Re: Misunderstood Irony

I want to echo Glenn's comments - 

In academia, where many (not all) of us come from, we sometimes have a
tendency to get connected to making our point, and forget that our words
have power to help or to heal.  I think that is especially true during times
of crisis like this with hightened emotion that we remember toleration and
openness in dialogue.  

I also think the dialogue on this list is both incredibly powerful, but also
has limits.   It is powerful in bringing so many voices together in an
immediate way.   I have felt my soul nourished in recent days by these
conversations.   

At the same time, it is limited by the time delays, the repetitive failure
of the medium to convey tone and effects (like irony) and the safety of
sitting anonymously reacting to people's comments without seeing their eyes
and humanity.

Rachel, I do hope you stay for all the reasons Glenn outlined.  For the rest
of us, I hope we can focus on the service and the learning around this
crisis as long as possible.   

yours in service,

Tom




On Thu, 13 Sep 2001 18:51:35 -0400 (EDT), Glenn C. Hutchinson wrote:

>  I hope you don't leave the list.  It's important to have a diversity of
>  views--how else can we learn anything unless we listen to different
>  perspectives?
>  
>  I think the students selling those ribbons and raising money for the Red
>  Cross are honestly trying to do sometng positive in response to this
>  awful tragedy.  At the same time, it is true that the number of different
>  ribbons and colors can be confusing.  You would have to have a rainbow of
>  colors on your shirt or blouse to support all of these causes.
>  
>  But right now, most people have one subject on their minds--the loss of
>  so many people's lives this week.
>  
>  One more point: Can't we be patriotic Americans and also recognize that
>  we are members of a global community?  In a vigil on campus, my
Chancellor
>  today pointed out that this tragedy should not cause American students to
>  feel hostile towards all international students.  We cannot generalize,
>  that leads to the kind of stereotyping that placed Japanese-Americans in
>  camps during WW II.
>  
>  My patriotism is one based on America's  noble principles that make this
>  country so great--with liberty and justice for all.
>  
>  Rachel, please continue sharing your thoughts and continue the dialogue.
>  
>  Glenn Hutchinson
>  Charlotte, NC   
>  
>  On Thu, 13 Sep 2001 Rigolinr@aol.com wrote:
>  
>  > Everyone, 
>  > This is my last post as I have been told my views are not welcome. 
>  > My earlier post about our great men and women who risk their lives
through service to their country was meant as a critique - - not of those
men and women - - but a critique of the academy, where patriotism is usually
viewed with suspicion. No one has even suggested we wear American flags
instead of ribbons, which in light of what has happened seems somewhat
curious but par for the course among "educated" people such as ourselves. 
>  > The truth is that thousands of inncent men, women, and children were
murdered precisely and only because they were Americans. 
>  > Talk about hate crimes.
>  > Rachel Rigolino
>  > SUNY New Paltz
>  > 
>  > 
>  


"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkenss that most frightens us. We ask ourselves,
who am I to be brilliant, goreous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you NOT to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel
insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us' it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presences automaticlaly liberates others.
From the 1994 Inaugural Speech of Nelson Mandela





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