Marsh family on refugees - and acceptance.

I did watch the video and I think that they have a difficult path to tread as a family group .

They are all multi- talented and come across as bright and compassionate but they will need to be much more media- savvy to steer clear of controversy and avoid being ‘used’ .

I do not think they are being indoctrinated - they are learning to think of others and also to call out hypocrisy when they see it - that does not have to be party political.

We are quite happy for children to learn compassion in school and support charities with their classmates.

Baggs - I am sure that you had the wit to make up your own mind when you left home!

This thread is entirely politically motivated - however much it is denied.

Every child is indoctrinated to a lesser or greater degree. In fact children, once puberty is reached will often completely contradict their formative years.

Think of the indoctrination every politicians child receives, or a child of a religious leader, or in my case humanist. Both my AC are now humanists - I like to think that it was their choice, and maybe it was but I suspect the way they were brought up played a large part in their choice.

I'm from that lost middle generation and many of my friends could tell you stories of parents who thought smacking children and locking them out of the house all day was fine and quite a lot of bigoted views expressed growing up

They all turned out liberal anyway

Luckygirl 👍

I found them amusing to begin with, but not so much now.

I find them smug and creepy, too good-to-be-true vibes. Makes me cringe.

VioletSky

Children parroting views?

The youngest is 11, children are intelligent and able to have opinions on many things at that age. They are literally taught how to make their own informed decisions in primary school.

Children parroting views sounds like a small child coming into school saying "girls can't play football" with absolutely no thought behind that statement, just something they have heard an adult say.

Or another one I've heard "boys can't marry boys" which is also factually incorrect and another example of a parroted view.

Or sometimes it's a misunderstanding and they believe giraffes live in a zoo because that's the only place they have ever seen one and they are taught about habitats instead

These parents have used facts in their teaching and their writing. Education likes facts

Well said VioletSky!

I watched the video, and thought how well they had made it. NOWHERE on the video does anyone of them say anything to put down people who DON'T think the same as them, unlike some Gransnet posters on here!

They are seeing these 'migrants', 'asylum seekers', 'refugees' as PEOPLE like they are, without 'othering' them.

Absolutely brilliant! I hope they go on satirising and questioning assumptions.

Parents indoctrinate their own religious views on children so is that ok?
These children are old enough to say if they do not wish to participate. I’m sure my children would have something to say when they were these children’s ages.

Am sure they will go on choughdancer while there’s money and fame in it anyway.
I think forum members can post their own opinions on this family without all the crazy comments about ‘othering’ btw.
You either like them or you don’t.You either like them but feel uneasy about politics being shoved down their throats and put in the public eye or you don’t.

You cant "force" unwilling teenagers! I've loved them from the beginning.

I believe they have been brought up to think for themselves, are clearly loved, are not "parroting" anything.

Often indoctrination of views comes with fear and abuse:

"Believe what I believe or go to hell"

"Agree with me or you will be punished"

"Fulfill my expectations in you or you will be excluded"

Any family who teaches their children the fundamentals of honesty, compassion and educates them on world events and how to navigate those with empathy and understanding is an absolutely brilliant parent.

Only those who do not respect their children's different opinions, needs, beliefs and lifestyles need apply for a bad parenting badge

If they don’t appeal, don’t watch. There’s enough information out there without listening.
The way things are put over often puts people off. e.g. Some like Greta Thunberg’s lectures, some don’t. Some prefer Aneeshwar Kinchali’s way of putting things over.
Whichever you prefer, what they’re saying is important and the children are learning about things they need to know.

Whichever presenters you prefer, you can guarantee the parents have had a big initial input, but that’s not to say that children won’t add their own views to what they hear. Alongside that, a big lesson they will learn is that public performance on topical subjects is a good money earner.

Oh I know I should like them and all the ideals they are talking about and the people they are supporting I would agree with. But I can't. I find them smug and self satisfied. I don't like the way they tell other people's stories, rather than letting them speak for themselves.
And oh from the teenagers I would love to see some revolt, some passion. If you can't go over the top and shout out demands when you are a teenager, if you can't be unreasonable at that age, when on earth can you?

Daisy, I actually think several things to be honest and have no idea why you have singled me out for your rather unpleasant comments.

Each family makes their own choices and frankly that is just a fact. Why would I want to abuse those parents who are involved with TV shows, choirs or (say) competitive sports?

If you want more of what I actually think - as someone else said, they come over as very "smug" and I think they just aren't very good at what they are doing. But you are right - I don't like children "used" in entertainment. Whatever form that is. This is how I feel about it. I'm not out to stop others doing it.

No

I’m another one who has never heard I of them.

Now I’ve seen them I won’t be seeking them out again. Why does anyone think that other people want to see their home videos? Rather like the old days when we had to sit through hours of holiday slides when visiting friends.

Our own dear royal family are a good example of a family exploiting their children with photos at every occasion, teaching them archaic protocol and dressing them in twee outfits. Still we get the odd Andy or Harry being thrown up.

Never heard of them. Must get out more..

I find them entertaining and my research this morning led me to an interview on BBC Breakfast about their first song, released in March, 2020 at the start of the first lockdown when many of us were glad of some light relief:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr-fmfnX-sw&t=5s

Do watch the clip until the end when there’s a lovely moment with their dog. This is immediately followed by a clever parody of I Know Him So Well from Chess.

Initially, their singing was sometimes a little off key but this has greatly improved over the years, perhaps helped by better equipment. It is good to see them accompanying their performances on a range of instruments now.

I have appreciated their songs and I imagine that, in preparing them, they engage in discussions regarding the events that inspired their compositions. The young people should grow up with a better understanding of world affairs than many others and with some musical skills, too!

There is a very moving and funny one where they do a song for blokes with a sort of cancer their grandad had to raise awareness. Grandad and mum appear. So much love there. They are lucky kids, to have the skills and ability to look out at the wider world and know how important it is to take part.
The video I’m referring to can be found on u tube ‘marsh family Mack the Knife’

Children parroting views sounds like a small child coming into school saying "girls can't play football" with absolutely no thought behind that statement, just something they have heard an adult say
Or another one I've heard "boys can't marry boys" which is also factually incorrect and another example of a parroted view

Does everything have to come back to gender issues?
I can think of 1001 instances of “parroted” views both in the past (think Hitlerjugend and “Tomorrow belongs to me” from ‘Cabaret’) to the present day, and that particular hobbyhorse is not among them.
We’ll have another poster blaming Brexit next!

Can’t understand the criticism. Think they started this during lockdown. I have not seen this last one but have enjoyed all the others. They are a talented family and bring a smile in what have been difficult times.

What bothers me is that they’ve still got those horrible curtains! 😂