tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post4249245063074630697..comments2023-07-25T02:27:14.409-07:00Comments on Nerd Alert: 10 Books That Should Be But Aren't Required Reading in SchoolPhoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-42867829908499492352016-02-27T18:57:34.493-08:002016-02-27T18:57:34.493-08:00I have very little knowledge about the Boxer rebel...I have very little knowledge about the Boxer rebellion but from reading your synopsis, I agree that Boxers and Christians were both equally bad and therefore equally good in this conflict. That being said, in the Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres, the Rwandan Genocide and the "ethnic cleansing" in the Bosnian war and many many more conflicts had a clear "bad guy." Historically, I think that the majority of conflicts happened this way.That's just my opinion though, obviously it is up for debate and some people may not agree with me. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-53002148373696633032016-02-27T14:20:42.620-08:002016-02-27T14:20:42.620-08:00You're right in that there are definitely exce...You're right in that there are definitely exceptions to this statement. And I suppose when we learn history in school we are taught that there are clear 'good' guys and 'bad' guys. But it's really all about perspective. In the context of Boxers and Saints, for example, Bao, the main character, leads an army of 'Boxers', as they're called, and murders of hundreds of innocent Christian men, women and children 'in the name of China'. If we were quick to judge, we'd say that Bao is the "bad guy". But do a little more research and you'd find that the Bao's enemies weren't guilt-free in the least: the colonies of Christians had settled in China not to quietly practice their religion, but to use terror methods to force the Chinese to abandon their own polytheistic religions. Humans are never that simple. Thanks for sharing your insight on this controversial topic! Phoebehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-54550204242429595132016-02-27T12:29:41.412-08:002016-02-27T12:29:41.412-08:00I really like this post and I think it would be fu...I really like this post and I think it would be fun to read some of these books in school. That being said, I do respectfully disagree with one thing you said. When reviewing "Boxers and Saints", you said that in history "Both sides are equally cruel and equally compassionate." Personally I don't agree with that. I think that very often there is objectively a "good" group and therefore also a "bad" group. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-43143376455723573272016-02-02T16:26:08.677-08:002016-02-02T16:26:08.677-08:00I love Sedaris too! I've read almost all of hi...I love Sedaris too! I've read almost all of his work. I'd say he's my hands-down favorite humor writer/podcast contributor. He's the best, isn't he? Thanks for reading Nerd Alert, and comment if you end up reading the couple you haven't read!Phoebehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-20686044711208297652016-02-02T16:20:38.445-08:002016-02-02T16:20:38.445-08:00That's so great. I hope your 9 year old and I ...That's so great. I hope your 9 year old and I get to correspond someday! I love meeting fellow readers. Thanks for reading Nerd Alert!Phoebehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-15476799186801043862016-02-02T07:44:57.892-08:002016-02-02T07:44:57.892-08:00I love your recommendations. I have a 16 year old...I love your recommendations. I have a 16 year old who never has time to read anymore :( and a 9 year old boy who loves reading as much as you do. I worry about giving him books that are written for older kids but knowing that your mom lets your read those kinds of books makes me feel better. He's read many many of the books that you recommend and loved them all. I also want to read the books that you recommend! Thank you for sharing your recommendations!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-64140756856488712812016-02-01T18:13:40.384-08:002016-02-01T18:13:40.384-08:00I've read a couple of these. If you like this...I've read a couple of these. If you like this book by Sedaris, I'm happy to tell you all of his are really good. He's also frequently on the NPR show This American Life. <br />You've made me curious to try a couple I haven't read. Thanks<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com