Johnson provides some ideas about how we can actively work toward a fairer, more
equitable and increasingly just society:
- Talking openly and honestly about privilege and oppression
- Making others uncomfortable
- The role and importance of individual action
- Make small changes and don’t take the “path of least resistance”
- Actively protest/work against injustice
- Walk in others’ shoes/learn to see the world from the perspective of others
These are important ideas and
hard to argue with in the abstract, but how we negotiate our interest in
fighting privilege/oppression with the realities of maintaining our
relationships and
continuing to live an enjoyable life in our decidedly imperfect world is an
interesting question. How do we decide
which battles are “worth fighting”? Finally, how might/should being an educator relate to this discussion?
I think that the question of which battles are worth fighting is a tough one. Firstly, you cannot fight every single battle you encounter because you will tire easily and become weak in the fight. My mom always told me growing up that you must choose your battles with life, and this is no different. The choosing part is a little tricky, though. How do I know to fight this battle and not the next? Well, simply put, I don't know. I feel like this might be one of those things where you gotta follow your gut, and if there is this overriding feeling that you can't just let something slide, then go with that feeling and let it be known! Yet at the same time, I feel like you must always be checking yourself in the sense of not letting too many things slide, or taking the path of least resistance. It's finding a good balance between the two where you are still fighting the war but not necessarily every battle.
ReplyDeleteAs far as how education can relate to the topic here, it's vital that we get some sort of battles fought within the classroom because that's where a lot of mind frames begin forming. It's not up to us to decide for the students what is "right or wrong" but showing that there is are always different perspectives that we can learn from. The classic statement, "How would you like it if someone called you _____?" is what I think of when it comes to talking about taking on someone else's perspective in the classroom. This takes it back to the Golden Rule: to onto others as you would have done to you. When it comes to children in the elementary stage, keeping it simple for them to understand is vital but you can still get a big message across to them.
-Callie G
As teachers, I believe we have a duty to participate in these ideas that Johnson articulates. But, we must walk a fine line because while we some obligation to address issues, injustices, and problems that arise in our classrooms, schools, and communities, and even world, we must always walk a fine line in maintaining professionalism and the standards teachers are typically held to. For me, the main one that stood out to me on the list was the last one: walking in others shoes/seeing things from different perspectives. As simple as this phrase is, it contains so many important nuances and lessons that are hard to always fulfill. This statement resonates with the career of teaching to a great degree, because well, frankly, teachers are working with all different types of students, guardians, and colleagues day-in-and-day-out. Misunderstanding is so common, and can often be grounds for assumption, hate, judgements, and negative feelings/actions. Misunderstanding is human, and will always happen because everyone is different, everyone is an individual, and everyone comes from a different background. To me, this means that as a teacher I will have to work extra diligently to seek more knowledge, wisdom, compassion, empathy, advice, and human-connection to avoid misunderstandings and judgments. "Walking in someones shoes" is such a simple and commonplace phrase, but actually living it out can be hard. It requires time, selflessness, and sometimes humbleness, and I think as teachers this is something we must always be striving to do, so we are knowledgeable about our students as a whole and unique person.
ReplyDeleteDeciding which battles are worth fighting is tough for me. I kind of think it depends on the situation. There are some people in the world that, no matter what anyone says to them, their beliefs or mindset will not change. The issues that Johnson discuss are rooted in hate and when someone’s heart is full of hate, it is hard to logically debate something being ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’ When people have grown up believing a certain thing or thinking a certain type of way, it is hard to make them change. This makes me think of a saying I have heard many times “You can’t change a person unless they want to be changed.” I do find myself taking the ‘path of least resistance’ often. I typically choose to remove myself from people and/or situations that I do not agree with or that make me feel uncomfortable, instead of confronting the situation. If it came to discussing an issue with someone I am close to, I would be more willing to have those types of conversations. However, to an acquaintance, I wouldn’t feel comfortable ‘going against the grain.’
ReplyDeleteI do feel different when dealing with children, however. Children are not born with hate, this is taught and I feel that teachers play a major role in shaping students ideas about the world. If we foster acceptance in our classrooms and require respect, along with demonstrating it in return, I think that can make more of a difference than trying to talk to an 80-year-old man about sexism, for example. The idea of walking in someone else’s shoes can easily be incorporated into curriculum discussions without seeming as though we are putting ideas in a child’s head. Children spend most of their time at school, with their teachers. Therefore, if we care about making a difference, I think it is important to find ways to help our student develop open minds to become caring, respectful, ‘good’ people.
