It was the last few weeks of school, but the fourth grade class got a new
student – the son of a Japanese businessman who had just moved to town.
The teacher greeted the class, introduced 10-year old Toshiba, and said,
“Let’s begin by reviewing some American history. Who said “Give me Liberty,
or give me death?”
She saw only a sea of blank faces, except for that of Toshiba, who had his
hand up. “Patrick Henry, 1775,” said the boy.
“Now,” said the teacher, “Who said ‘Government of the people, by the people,
for the people shall not perish from the earth?”
Again, no response except from Toshiba: “Abraham Lincoln, 1863.”
The teacher snapped at the class, “You all should be ashamed. Toshiba, who
is new to our country, knows more about America than you do.”
As she turned to write something on the board, she heard a loud whisper from
the back of the classroom: “Lousy Japanese.”
“Who said that?” she demanded.
Toshiba put his hand up. “Lee Iacocca, 1982.”
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
[email protected] www.grif.net
“Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!”