MONDAY NIGHT - LIVE!
On tonight's show: violence in schools, an update from Turkey ahead of the Pope's visit, and Tony Blair's 'deep sorrow' over slavery.
Hi it's Joe here, giving a very brief liveblog of today's show.
First on the show, WHYS's Rabiya Parekh is live from Turkey.
She's talking about the preparations for the Pope's visit, and the If you're in Turkey, and feeling strongly about this issue, Rabiya would love to speak to you over the next couple of days. Email us now!
Our next topic is violence in schools. We're covering this because a listener asked us to. Marcy Wells wrote to us, and suggested this was an important issue that should be covered. Read what she had to say here. That's how WHYS works. You can suggest a story by emailing us.
Marcy, a teacher in Detroit, is guest presenting the show - and she asks a fellow teacher in Brazil about the violence he's experienced. He's heard about incidents of shootings at schools and thinks that it's not reported enough.
Amy from the UK is quizzed about parenting methods - she has 4 children, and offers several insights. She believes that the rights-culture in our society, the fear of accusation of abuse, has led us to the point where children have no fear any more, and can get away with bullying.
Marcy puts a pretty clear point forward: 'These kids need parents'.
Jack is a 12 year old boy in the UK. He recalls an attempt to push him in front of a car. Since that experience he's luckily not experienced any more bullying.
Dorothy is in Johannesburg, she deals with youth violence professionally. Gang violence in schools, she says is related to SA's long history of violence, and its become entrenched.
Marcy wonders who should be 'training' the children: the school or the parent? Dorothy says we need both - in SA some parents complain about kids rights, some complain about the lack of corporal punishment - but really they must take important steps in bringing up their children correctly.
Ashley in our studio, is 17. He thinks there needs to be greater dialogue between parents and teachers. "Children can be manipulative at times - if there's a divide between parents and teachers, kids will use it!"
Finally, we're looking at the issue of slavery. in the New Nation calling slavery 'profoundly shameful'. Is this enough? Post a comment on this blog, or call/text/email us, all the links are on the right.
Esther is from the Pan African Reparations Commission. She argues that since the effects of slavery still affect descendants, reparations are a sensible option. She says the issue's not about collecting a cheque, but educational transformation, wiping off illegitmate debts and returning title to lands.
Stephen in Lagos: "Slavery was a horribly brutal experience. The stress suffered by these people, should lead to an international apology and a form of compensation.
Ali, in Turkey is saying that it's time to look forward, not back. Esther responds that slavery is still affecting today, especially with regard to racism. So it IS a current issue.
Omar has called from Nigeria, but the line wasn't good enough to get him on air. "Slavery poisoned Africa. But which countries would you decide to pay? Investment in education and health are what matters, but corruption is too high to pay directly to the governments."
"It's time for Britain to acknowledge its past. This notion that Africans are inferior, which we're stil living with today was caused by slavery."
Alice in Canada: Reparations, unless they are going to the descendants of slaves, where do they go? And who do you hold responsible?
The last words of the show go to Esther, but don't forget you can post a comment below, and keep this debate going.
Esther: "The individuals are dead, but we are their descendents. I'm not expecting a paycheck, but I want acknowledgement and some measures to address today's inequalities."
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