As my colleagues have mentioned before me, within my personal life, I think it is challenging to pick and choose your battles, especially when it deals with the comfort of your own life and the relationships that you have established. Much of my comfort also comes from how I was raised and what I was raised believing as well. As I have gotten older, I find it very hard to sympathize with anyone who may have hate in their hearts or just have a negative outlook on life, especially if they are a full-grown adult. While I will try to "walk in others" shoes, if this person is hateful to the core, I would not even try to bother to listen to their perspective. I noticed I am instantly un-attracted to anyone who gives off, what I sense as, negativity, and that really influences who I associate myself with. However, when it comes to acquaintances who may not share the same beliefs as me, it's quite different. That is when I will pick and choose my battle a little bit more carefully. I always evaluate how I feel about the person and if I value them in my life. If the person and I do have opposing thoughts and opinions on matters, I always evaluate whether or not a friendship is worth tampering with because of it. We're all entitled to our own opinions aren't we? If we don't mean one another any harm nor do we express any hate while backing up our opinions, I don't think it's a battle worth knowing who is "right" or "wrong." However, if someone makes me outright uncomfortable, I usually put in the effort to remove myself and disassociate with that person. Personally, I am not confrontational nor do I like arguing all that much.
ReplyDeleteWhen working with children, it is very different. Children's minds and opinions are malleable, and they will often pick up everything that surrounds them. However, as teachers, we have the opportunity to expose them to different mindsets, different perspectives, and different ways of critically thinking in regards to any situation. It's also fundamental for their development if we "show" and "do" rather than just "say" and "lecture". As educators, we can be a major impact on a student developing their own thoughts and opinions rather than going with the masses or solely being influenced by those around them - especially the media and news.
- Lyly Lieu
It’s really hard to decide which battles are worth fighting, especially when you want to fight them all. Advocates for equity and justice often get branded as “social justice warriors,” “snowflakes,” or the super-offended, so it can feel incredibly uncomfortable to break from the path of least resistance. In an age of so much wrongdoing and so many injustices, it can be exhausting and I have yet to find a formula for determining when to speak up and when to stay silent.
ReplyDeleteAudre Lorde, a revolutionary favorite of mine, once said “And I remind myself all the time now that if I were to have been born mute, or had maintained an oath of silence my whole life long for safety, I would still have suffered and I would still die.” To me this quote summarizes much of what Johnson advocates for: speaking up. As an educator, a person of color, a woman, and a million other labels, it is easier to just remain silent for the sake of avoiding confrontation, but that silence will not exempt me (or anyone else) from the suffering that can be inflicted by the outside world. Knowing this, I think that Johnson provides a framework that allows everyday people begin to effect change and discourages silence. As an educator, I cannot stand idly by while being fully aware of all the world’s harshness and doing nothing; that would be antithetical to everything that I believe being an educator stands for. Johnson reminds us all of the (seemingly) small things we can do to start to create change in our imperfect world. Being an educator also provides the unique opportunity to teach children the power of being a positive and loving person. Having access to young people in the early stages and making a conscious effort to teach them how to advocate for themselves and others, is one of the most powerful ways I can think of to change the world.
