"No one today is purely one thing. Labels like Indian, or woman, or Muslim, or American are not more than starting-points, which if followed into actual experience for only a moment are quickly left behind." -- Edward Said
Little Traitor (a 2007 Movie)
"The Little Traitor is set in 1947 Palestine, when the area still was ruled by the British, tells how 12-year-old Israeli kid, Proffi Leibovitz befriends the hated enemy, in the form of English Sgt. Dunlop, and sticks with him despite the suspicions of friends and family." -- Wikipedia
We invite you to gather with family and children to give this movie a watch, where a young person starts off with a fixed way of thinking, but chooses to extend it, reifying friendship and some core human values thereof.
(Full movie is here, if it works in your location)
Reading Corner
Title: Neither
By: Arlie Anderson
Ages: 4-8 years
"In this colorful and touching story that celebrates what makes each of us unique, a little creature that's not quite a bird and not quite a bunny--it's "neither"--searches for a place to fit in.
In the Land of This and That, there are only two kinds: blue bunnies and yellow birds. But one day a funny green egg hatches, and a little creature that's not quite a bird and not quite a bunny pops out. It's neither!
Neither tries hard to fit in, but its bird legs aren't good for jumping like the other bunnies, and its fluffy tail isn't good for flapping like the other birds. It sets out to find a new home and discovers a very different place, one with endless colors and shapes and creatures of all kinds. But when a blue bunny and a yellow bird with some hidden differences of their own arrive, it's up to Neither to decide if they are welcome in the Land of All.
This colorful, simple, and touching story promotes diversity and offers a valuable lesson to the youngest of audiences: it is our differences that unite us." -- A review on GoodReads
Recommended by Kindful Kids Editors
Be the Change
Take inspiration from today's quote by Palestinian-American academic and political activist, Edward Said: that no one is purely one thing and at best our labels are a starting-point that redeem new realities when placed in actual experiences. Reflect with children on how you describe yourself. What are some of the nouns you identify with (people, places, languages, signs etc)? What are the key shapers of your identity? Do you recall a time when you realised that you were being held by something beyond these markers? Write or draw to express. This exercise is more suited to grown children, 11 and above.
