I saw this some time ago and thought it was cute, but not worth comment. Not so readers of TimesOnline. A sample:
- Yeah!! Another brainwashed child added to the ranks. Doesn't the idea that she doesn't have any idea what she is saying ("shirley? shirley?") and is repeating something by rote that has been drummed into her by a happy clappy parent sadden you at all? Posted by: Lee | 18 Oct 2007 10:46:33
- does she understand whats she saying? to her its no different to a nursery ryhm or a song. I question whether in her adulthood in say 15 years she'll be of the same beliefs. Then again she is american so its possible. Posted by: Gomez-Phil-1980 | 18 Oct 2007 10:52:10
- The unfortunate child is another infected with a virus of the mind that is organized religion... I wonder how "cute" her admirers would deem her stating similar verse in arabic proclaiming the glory of Allah. It is just as (ir)relevant. Posted by: Shirley | 18 Oct 2007 12:59:58
- I'm glad we live in a more or less secular society her in the UK. This video just seems sinister and manipulative to me. Posted by: James | 18 Oct 2007 13:00:18
- hope the authorities take the child into care, no loving parent would abuse their children in this way. Shame on them. Posted by: Eric Johnson | 18 Oct 2007 14:42:24
- It reminds me of the kid on the 'Hooked on Phonics' commercial. Sure, she can read, but does she have a clue what it means? Posted by: Polly Purebred | 19 Oct 2007 06:14:28
There's also a guy who brags that when he was her age, he memorized Jabberwocky, which is a superior piece of literature. Superior to the 23rd Psalm, perhaps the most beloved poem in the language? And what kind of person needs to prove he's better than a 4-yr-old?
The folks who worry that this twinkie might not understand what she's saying are hilarious. How does anyone learn language except first through mimicry? But perhaps they've all read Rousseau's Emile, in which Rousseau, whose project is to control the imagination, insists that the child should be introduced to no concept before he is capable of fully understanding it. What they don't know about kids could fill a book...but 5 will get you 10 they cast their votes for policies that are "for the children."
The folks who worry that this twinkie might not understand what she's saying are hilarious. How does anyone learn language except first through mimicry? But perhaps they've all read Rousseau's Emile, in which Rousseau, whose project is to control the imagination, insists that the child should be introduced to no concept before he is capable of fully understanding it. What they don't know about kids could fill a book...but 5 will get you 10 they cast their votes for policies that are "for the children."
