Eyes, ears, mouth and nose
As a young girl, in my Primary singing time, one of my favorite songs was Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. Every time we sang “head” we’d touch our heads. Then our shoulders, and so forth.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes.
Eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
The pianist would first play it slowly. Then she’d build up the tempo until we were racing from the top of our heads to the bottom of our feet doing a virtual body scan with our movements. My eye/hand coordination was on overload as I tried to keep my actions connected with the song’s words.
As a teen, I felt confident enough in my movement/singing systematization that I translated the song into French for Madame Nic’s 9th grade French class. I sang it for my peers as an extra credit assignment. An “A” for the translation win!
“La tête, les épaules, genoux et pieds…”
The last line of the song focuses on areas of the face: “Eyes, ears, mouth and nose.”
Years later as an adult with children of my own, here are ways I’m learning to associate those lyrics with equity, diversity, unity, and inclusion; to “lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice…to work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding rather than creating walls of segregation.[1]”
EYES
Watching Asian-led artistic projects to foster empathy and understanding through positive representation just as actor, comedian, and storyteller, Mike Cabellon, rallies the rest of us to do:
“…Watch an Asian-led movie with your family tonight. One of the best things about film/TV is that it can teach us empathy...We’re asking you to help curb the idea of HATRED. It’s a huge tasks and watching a movie won’t change things overnight. But I firmly believe that empathy is the best tool we have in this fight.[2]”
EARS
Listening to the words of colleagues like my friends at Bay Area Children’s Theatre:
“We believe in inclusivity, participating in important conversations, and fueling the ongoing dialogue of change...”
MOUTH
Echoing words of national leaders:
“We believe all people, and organizations, and government representatives should come together to work to secure peace and happiness for all God’s children. Unitedly, we can call on our people to work on greater harmony, civility and respect for the beliefs of others to achieve this supreme and universal goal.[3]”
– Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP
Further,
“Unitedly we declare that the answers to racism, prejudice, discrimination and hate will not come from government or law enforcement alone…Solutions will come as we open our hearts to those whose lives are different than our own, as we work to build bonds of genuine friendship, and as we see each other as the brothers and sisters we are—for we are all children of a loving God. …Oneness is not sameness in America. We must all learn to value the differences.”[4]
NOSE / “Knows”
Teaching my children to know:
· We believe in freedom, kindness, and fairness for all.
· We do whatever we can in our sphere of influence to preserve the dignity and respect of each individual.
· We root out racism in our thoughts, speech, and actions.
As we close a month where violence against Asians is in the headlines, and Black History Month has reminded us of the inequities yet to resolve, I’m encouraged by a simple message: We are all brothers and sisters and we are our best when we are joined together with respect and unity.
Even the Primary children know that.
Megan Ann Rasmussen
[1] President Russell M. Nelson, Salt Lake Tribune, October 4, 2020.
[2] Twitter. @MikeCabellon March 17, 2021
[3] ABC4.com. May 17, 2018
[4] Joint statement by The Rev. Amos C. Brown, chairman emeritus of Religious Affairs of the NAACP; Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACO; Leon Russell, chairman of the NAACP Board; and Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The essay was co-signed in agreement with its message. USA/Today. June 10, 2020
