Same song, second verse

A discussion over at “Sargastic Irrevalence” about tolerance, intolerance, and current events brought to mind the song “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” from the 1949 Broadway hit South Pacific. Hate, distrust, and intolerance persist to a large degree because adults, intentionally and otherwise, teach these things to the children around them. Just a reminder: consider carefully what the children in your life are learning from you. (I know, I know. The people who read this probably won’t be the ones who need to consider it.)

You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught

You’ve got to be taught
To hate and fear
You’ve got to be taught
From year to year
It’s got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught

You’ve got to be taught
To be Afraid
Of people whose eyes
Are oddly made
And people whose skin
Is a different shade
You’ve got to be carefully taught

You’ve got to be taught
Before it’s too late
Before you are 6 or 7 or 8
To hate all the people
Your relatives hate
You’ve got to be carefully taught

I wrote about this in “You’ve Got to be carefully taught” back in November and included a video of Mandy Patinkin singing the song. Sorry to be repeating myself again so soon, but as tensions continue to rise in this country, it seemed worth repeating — this time with lyrics to read instead of just listen to.