? What schools have YOU been to? They must be crappy, since few people who have been taught about the Holocaust and the relocation camps think it's fake. We've heard of both. Now you're jsut being an idiot.

Today's kids think racism is when a white girl refuses to have sex with a black man or when you don't get to go to college because you had substandard performance in high school. Yesterday, racism was when you were forced to sit at the back of the bus, were refused service in a restaurant, refused work based on the color of your skin, were not allowed to go to school because of your race. Racism is still more than that. A lot of white people in my town don't like the black people in my town because of it. Whites and blacks are still separated, though more by choice than by law.

Their worldview is very different. They don't know that the real world is filled with lots of evil and that Bush didn't invent those evils. They think he did invent them. :rolleyes: Everyone knows Bush didn't invent "teh ebil". Did he make it worse? yes. But he hardly invented it.

I wonder how many of them are getting psychiatric counseling with this war on terror and the nastyness of the immigration debates. Mommy, the war on terror, it's scaring me! I'm gonna die! *runs away wailing* :rolleyes:

Nice try, USofA, but bashing "those damn kids!" didn't work this time.

Of course you did, because he was mis-representing the article.

Not according to this (http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/9298391.html):

As for the Berlin Wall, some of them do know what it is not necessarily where it was located though.

“Oh, yeah, 1989 my dad's actually got a piece of it that’s probably only reason I do know about it,” said Matt Riese of Madison.

edit:
Some Wisconsin paper about Beloit College's (which is in Beloit, Wisconsin) mindset list

First off, the Berlin Wall didn't separate East and West Germany. It separated East and West BERLIN, hence the name of the wall.

Secondly, you quote "MSN" but then show us no link. Was that because you knew we'd read the actual aricle and realize you were exaggerating and misrepresenting the living hell out of it?

Finally, you're bonkers if you believe that "kraut" ever referred to anyone but the Germans. I have never, not once, heard that term used for just white folks in general. I've heard honky, blue-eyed devil, cracker, marshmallow, and a few others, but kraut has a specific use and never went general.

So if you're gonna rant, make it at least halfway decent, okay? We in NSG like a good rant, even if we don't agree with it. This one was really pathetic. Before the Internet, kids of my generation knew about the Depression and all kinds of shit that happened before we were born in our respective nations. The 'net just makes it easier to not have to memorize. Bad for tests, but not necessarily irresponsible.

In conclusion, not even a nice try.

Not according to this (http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/9298391.html):

As for the Berlin Wall, some of them do know what it is not necessarily where it was located though.

“Oh, yeah, 1989 my dad's actually got a piece of it that’s probably only reason I do know about it,” said Matt Riese of Madison.

edit:
Some Wisconsin paper about Beloit College's (which is in Beloit, Wisconsin) mindset list
also from-
We shouldn't over generalize from the list so to say that all students in this entering class would not know these things would be an over generalization,” said UW-Eau Claire Associate Professor of Psychology, Lori Bica.

Bica says the list is good for amusement and for professors to understand their incoming freshman class.
...

“We are certainly influenced by the cohort the historical cohort that we are part of and when we're born in history certainly does shape our developments,” said Bica.

And so, Bica says it’s to no real surprise that some 18 year olds don't know certain historical events or people. She says its important to note that this year's incoming freshman isn't any different than previous generations.

<snip>
Your point being?

I'm sure no one said or meant that all the students are ignorant of Berlin Wall, that'd be ridiculous.

Though, I'm interested in percentages...If its above ~5-10% then the education in Wisconsin is f*ed up where the Cold War - cold w00t? Teh battle of imperial refrigerators vs rebel freezers on Hoth? - is concerned.

I think the Berlin Wall came down on my birthday (according to Wikipedia anyway). My girlfreinds parents have a little peice of it.

That is how I remember the date. It is my sister's birthday too well at least the month and day part. I just have to remember the whole 1989 part.

Your point being?

I'm sure no one said or meant that all the students are ignorant of Berlin Wall, that'd be ridiculous.

Though, I'm interested in percentages...If its above ~5-10% then the education in Wisconsin is f*ed up where the Cold War - cold w00t? Teh battle of imperial refrigerators vs rebel freezers on Hoth? - is concerned.

The op characterized it that way. You quoted part of another article in such a way as to support that, I quoted the part of your article that cations against the conclusion you seemed to support. My point is that the list is merely a list of things that haven't happened in this particular generations lifetime.

The OP did misrepresent the article and your quote did not change that.

I didn't know kraut was a derogatory term for Germans. I've never heard it used as such.. or if I have (on tv or something) it didn't register since I was unaware. But I was a bit surprised when this black girl in my evening class didn't know the term chink is usually considered an insult when she referred to this Filipino guy in class as one.