Greek mythology

[Tovarish 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ July 29 2002,05:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Short of going to school, can you reccomend a good way to learn, Tovarisch?<span id='postcolor'>

Spend a year or so in Russia looking confused as people talked to you and having them stare blankly at you when you tried to communicate . Worked for me. lol a few times they must have thought I was nuts or possesed or something, when I forgot where I was and slipped back to Spanish in the middle of a conversation . (And yes, having a Russian mother helped somewhat, but believe me that year in the Ukraine - that was in the times of the USSR so everyone spoke Russian, was what really practically taught me the language and not just basic household phrases. My mom's contribution is mostly that my Russian accent is flawless)

[Warin 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tovarish @ July 29 2002,05:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ July 29 2002,05:52)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Short of going to school, can you reccomend a good way to learn, Tovarisch?<span id='postcolor'>

Spend a year or so in Russia looking confused as people talked to you and having them stare blankly at you when you tried to communicate . Worked for me. lol a few times they must have thought I was nuts or possesed or something, when I forgot where I was and slipped back to Spanish in the middle of a conversation . (And yes, having a Russian mother helped somewhat, but believe me that year in the Ukraine - that was in the times of the USSR so everyone spoke Russian, was what really practically taught me the language and not just basic household phrases. My mom's contribution is mostly that my Russian accent is flawless)<span id='postcolor'>

Spending a year in Russia is sort of out of the question.

Any other sagely advice?

[Tovarish 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ July 29 2002,06:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Spending a year in Russia is sort of out of the question.

Any other sagely advice?<span id='postcolor'>

Well, if you're single, there seem to be a lot of Russian girls in Canada . At least in Ontario. Nothing like real practice. I wouldn't recommend something like learning it from a book...even classes don't work that well...(I've been going to school in Canada 10 years and damned if I can speak/understand French...I can read it fine though, and always have been able to).

[Warin 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tovarish @ July 29 2002,06:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">6--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ July 29 2002,066)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Spending a year in Russia is sort of out of the question.

Any other sagely advice?<span id='postcolor'>

Well, if you're single, there seem to be a lot of Russian girls in Canada . At least in Ontario. Nothing like real practice. I wouldn't recommend something like learning it from a book...even classes don't work that well...(I've been going to school in Canada 10 years and damned if I can speak/understand French...I can read it fine though, and always have been able to).<span id='postcolor'>

Oooh. Know any cute ones?

Perhaps I will start with a book, and learn to read it. That is, after all, my goal.

I love Chekov. I directed one called 'A Marriage Proposal' years ago. His plays are so absurd..I want to read the originals so I can appreciate the true beauty of them

[ralphwiggum 6]

this is going off-topic, Warin...bad mod!

anyway, I think we pretty much concluded that Greek mythology is either cultural content or fraternity thing.(wtf am i saying here?)

i don't see why greek 'mythology' cannot be taught since it is more of a cultural background, rather than religion.

and speaking fo Shakespeare, I didn't understand a thing he was saying, but upon translation into modern text, I appreciated his works.

[Warin 0]

If they cant teach Greek mythology...

Then you have to cut out most studies involving any of the scandinavian cultures (Damn those vikings and their funny norse gods and horned helms! ) and that lets out studying most of the history of northern/central europe.

I think any time you study any sort of history, you can find a questionable element that you can dub as 'religion'

To me seperation of church and state has always been more about the overt practice of religion, or having a state sponsored religion that is a requirement of citizenship... and not what you study in public schools.

[Longinius 1]

Teaching ancient mythology, Shakespeare and so on is important. Why? Because it is common knowledge. Many things in our modern world is based on these things.

Mythology is not religion, like stated. And like Denoir said, any sensible school probably teaches basic stuff about every major religion. In Sweden we have both Religion and History classes. They are strictly academic and don't involve prayers or anything like that. They are just as fact based as mathematics (all though sometimes the facts are wrong, obviously).

As for Shakespeare. Well, he might be generally boring but he has written some good stories. The reason people find them boring is because of the old language used. There are even some passages that are quite action packed, enough to get the blood stirring. I doubt you fill find many other writers that incorporate so much murder, war, action and intrigue though.

Now, I have another question. How is it many Europeans seem to have a better grasp of the written English / American than many young Americans of today? That can't really be a good thing, can it?

[ralphwiggum 6]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ July 29 2002,07:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Now, I have another question. How is it many Europeans seem to have a better grasp of the written English / American than many young Americans of today? That can't really be a good thing, can it?<span id='postcolor'>

if I remeber correctly, grammars were seldom covered in my English class. one i remember is from my 4th grade class. I understood English well only after i came to college.

most US school systems tend to be too lax comparing to EU standards.(and ppl are whining about amount of homework being too much). you guys do 10 subjects per week, we do 6 at most. and not extensive enough I'd say.

[Longinius 1]

"if I remeber correctly, grammars were seldom covered in my English class. one i remember is from my 4th grade class. I understood English well only after i came to college.

most US school systems tend to be too lax comparing to EU standards.(and ppl are whining about amount of homework being too much). you guys do 10 subjects per week, we do 6 at most. and not extensive enough I'd say."

That is pretty sad. I mean, many kids miss out on even the most basic things like capital letters and punctuation. Then there is the spelling, gawd, the spelling. I'd be ashamed of myself if I couldn't write properly in my home language. Maybe we Scandinavians are just lucky (I say Scandinavians because I dont know the state of education in the rest of Europe but I think Scandinavia is pretty much the same).

