Play or Communism?

My sister and I have had a six month membership to the Discovery Children's Museum, and have been to its current Play exhibit twice.  From that link:

“Play” is a family-oriented interactive traveling museum and science center exhibition that uses larger-than-life clubhouse-style games to explore how people connect socially through play.

Six giant all-body interactive game experiences allow visitors to literally step into the action, alone or with others, to experience a wide range of social dynamics, such as collaboration, teamwork, tolerance, empathy and group perspective. “Play” is designed to help children and adults explore relationships and social engagement as relate to their daily lives and to larger communities and environments.

• “The Collective Experience’ - a pool table surface with a set of nine giant billiard balls visitors can move, each ball creating its own musical tone, which synchronize with others to create a complex composition

• “The Will of the Group”- a foosball table that allows visitors to step into the role of players’ positions to explore the importance of individual expression and respecting the will of the group

• “The Power of Many”- a unique bowling experience, where visitors move together down the alley to achieve different outcomes; the experience demonstrates the power of group support and overcoming challenges as teams

• “Sum and Sum” - a full set of giant, soft-play dominoes encourages creativity and active play, with everyone working together to create buildings, forts and mazes or playing a simple version of the domino game; the activities are designed to promote cooperation and skills

• “Counterpoint”- a giant backgammon board that emits different tones when stepped on, represents the balance and movement found in music to explore how dialogue, like a melody, is achieved in responding to the actions of others; with success, the melody can become a polyphonic symphony

• “One Message” - a giant game die comes to life, with voices communicating strikingly similar proverbial messages shared by many cultures; on each face, the dots (or ‘pips’) vocalize the medley of voices from past generations and varied languages around the world

I was shocked to read this letter to the editor in the Salt Lake Tribune accusing the exhibit of having a "political agenda" because the different games require children to work together, therefore reeking of collectivism and to take it a step further, communism. Here's the text of the letter from that link:

After visiting the Discovery Gateway children’s museum, I was shocked that its new exhibit, “Play,” is lined with political agenda. The exhibit, which “uses larger-than-life clubhouse-style games to explore how people connect socially,” features giant group games: dominoes, backgammon, bowling, pool and a strange robot funhouse — all requiring children to collaborate.

The exhibit was bizarre, like Alice in Wonderland, but the kids had fun. However, when my friend pointed out an exhibit description on a wall, I realized this was a politically charged exhibit focusing on the “collective experience.”

Collectivism has reared its head in ugly forms, such as communism, socialism and fascism. It seeks to make the individual unimportant and instead makes collective decisions for the group. Kind of a one-size-fits-all policy.

Collectivism is currently showing its face in our government as it attempts the redistribution of wealth, common property ownership and controlling business and health care. This dangerous philosophy seeks to destroy diversity of lifestyle and opinion. Collectivism is the antithesis to celebrating diversity, loving one another and practicing social tolerance.

I’m furious that our county Zoo, Arts and Parks tax dollars are funding exhibits like this, with so damaging a political agenda.

 

Seriously? (Imagine that in the voice of SNL Weekend Update's Seth Meyers or Amy Poehler.) Like I said, I've been there twice now. I've never seen anyone else other than myself (and my sister and Mom yesterday when I pointed it out) read the sign up explaining the exhibit. Even if a child read it, really? You really think they would come to the point you're claiming they would? That's absolutely insane. I used to be as right-wing as they come (I can show you an old journal if you'd like- hey, that might be a funny post!) but this is just going too far. No child is going to get what you're inferring.