The Acadian Expulsion (Canada: A People's History 3/8)

[AmbrosiaK]

Someone asked me about Acadian art today, but I didn't know anything about it. Why? Because Canadian history bored me half to death in school! If I had this teacher and project, I would have remembered. I'm sure the seriousness was conveyed to students also. I think people are overreacting, teachers need to be creative to reach their students. Good on that teacher!

[Hatorah]

This is mockery to my people you capital bastard.

[Panzeux]

I am Acadian and I find it sad to see a bunch of adults complaining about kids trying to represent a part of our history.

You can't blame a bunch of kids for what their ancestors have done!!!

[ravenshireful]

they're just english speaking kids havin fun, let them have their fun :)

[jkoff76]

Boy dude, I know it's been a long time, but maybe you should ask a few Cajuns from Louisiana about it!!!

[comicoune]

I am a teacher and I am an acadian as well. This video is making me sad actually...Its like YEAH lets make a funny play...lets laugh about the acadian deportation and sing and dance about it. Don't get me wrong..I LOVE TO LAUGH and I have a very good sense of humour. I also know when its not appropriate to laugh. These kids are good singers and dancers but for the educationnal portion its a big FAIL. Would you have done the same singing and dancing if the story would have been yours?

[TheAdanrom]

This is disgusting ..i dont flag but this would effinatly be one ...especially song buy english ppl come on...im soory it is funny but... offensive given all the contrevers and respect surrounding jews n blacks.....LIKE WTF

[pneumatictrousers]

I'm of Acadian ancestry and thought they did a good job overall and were rather entertaining. People should not by judged by using humour but by their intention. There was no ill intent in what these people were doing so shouldn't be taken as disrespectful or insensitive. The fuddy duddies should learn to lighten up a bit and laugh more.

[lovelycaitie89]

@pneumatictrousers

SO TRUE! I am Acadian too! And I thought this was well done, i am glad that more people are learning about my ancestry. People need to settle down and think logically about this.

[Raniatlw]

Keep it up! I teach grade 7 social studies and am always looking for different ways to teach the students the topics. Though there isn't anything funny about the deportation, I still think that this video is ok. I think if I were to show this to my students they would never forget about what happened. Because it presents things in an interesting and different way. And its entertaining; I think part of teaching these days is entertaining the students. We'd have a serious discussion afterwards.

[thedirtyfrenchmen]

Do you think your students will have have much respect for acadians after mocking them in a play like that?

[lovelycaitie89]

@thedirtyfrenchmen

That's why you do this first and have the serious discussion after. This is just something to help people learn the facts. These students are old enough to know that the situation was sad and are able to have a serious discussion about it after retaining the facts that are needed to have this discussion...

[Volantix]

To all those who find my song offensive, I have more sympathy for your position than you might guess. I can't watch 'The Producers' because I'm not ready to laugh, even a little, at WWII. Everyone alive during The Acadian Expulsion, though, is gone. Everyone who knew anyone alive then is gone. This many years later, there is a real risk of the tragedy being forgotten entirely. As such, I think we should grab every opportunity to educate about it, remembering it in big ways, and trivial ways.

[Volantix]

I was writing a light-hearted afternoon musical about Canadian history. I could have just ignored this event and taught my students nothing about it, but would that really have been better?

[caporalchef4]

Well then, I guess that the song does'nt really fit well with the topic, does it? The Acadian deportation would be called a genocide, today. It does not matter how much time has passed, it is still a tragedy for us. I just think that the tone of the song is minimizing the events. For Enlish Canadians, it is part of History books. For us, it is part of our Heritage, and every 15th of august, we remember. And we proudly let you know that we are still here. Thanks anyway.

[Volantix]

I really appreciate your comments. Do you think I should remove this video from Youtube or keep it up for the educational value I maintain it has, and as a forum for cross-cultural discussion?

[caporalchef4]

I know that it was nothing disrespectful and you did not mean to hurt anybody's feelings. I think that the idea is great, actually, but the music just does'nt fit and, by reading the other comments, there is not many good reactions. I would suggest you leave it there, anyway, for ,like you said, educational value. But be aware that some poeple are not as diplomatic as I am! Keep up the good work, I did'nt mean to be rude. My sister is a teacher, I respect your job. Cheers!!

[suryavajra]

caporalchef, I'm just beginning to hear what wrong had been perpetuated to the Acadian people. It is indeed a tragedy.

i was interested to learn that the Acadians fought on the Patriot side in the Revolution. So you guys really contributed to the forming of the States. Cheers!

[thedirtyfrenchmen]

Y dont u have a serious talk abut acadian histoory? we were one of the first colonies in canada and we are still here yet where not in the history curriculum? And i dont agree with your justification, this play still disgussed me.

[tunderbar04]

@Volantix would youdo anything similar regarding the Holocaust? Or Rwanda? or the Armenian Genocide? You could've done virtually anything else, and it would not have been one tenth as offensive as that. Thousands died at the hands of the Brits. Thousands starved to death. Many suffered for years and for generations. Acadians refer to it as the Great Upheaval. To this day we are still trying to connect with our brethren who were dispersed far and wide.

[axelxrb]

Oh? Since when are we allowed to make plays like this? It's news to me. Am I going to see a comedy musical of the holocaust anytime soon? What about the Armanian genocide? Hell, let's make a play of the genocide of the whole mayan culture.

I should also add, fuck the British.

[unimogman404]

i'm Acadian. Not really impress with what I see here. Steeling the acadian's land, separating families and killing some of them should not be something to laught at. Shame at you teachers for letting that happen.

[soleil2020]

I agree. The teachers should not encourage their students to laugh at another human tragedy. This is horrible! Would they think a play making fun of slavery was funny?

[Volantix]

Yes, the deportation was a tragic event and it is important to teach about it seriously. I think it is appropriate, however, to have fun with the facts first, and drum up student interest with music and dancing before getting all dark. Social studies class can't be all light or all heavy, there has to be a balance.

[canadarox14]

I totally agree. I don't remember very much from my social studies classes in high school, but now that I'm taking all this stuff in university, I wish Canada did a better job of making history exciting for kids. Films like this one make me glad that somebody else in this country feels that way too. Thanks!

[thedirtyfrenchmen]

Are u fucking kidding me? u think its appropriate to do this? I would like to punch whoever had the idea to make this play right in the face. Unimogman ch'tavec toi, chpeut pas croire qu'estce que je vois. Les ostie tetes de pioches englais on perdue leurs cerveaux.

[caporalchef4]

This is ridiculous, unlike the real events. I think that tragic events should be taught and discussed for what they are: Tragic events. This litehearted parody is only diminishing the gravity of what my ancesters had to go through. There are some topics you cannot have fun with. Yes, it has been 250 years. But, those were real people who suffered, not some caracters out of a fairy tale. Would you have fun like this teaching the Holocaust, or slavery? Tragedies are not exciting events.

[chrimart]

How come teachers let students turned one of the saddest episode of the Canadian history with such funk. Shame SMU.

[philbox17]

This was a genocide not a joke!

[philbox17]

Fuck Canada! You are a shame!

[spiritgirl2796]

Ha! lol! Very good! I am Acadian AND British! :s