[ralphwiggum 6]

currently in California, only 40% of highschool math teachers majored in mathematics.

but then again, if you are a nerd, there's no stopping. so I guess ON AVERAGE, it is slightly less, but deviation from thereof is greater.

and in case of speling and punctuations, its a big problem. most kids do not get proper educateion in pubic schools and are not caipabale of obtaining proper education regarding it. I hope thei do more ixtensive grammar teaching too.

[Warin 0]

That is a truly sad thing, Ralph.

When you dont encourage a good grasp of the language, there is so much that gets lost.  And it becomes even easier to manipulate people without their knowledge.

For a good example of this, just read 1984.  the entire concept of Newspeak was to eliminate words that might be used to express discontent or criticise the government.

And it might not be a totalitarian way of doing it, but when you de-emphasise writing skills and the written word, you take the first step to letting something like Newspeak happen.

You arent going to lose your civil rights because of cameras on street corners, or armed police at airports.  You will lose your civil rights to apathy and a lack of understanding.  When Jerry Springer and Judge Judy are your most prominent cultural icons, then you'll be well on the way.

[Longinius 1]

Come to think of it the governments allready use 1984 ideas. Ever read a very formal government form or document? Its very hard to understand everything on such documents unless you have a firm grasp of the language its written in. Its full of references, cross references, odd words not commonly used and actually designed to be complicated (that is the way it feels atleast). I wouldn't be suprised if some government branch did it on purpose and others followed because of some standard.

[ralphwiggum 6]

the specifics of language runs both ways I guess. its complexity helps to clarify meaning and coin precise intent. however it could also be deceptional....so it's like a car. use well, and it's great, if not, it's a 2ton killing machine.

[Aculaud 0]

Mythology feels more like an elective to me. I dont really know about it being mandatory. It feels more like something i'd take in collage.

I studied norse mythology on my own for a bit. That was pretty interesting, though dont ask me to remember anything

just my two cents...

[R. Gerschwarzenge 0]

If Greek mytholgy is a religion then why haven't I met any Greek mythologians and why haven't I even heard about them. Do they have their own secret churches? This is quite weird topic.

I consider Greek mythology as a very interesting part of history.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

In Denmark we dont have a class called "Christianity", we have one called "Religion". You learn about all sorts of religions from all over the world. Except, of course, if you parents are signing you up on one of those weird christian schools, but theres only 2 or something here in Denmark, so its not a big deal anyway.

And Warin, Wikings didnt wear horns on the helmet, its a myth They werent as brutal as you have heard... uhm.. okay they might have BEEN as brutal as you heard, but they were also merchants, the only problem was, that when a city saw wiking ships arive (even if they had their trading flags up), they would flee from the city. Leaving no option for the wikings other than rob the place

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Greek mythology was more of a way of living life. But yes, it was a religion, it died a long time though, as well did the northen mytology - Oh god i miss Thor

Anyway, the greeks had their gods of the sea, goddes of love etc. They had their temples, but there was no priests or experts on the area, which would explain the popularity of that religion. There was no priest or church to take the money from the poor, and there was no offering ritual as there is with Christianity and other religions.

Allowing not to learn about different is cencorship and a light form of brainwashing. I can only imagine that is happening in some 3rd world countries where religion is incoperated into the system, and that is what keeps the system what it is.

I would be shocked if i found such incidents in the western world.

[Duke_of_Ray 0]

The Shakesphere engkish is hard for me, and is not fun to read. I wish we could have done it in the english we speak today, anybody hear speak old or middle english? My school is strict, but samll onlky 250 kids k-12!

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Espectro @ July 29 2002,11:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And Warin, Wikings didnt wear horns on the helmet, its a myth <span id='postcolor'>

Perhaps Danish Vikings didn't wear horns, but they were always a bit more ..um.. gentle then the other vikings.

Look at my sig. Second picture from the left. Thorleif the Viking with horns

No, but seriously, the cow is right, the vikings used horns to drink mjöd (a kind of beer) from and not to have them as helmet decoration. Viking helmets were actually made of leather and very few exist today.

[Tex -USMC- 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (R. Gerschwarzenge @ July 29 2002,10:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">If Greek mytholgy is a religion then why haven't I met any Greek mythologians and why haven't I even heard about them. Do they have their own secret churches? This is quite weird topic.

I consider Greek mythology as a very interesting part of history.<span id='postcolor'>

I rather enjoyed learning about different cultures mythologies.

And as for the idea that you shouldnt be able to teach it in a public school because it is a religion, and therefore in violation of Ammendment 1, I think you should look around, and think about it for a bit. Do people try to tell you about Zeus and his compatriots in airports, at malls, and on cable access TV?Does a major political party in your country draw largess and grassroots support from the Helenistic Greek Religion Coalition?

How many Temples of Delphi, or how many Athenian Oracles do you pass on the way to school or work?

QED. Its a dead religion, and therefore poses no threat to the seperation of church and state, because there is no possibility of the Greek mythology lobby gaining control over the government, nor is there a threat of the government regulating or persecuting Greek Mythology believers.

To bar a vibrant and fascinating part of history from public schools just to satisfy a grouchy vendetta that conservative Christians seem to have just because the government wont let them scrawl the Ten Commandments on the walls of the same public schools is just stupid, and even worse, will allow Denoir to gloat about our irrationally obtuse interpretations of the Constitution

[Harnu 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Now, I have another question. How is it many Europeans seem to have a better grasp of the written English / American than many young Americans of today? That can't really be a good thing, can it?<span id='postcolor'>

U callin meh edumecation bad?

Anyway. I think that all of us in America need to get over ourselves. And get rid of this political correctness crap.

Mythology would be great to teach in schools. Especially if they made it into something like an elective for highschool. And we need more cultural studies.