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Lessons in Democracy from Walt Disney
Townhall.com ^ | July 27, 2009 | Townhall.com Staff

Posted on 07/27/2009 3:18:18 AM PDT by Kaslin

A few weekends ago, I watched a movie with my son called “Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too.” It’s a very cute show—my son loves Tigger, and Disney is still making family-friendly movies, so I was on board.

The movie starts off with a song about friendship, where all of the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood are having a picnic organized by Rabbit. Rabbit did such a wonderful job organizing the picnic that he was immediately appointed mayor of the Hundred Acre Wood.

Upon Rabbit’s inauguration, he breaks into song to tell the citizens what he will do for them as mayor, including a long list of new rules for the region.

The always-pessimistic Eeyore immediately asks if anyone is afraid and, after citing a few new rules, says that he has a feeling Rabbit isn’t done yet. He was correct.

Everyone must do their chores at the same time of day. Lunch is always promptly served at noon. Pooh must give up honey (there is too much in his diet) in favor of more vegetables. Tigger’s bouncing is restricted to 30 minutes per day.

The list quickly grew longer, and all of the new laws were posted where the residents could see. Rabbit appointed Beaver as his deputy mayor and had him patrol to make sure everyone was following the rules. Tigger decided that he had had enough of the excessive restriction on his personal freedom, and so half of the Hundred Acre Wood seceded from Rabbit. A line was painted down the middle of the Hundred Acre Wood, and no one was allowed to cross the line.

The plot went on to divide the friends further, as one side had no freedom and the other had possibly too much freedom, with no rules at all.

I saw so many parallels to current events, and I couldn’t help but be completely absorbed in this children’s movie. Kids understand the root of adult problems; they understand what is fair and what is not and could certainly come to those conclusions while watching this movie.

If you have young kids, I’d honestly take the opportunity to watch this movie with your kids. Let them enjoy the music. Let them enjoy the classic characters Tigger and Pooh. But after the movie, ask them how they felt about the events. Ask them what was right and what was wrong about what happened to the residents under Rabbit’s rule and under Tigger’s. This is a great movie to engage your children and to teach basics civics and the value of freedom.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: democracy; disney; pooh; tigger

1 posted on 07/27/2009 3:18:18 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Looks like someone at Disney gets it.


2 posted on 07/27/2009 3:19:59 AM PDT by hershey
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To: Kaslin

Rabbit did provide cradle to grave welfare, however.


3 posted on 07/27/2009 3:25:26 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (AGWT is very robust with respect to data. All observations confirm it at the 100% confidence level.)
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To: hershey
"Looks like someone at Disney gets it."

Except Disney was probably pulling for Rabbit!

4 posted on 07/27/2009 3:27:54 AM PDT by liberateUS
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To: Kaslin
Walt wasn't a bigot, either. This black guy was the most positive to come along in my early life. I wanted him to be MY grandfather!..
5 posted on 07/27/2009 3:31:11 AM PDT by WVKayaker (God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.-D.Webster)
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To: WVKayaker

We’ll know that racism is behind us when SOTS is embraced for it’s positive messages.


6 posted on 07/27/2009 3:57:35 AM PDT by Neidermeyer
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To: Kaslin

And why weren’t there any “undocumented characters” in that Disney hit-piece?


7 posted on 07/27/2009 4:01:40 AM PDT by FDNYRHEROES (In just 3 days, the War on Terror became the War on Free Speech.)
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To: Neidermeyer
Racism will never be "behind" us. It is always in our face. With the Zero ilk, it is compounded with hate. Rev. Wright, et al, are just symptoms of his disease. He is consumed with hate for the "whitey".

IMHO, I think he resents his "black" component. He has used it as a crutch to achieve a certain stage in his life, then discarded it for a new polished version enhanced by the Chicago-style DNC. Now, Zero uses race as a tool to forward his agenda.

Unfortunately, it appears his agenda is this country's destruction, and the Dims are pushing up the hill! Between Gum't Motors, and the bank takeovers, he has placed big roadblocks to reconstruction. Their goal of Deathcare reform" and personal control of our lives through the "Energy Bill".

I support Sarah Palin, and am doing all I can to push HER agenda...

We need "Mom" Sarah in the White House. She can start the return to sanity, if we help her..


8 posted on 07/27/2009 4:13:19 AM PDT by WVKayaker (God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.-D.Webster)
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To: WVKayaker

I, too, loved Uncle Remus.


9 posted on 07/27/2009 4:31:12 AM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Texan. Monarchist. Any questions?)
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To: WVKayaker

Oh I loved that movie. Best music in it.


10 posted on 07/27/2009 4:45:04 AM PDT by EmilyGeiger
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To: WVKayaker
What a lovely family photograph, less their son in Iraq. I can only wish them God's speed, especially the Older Mother Bear.


11 posted on 07/27/2009 5:18:40 AM PDT by jws3sticks (Sarah Palin forever!)
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To: jws3sticks
Here's Former Governor Sarah Palin's fairwell news conference:

Please click HERE to view

12 posted on 07/27/2009 5:25:26 AM PDT by jws3sticks (Sarah Palin forever!)
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To: WVKayaker
I love that movie. One of my favorite DVDs.
13 posted on 07/27/2009 5:44:41 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Kaslin
"Therefore, it seems to Me that the first duty of culture is to defend freedom and resist all tyranny" (Walter Elias Disney)

CC

14 posted on 07/27/2009 5:47:04 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Calling illegal aliens "undocumented workers" is like calling drug dealers "unlicensed pharmacists")
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To: Kaslin

I’ll be on Tigger’s side with my ‘too much’ freedom. :)


15 posted on 07/27/2009 5:58:46 AM PDT by sig226 (Real power is not the ability to destroy an enemy. It is the willingness to do it.)
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To: liberateUS

Eeyore Shrugged?


16 posted on 07/27/2009 5:59:46 AM PDT by sig226 (Real power is not the ability to destroy an enemy. It is the willingness to do it.)
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