Rent-A-Stereotype
A Dutch library has come out with a new plan to combat stereotypes: In addition to lending books, the library is lending out people. Visitors to the public library in Almelo can now borrow gay people, gypsies and Muslims for an hour and talk to them about their lives, reports the Dutch news site Nu.nl. The library's director, Jan Krol, said one of his assistants came up with the idea and everyone loved it. "It's a good way to challenge stereotypes. Clients can lend out a Muslim woman in a head scarf and ask her the questions they wouldn't dare to if they met on the street." Currently, 10 people from various backgrounds have agreed to be "lent out"—or taken to a nearby pub for a chat.
(Item appeared Aug. 23 on Spiegel Online, way down at the bottom of the page).
I LOVE THIS IDEA!
Posted by: Mrs. Bomblatt | August 29, 2005 at 06:53 PM