- Jamiee Freeman
ReplyDeleteI find that the hardest thing is to decide which battles are the ones “worth fighting”. For each person I believe that is a subjective question. Each person is going to be raised with different ideas as to what is right and what is wrong as well as what is worth it and what is not worth it. We place different values upon different things we deem important to ourselves. I have met many people who do not hold as high of a standard for their peers as I do, leading them to be more willing to let blatant forms of things like racism and sexism slide in the hopes of “keeping the peace”. In order for there to be change, I think it is important to question the beliefs of those around you. Making people uncomfortable is the first step in the right direction. Taking the path of least resistance is such an easy way to embody the idea of “all talk and no action”. It does not lead to standing up for what you think is right. Like Johnson stated, you need to actively protest and work against injustices. You can believe in what you think is right until you are blue in the face, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re being an active part of change. I am a firm believer that you need to surround yourself with those who hold just as high of standards for their peers as yourself, and that people who you don’t want to make uncomfortable by pointing out injustices may not be people who are productive to surround yourself with. I think battles are decided worth fighting if you believe strongly in what you are fighting for. This is a very long winded way of saying that we choose which battles are worth fighting by accessing our core values and attempting to align other’s values with our own by questioning their thought. As we talked about in class last time we met, there should always be a healthy amount of questioning the world around you. I think as educators it is part of our job to foster our students’ growth by encouraging them to question the world around them. I think that it is important to model for them that you should always stand up for what you believe in, and to do so with conviction. Consider the other person(s) perspective and assess why they may think a certain way and what you can do to change their mind. Our students are the future and we should foster their growth in a way that encourages them to go out and change the world because it’s not just our world, it’s their world. I think as educators we should teach our students to find what lights a fire beneath them for change. I think it is equally important to show them that being an advocate is crucial for change. If anything, I think educators are the ones who encourage change from the beginning. Of course not all battles are appropriate to expose young students to, but I do think it’s okay to that “battle” and pull a moral or life lesson from it.
These questions will vary on the person’s opinion and how much they value having a just society. If they are trying to befriend with their coworkers so they can help them in the future, it may not be wise to start conversations by questioning their beliefs. A person/teacher must determine their priorities, what they’d be willing to give up like time or money in exchange. If they see more wrong in the world than good, they may be more willing to be more public and protest. Others may need to feel comfortable in their surroundings before they can make a leap into unknown waters. But without pushing the boundaries a little and encouraging others to work towards a more just society, there won’t be any to support you or continue the fight.
ReplyDeleteReaching for one small change in the classroom such as showing students how to accept things they don’t understand (relating to culture or individuals) can still be challenging but is worth the effort for many teachers. Teachers need to reflect on what steps we must enact first to begin the steps towards major changes for all society. Before we can have equality for all people, we must see all people as equal and deserving. Children must be taught to accept and value the cultural differences in people, rather than view it as inferior to their own.
-Jennifer Coronado
The question to how we decide which battles are “worth fighting” is hard to answer because there are just so many battles we feel are so important. However if I did have to answer, I would state that once you have walked in others’ shoes and still feel like you have to fight, I would say go for it. The idea of walking in others’ shoes and learning to see the world from the perspective of others is very important. This idea is definitely one of the first steps to working towards a more equitable and increasingly just society. As future educators, we can teach our students this concept while they are young by reading historical characters, holding discussions, or simply working with peers that are completely different than them. This can also prevent a lot of misconceptions or assumptions we choose to make. Of course, completely avoiding this is very hard because everyone is different, but walking in someone else’s shoes can help us all be understanding, respectful, and selfless- characteristics we should all acquire in our society.
ReplyDelete-Jin Kim
I feel it is hard to decide what is worth fighting for because to an individual person, everything they deal with might be worth fighting for. To tell someone something is more important than another is wrong, because it might mean nothing to you, but mean the world to someone else. However, if you have to choose which battles are worth fighting for, I would say to choose whatever is closest to your heart. You need to make sure it is something that means A LOT to you because by fighting that battle, you could lose so much. You could lose your job, your friends, or even family. It just depends on what battle you are fighting. I am a big advocate for standing up for what you believe in, and I would encourage everyone to do that.
ReplyDeleteAs a future educator, I think it is important to differentiate between what is important for everyone and what is important to you. There will be things that you don't like about your work, but you need to do something if it benefits the majority. Fighting a battle that only benefits you can create hostility from others. For children, I think it is a great idea to find out what they believe is important, and how they would try and fix it. Maybe they don't like that some people eat thanksgiving dinner, and some people don't even have a home to eat in. They could talk about starting a food drive. I think it is important for them to express theirselves and share their passion, but they have to realize that they have to be respectful for others.
Sometimes it is hard to try to walk in someone else's shoes to understand where they are coming from when you have an opinion that differs from theirs. This prompt reminds me of the book I read this semester, Hillbilly Elegy. The author gives an in depth look at the lifestyle and culture of hillbillies in Appalachia. Many reviews of the book use this information as a perfect example to explain the background of the average Trump supporter. After reading this book, it makes it easier to understand where someone is coming from in terms of their politics, even if you don't agree with them. People's experiences and culture shape their views on life, and someone that lives in rural Appalachia versus someone born and bred in New York City will likely have different views on politics.
