tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148583423920010660.post8111937053388896938..comments2024-02-14T03:55:13.044-05:00Comments on Thinking While Teaching: Protest, violence, hope Bill Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967246142416037769noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148583423920010660.post-33627525665404817662020-06-07T08:39:19.000-04:002020-06-07T08:39:19.000-04:00I'm reading a bit about Shays' Rebellion a...I'm reading a bit about Shays' Rebellion and the Constitutional Convention. When learning about it in school, I always thought of the Articles of Confederation as an agreement meant to be temporary. But I realize that, in theory, a Constitutional Convention might never have happened, and it took a few years before enough people were convinced we needed one. I've said this before, but I find it inspiring to learn some of the details of how the Constitution came about, to learn that it was a compromise made by fallible men, rather than springing forth fully formed like Athena from the head of Zeus.<br /><br />Also, I listened to MLK's full speech at Stanford.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148583423920010660.post-20480703848478728352020-06-06T08:05:10.420-04:002020-06-06T08:05:10.420-04:00I enjoyed reading about the Rebellions, Shay's...I enjoyed reading about the Rebellions, Shay's and Whiskey, and finding out about the Paper Money Riot (what a great name for a band)!<br /><br />The comment about the less-responsive less-democratic Constitution (which I'm not sure I agree with), got me thinking about whether I support things being made "more democratic." For example, I agree with efforts to dismantle the administrative state, and move decision-making away from executive branch agencies and over to Congress, so that's me supporting something that is arguably more democratic. On the other hand, I would not want to give Congress control over the Federal Reserve, which is me supporting something that is anti-democratic in a sense. I'll have to think more about this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148583423920010660.post-48535241436202509382020-06-03T20:54:06.902-04:002020-06-03T20:54:06.902-04:00"Also, I don’t think 'human beings are al..."Also, I don’t think 'human beings are all selfish, individualistic, and lazy.' They are only part 'selfish, individualistic, and lazy.' I agree they can also be 'good people with the capacity and the willingness to fight for what is right.' I wouldn’t call this a hopeful view of humanity, though, nor a positive one, just an observation of 'the way things are.'" <br /><br />Okay, but if you are going to get involved in a time-consuming thing like a political protest movement you are hoping for something, that there are enough of those good people to join you. Here is what the dictionary says that Hope, as a verb, means: "want something to happen or be the case." You would be foolish not to want that to be the case. <br />Bill Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07967246142416037769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148583423920010660.post-21402304214405503392020-06-03T19:50:30.606-04:002020-06-03T19:50:30.606-04:00First, I don’t think (and I could be wrong) I ever...First, I don’t think (and I could be wrong) I ever said action and a person’s outlook on the world aren’t connected. In fact, I recently did a corporate training on effective communication and a I started by saying that to be effective communicators we need two things: the right mindset and the right skillset (not a hopeful mindset by the way). Also, I don’t think “human beings are all selfish, individualistic, and lazy.” They are only part “selfish, individualistic, and lazy.” I agree they can also be “good people with the capacity and the willingness to fight for what is right.” I wouldn’t call this a hopeful view of humanity, though, nor a positive one, just an observation of “the way things are” to use a Buddhist phrase. Nor do I think I’ll every succeed at banning the “H” word any more than I’ll every succeed at banning the “N” word. I Just think we’d be better off without both, especially the “N” word, but that’s a topic for another conversation. One thing I’ve learned is how impactful the words we choose can be. Being precise in our language makes a big difference in our emotional wellbeing and the wellbeing of those we interact with. Using (perhaps more accurately, misusing) words like “should” and “must” and “always” and “never” and “wish” and “hope” and “someday” and “if only” can have serious consequences on one’s outlook as well as one’s behavior and outcomes. Let’s keep striving to improve our mindsets and our skillsets, along with the way we speak to ourselves and to others, and let’s start with eliminating those words I mentioned. Maybe we can’t ban them, but we can stop using them ourselves. <br />As far as taking it to the streets, I’m sure I have plenty of those wrong motives you spoke of mixed in with one or two good ones. I’m hoping, make that requesting, you’ll educate me on how to do it in the most efficient and effective way possible. Even more so, I’m “hoping” we’ll be doing it side by side. <br />Tom Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03893984854145616857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148583423920010660.post-89566890961166757742020-06-02T05:51:39.403-04:002020-06-02T05:51:39.403-04:00Don't go taking to the streets without a "...Don't go taking to the streets without a "credible plan to win." Examine your motives. Are you doing it to show that you are on the right side of history? That you are not a racist? That you are a good citizen? To feel good? To get a great selfie for your Facebook profile picture? Fine, but don't call it political activism unless it is tied to a viable plan in which what you do is connected to a particular end. McAlevey also talks about "structure based organizing." If you channel your efforts through an existing organization you are more likely to have an impact. Individualism is not a good basis for political organizing. The ending quote is tied to one of the topics for a future post, about having faith in human beings to govern themselves. <br /><br />I think it's interesting that a psychologist thinks action and a person's outlook on the world aren't connected. The reason Chenoweth's comment gives me "hope" is because it says my fellow humans are good people with the capacity and the willingness to fight for what is right. If I believed that human beings were all selfish, individualistic, and lazy, why would I bother to get together with them. In the English language, I think it's fair to call this a hopeful view of humanity. You could simply say it's a positive view, I suppose. Good luck banning the word "hope," though. It appears on every other page of every book, it seems, and pops up in every conversation. Bill Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07967246142416037769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148583423920010660.post-25131781826591103862020-06-01T15:17:36.972-04:002020-06-01T15:17:36.972-04:00Another great essay. Makes me want to take to the ...Another great essay. Makes me want to take to the streets. I'd like to make one suggestion. Change your last sentence from: That, to me, sounds like a cause for hope during these bleak times. To: That, to me, sounds like a call to action during these bleak times.Tom Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03893984854145616857noreply@blogger.com