StoryCorps and why you should help on Kickstarter

If you haven’t come across StoryCorps yet, and you’re a teacher, GO, GO NOW. If you’re an ESL teacher, shammmmmee and dooooooom upon youuuuu. GO NOW.

Here, I’ll help: http://storycorps.org/

As a teacher, Story Corps is an awesome database full of the stories of my culture, my people, and our voices. It’s shows what a truly awesome blend we are, and helps my students understand that this idea of a solid “American” culture is just plain dumb.

As a linguist, who happens to teach, specifically people to speak, listen, read, and write in English that normally wouldn’t, this is an awesome way to help my students analyze the dialects and accents of their target language. To help them understand everybody, not just those of us with language closest to the “standard” accent.

As a former student, and a child who grew up in a college town in NY, StoryCorps is a reminder of classmates lost, and a way to honor their memory.

I first met Paul Battaglia (see previous post) when I was 19 and helping out in the WHRW studios at Binghamton University. I wasn’t a DJ, and I wasn’t apprenticing, so we weren’t close. I was working with a real idiot who drove everyone nuts at the time, so very few people spent much time around the staff I worked with. We just knew each other existed. But, he was an awesome boss to have, and a nice guy, and knowing he’s not in the world anymore because of a few crazy and sick religious fanatics make it seem a little less friendly.

I hate it when people use the loss of my classmates, the friends of my friends, and the cousins, brothers, sisters of my students to justify their hate. As an ESL teacher, who’s worked with students from all over the world, I can tell you, I’ve never met a Muslim person who was full of hate. A few jerks who think women belong only in the kitchen making babies, but on average, they’ve been no worse and no better than some of my stricter catholic friends.

Projects like StoryCorps have the power to bring us closer to one another. To share our differences and similarities, beliefs and morals, and make us a stronger, more understanding, more tolerant community built on person interactions instead of blanket stereotypes.

I hope you’ll all consider backing up their new projects, to air on PBS. It ends on the 15th

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/289600949/storycorps-animation-special

09/11/12