ReplyDeleteHaving an open discussion about privilege is quite difficult. Most of the time, people's true colors come out on social media such as Facebook. I find there is a challenge in having an honest, amicable conversation about sensitive topics online because people may put up a wall and refuse to listen to what someone else has to say. It is always important to stick up for what you believe in, but I feel like sometimes it is a losing battle. Whenever talking about something uncomfortable with friends or family, it is always important to think about what will happen to the relationship if someone's feelings are hurt. Making others uncomfortable is not always the goal, but sometimes it is necessary. I find myself making my family members uncomfortable now that I am older and understand the severity of the things that come out of their mouth. Even though they are family, I don't think it is okay for them to talk the way they do. If people don't start the conversation and let others go on just to stay polite, will racism ever end?
Personally, I believe all battles (with respect to power, privilege & difference) are "worth" fighting. Tactically, however, I would say that many of these battles have a time and place. Attempting to take on every injustice we come across would unfortunately have us frozen at our doorstep unable to move forward in our own lives.
ReplyDeleteEvery person must find their own balance which still allows them to operate in a society filled with injustices. My first attempt at college was in the fall of 2002. Within the first few weeks of school I encountered a public speaker at the campus designated "free speech area" spewing hours of hate, misogyny and hetero-sexism (very Westboro-esque). I stopped going to class. I brought snacks and water to his wife and children who sat quietly nearby and proceeded to publicly(and respectfully) debate him, EVERYDAY, well into my spring semester. Though I don't know if I ever changed his perspective, his wife definitely had some life changing conversations with me and his children observed the possibility of disagreement without the threat of violence (which was the common response to his speeches). That battle to me was worth fighting; I also failed out of college, lost my academic scholarship (free ride), and had to move back home with my parents with no future prospects or real plans.
I often wonder what became of that family, how its dynamic might have changed, and how his kids have developed in their thinking (they were 9 and 12 during this experience). As educators, I think the battles that are worth fighting are the ones that set an example to both actors and observers. Though, it would be nice to fight these battles without losing our jobs or going to the extreme I did in my own past. So as an educator, I choose to focus on the idea of making people uncomfortable. I think its is reasonable to respond oppressive actions or statements immediately in my classroom. They are making someone uncomfortable whether it is acknowledged or not. In the least we can make them uncomfortable back, engage our students in critical thinking and discourse, and attempt to make them better people than they were when they entered our classroom. We just need to remember to also teach some SOL topics now and then...
I think anything that violates a basic human right is something that is immediately worth fighting for. Does that mean that we’ll do it? Probably not. We are all so very individualistic, we have our own problems and issues to deal with. How will I combat these things if I have to spend all my time just trying to make ends meet? Am I not allowed to have an easy life? Do I have to be a martyr? Is simply talking about it enough, or should I be outside a building somewhere shouting it from the top of my lungs? We all probably think about these things. I don’t think there is some line we can draw that applies to everyone in what they are able to do, and whether or not they should be fighting for something. This will depend on them, their perspectives, and their abilities.
ReplyDeleteMy sister helped me frame my own personal answer for this. We had been talking about radical actions taken such as vandalism in support of the LGBTQ issues. I had been given a chance to join the vandalism and refused, I was then accused of not caring about their issues (and thus not caring for my LGBTQ friends and family) for my refusal to join. The reason I didn’t join is I didn’t want to risk being expelled from VCU and losing all chances of becoming a teacher. My sister who is also a strong LGBTQ ally told me to think about the effect of the vandalism. Is this one act going to change anything? What will it do other than add fuel to the fire of opposition? If I had joined in, lost my ability to become a teacher, I would be giving up a position of power where I might be able to make actual changes. So I need to walk a line that allows me to advocate for justice but also doesn’t negate the impact of that influence.
I obviously think teaching is deeply embedded in these issues. If not for the mere fact for the first 18 or so years of life, the role model of society is our schools. This is a zone where we can model equity, justice, and fairness. The exploratory nature of education allows us also to attempt to debate these topics in a manner that is scholarly and critical.
