Steve Hein's Emotional Literacy Test
Note: Like much of my site, this "test" is also intended to be emotionally provoking and thought challenging.
Part 1
There is a woman in this car reading religious songs and chants into a microphone. The microphone is blasting her voice through the loudspeakers on the top of the car. There are two loudspeakers so her voice travels for several blocks in both directions.
Behind her is a group of children with their parents, mostly their mothers.
They are walking through the streets of a small town in Peru. When pass the next intersection, they will be blocking one of the main streets in town.
The woman with the microphone is saying things like "Christ is King! Long live Christ! We love Jesus Christ our King!" At various times the children are supposed to clap to the rythym of her words. Then she calls out "Who do we love?" And the children are supposed to say, "Christ the King." A parent who is walking along side shouts "Louder!"
The woman with the microphone in the car sings a tune that sounds like "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands. She sings, "How are you, all you children? How are you?" The children are supposed to shout out "Very good!"
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The children are carrying signs that promote their parents' religious group. Knowing Peru and these kinds of religions, it can be expected that if the children protest going to their parents' church, being in the parade or carrying the signs, they will be hit by their mothers.
Question:
How do you feel when you read this and look at these pictures?
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Part 2
Read the story about the university entrance exams in Peru for future psychology students and tell me how you feel.
Email your answers to me. Steve Hein
Click here to see my ideas on emotional literacy. Click here to see how I felt, feel.
Click here to read a report on my observations of Peru.
These pictures were taken November 14, 2004 in Pacasmayo, Peru.
When I saw this I felt very affected by it. It hurts me so much to see what is being done to children and teenagers by their own parents. I felt offended. I felt protective of the children and teens. I felt sympathy for them. I felt hostile towards the woman sitting in the car reading. I shouted at her when she said "Long live Christ." I said, "Christ is dead!" and a few other things in incorrect Spanish. After I felt so hopeless. I felt depressed. I felt suicidal. It affected me all day. I woke up thinking about it this morning and knew I had to write something. I feel so alone here. When I was shouting people looked at me like I was the crazy one. All of this brainwashing is normal here. I feel desperate to find someone who understands why it hurts me so much and someone who will help me fight against what the Catholics and other religions (and the school teachers and directors) are doing to the children and teenagers here. It is so hard to do this alone. Nearly everyday for the past week I have felt suicidal for at least part of the day. I am starting to feel afraid I will do something desperate to stop my pain. But I don't want to leave because I have met so many children and teenagers who need my help and who like to spend time with me. The problem, as it has been in every country around the world, is the parents.
March 2005 update - Another reason I don't want to leave is because I am now getting started on some of my own projects here to help the children and teens.