#251, Fool
The last two weeks in March are an anxious time for the spaghetti farmer. There is always the chance of a late frost which, while not entirely ruining the crop, generally impairs the flavor and makes it difficult for him to obtain top prices in world markets.
–Richard Dimbleby, BBC Panorama
On April 1, 1957, the BBC’s flagship program, Panorama, aired a three-minute report showing a Swiss family harvesting spaghetti from trees. The narrator was Richard Dimbleby, the most trusted voice in British broadcasting. Eight million people watched. Hundreds called the BBC the next day asking how to grow their own spaghetti trees. The BBC told them to “place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”
Eight million people. Fooled by spaghetti hanging from a tree.
The idea came from cameraman Charles de Jaeger, who remembered a teacher from his childhood who used to tease students by saying, “Boys, you are so stupid, you’d believe me if I told you that spaghetti grew on trees.” Apparently, he was right.
Think back. There was a time when you believed something completely...a fact about animals, a rule at school, how a word was pronounced. You were certain. You may have even defended it. And then one day you found out it wasn’t true.
To complete this Journal response, address the following:
Write about one thing you used to believe that turned out to be false. Tell the story of how you found out the truth and what it felt like in that moment.
Comment on a peer’s response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher