Three Blind Mice - modernized
There's been quite a row lately about how to teach history in Australia. Most of the current history classes deal with UK or US history. Australia only enters the picture about 1901, then most of the focus is, with some careful editing to avoid exposing racism and other brutalities, on the period after the Second World War.
All this jabber got me curious, so I roamed the Net to do a little research.
It's fascinating to find that the cute nursery rhymes we all said as children have such horrific roots.
Three Blind Mice, for example, refers to the reign of Mary I - better known as 'Bloody Mary.'
I was fascinated to see a more modern rendition, in the same spirit, referring to the number of male suicides in Australia, another hot topic in the news lately.
'Three dads a day', refers to the number of fathers suiciding over unjust decisions before the Family Courts and often outrageous charges fathers faced from the CSA.
'They can't put crims into such strife' refers to the fact that allegations of abuse or domestic violence denies fathers the legal protection all criminals enjoy: to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Australia is more than a little coy about the suicide rate amongst men, although it is acknowledged to be 5 times the rate for women.
Statistics on how many of those 2100+ male suicides a year are attributable to prejudice in the state and federal courts, and prejudiced social services, coupled with an acknowledged non-existant mental health system, are not open to the public.
However, a conservative estimate is at least 60% of male suicides can be laid at the foot of those responsible.
Bloody Mary inspired another nursery rhyme, 'Mary Mary Quite Contrary'. You can read the story here.
All this jabber got me curious, so I roamed the Net to do a little research.
It's fascinating to find that the cute nursery rhymes we all said as children have such horrific roots.
Three Blind Mice, for example, refers to the reign of Mary I - better known as 'Bloody Mary.'
The 'farmer's wife' refers to the daughter of King Henry VIII, Queen Mary I. Mary was a staunch Catholic and her violent persecution of Protestants led to the nickname of 'Bloody Mary'. ...
The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen who adhered to the Protestant faith who were convicted of plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in Three blind mice - but she did have them burnt at the stake!
I was fascinated to see a more modern rendition, in the same spirit, referring to the number of male suicides in Australia, another hot topic in the news lately.
Three Dads a day; Three Dads a day.
Oh such fun, Oh such fun..
All they wanted was family life,
The lawyers offered a callous lie,
They can't put crims into such strife,
As three Dads a day.
Three Dads a day...
'Three dads a day', refers to the number of fathers suiciding over unjust decisions before the Family Courts and often outrageous charges fathers faced from the CSA.
'They can't put crims into such strife' refers to the fact that allegations of abuse or domestic violence denies fathers the legal protection all criminals enjoy: to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Australia is more than a little coy about the suicide rate amongst men, although it is acknowledged to be 5 times the rate for women.
Statistics on how many of those 2100+ male suicides a year are attributable to prejudice in the state and federal courts, and prejudiced social services, coupled with an acknowledged non-existant mental health system, are not open to the public.
However, a conservative estimate is at least 60% of male suicides can be laid at the foot of those responsible.
Bloody Mary inspired another nursery rhyme, 'Mary Mary Quite Contrary'. You can read the story here.
posted by Unknown at
5:07 PM
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