-Peter LaBarr
The problem of deciding which battles are "worth fighting" is one that we each face every single day. We face it in almost every decision we make. Do we only shop at businesses that pay their workers a living wage? Do we only eat ethically-sourced meat or no meat at all? Do we toss our empty Starbucks cup in the trash or rinse it out and put it in the recycling? Do we only watch movies in which actors of all genders are paid equally? Choosing to "fight a battle" doesn't necessarily mean we are out protesting, running for office, or picking up a rifle. It means making a choice, however big or small, and making that choice based on your beliefs and values. As a teacher, I hope to instill in my future students the understanding that anyone can make a difference and that the choices they make, even the seemingly mundane ones, can have impact on large issues. We each fight battles everyday, whether we realize it or not.
ReplyDelete-Marc Heaton
People are going to pick and choose which battles are worth fighting based on their beliefs, values, experiences, etc. The battles I think are worth fighting will not always be valued by someone else. People tend to pick and choose their battles in which they feel most strongly about. Johnson says that if we want to do something about privilege and oppression, we have to talk about it. However, in most cases we don't because we feel the risks are too high. I think it's easier in my situation as a future counselor to address privilege, power, and difference with students because I'm able to converse with them one on one. Instead of speaking in front of the entire class, where students may feel unsure (or even myself) about how others may react, we are able to speak in private. There is confidentiality with every meeting, so students know it's a safe place where they can come to express any difficulties they may be experiencing. While it may be easier for students to address issues of this nature in my office, this also means I'm unable to reach and influence as many students as if I were in front of an entire class. However, it does allow me to work towards making small changes by reaching at least one student. As an educator, it's doing what Johnson suggests: talking openly, making others uncomfortable by using gentle confrontations, and being empathetic.
ReplyDelete-Hannah C.
I don’t think that any criteria is always applicable to determining which battles aer worth fighting. As Kurt has said many times, we can’t fight every battle because we have to operate in this system for better or for worse, but tht doesn’t mean we have to let important issues slip past. That having been said, to “fight” a battle doesn’t necessarily have to mean causing a huge uproar about it (though there are certainly cases where this is appropriate). Im not sure I could pick my battles (and my strategy for fighting said battle) without specific context.
ReplyDeleteIn that same vein, I believe one of the most important roles I have as an educator is also as an advocate for my students, so I think that those are my battles- the ones that affect my students’ ability to safely learn and grow. As I said in class a few weeks ago, I had the experience of watching a teacher spread misinformation regarding native peoples in the Americas that wasn’t just factually incorrect, but harmful on a plethora of levels, not the least of which being how it would affect students’ perceptions of the time period and peoples being studied. I thought very seriously during that lesson about whether or not it was my place to correct this teacher who surely had more experience than I, and how much good it would actually do to say something. I determined that I would mention it to some of my professors, to see what action they suggested, but ultimately did not say anything to the teacher as it seemed to be the consensus that it wasn’t my place. I didn’t let this battle go, instead I simply chose another arena to fight it. In response, I wrote a paper critiquing the use of historical empathy, epistemology, and how history is used in terms of how it relates to how we teach native histories to students, and have made a lesson plan or two addressing these histories as well as popular anachronisms and where they developed. I believe the best place to fight these sort of issues is within my own classroom which I should strive to make as factual, and welcoming as possible. It will not always be comfortable, but I don’t believe in glossing over important issues, historical and otherwise, simply because they are uncomfortable.
Picking our battles can be very difficult, especially as an educator. We might want to fight a lot of battles, but can be afraid to do so for fear of getting fired. I also think we tend to pick our battles based on identity. For example, I might be more likely to fight for feminism issues as a white woman instead of race issues since racial issues don't directly affect me. Of course I find racial issues important and worth fighting for, but I don't always think about fighting for these issues. I also think that I'm not the most qualified person to fight for racial issues. I would be afraid to overstep or talk over people of color that face these racial issues. But, this fear does relate to Johnson's idea of not taking the "path of least resistance". I might be worried about making mistakes or overstepping my boundaries when fighting for racial issues, but my worries shouldn't keep me from fighting for others.
ReplyDeletePeople say "Choose your battles wisely." I think that whichever battle you choose, as long as you stand up for that fight, you become satisfied. It's not winning battles that makes you happy, but it's the amount of times you turned away and chose to look into a better direction. As a future educator, I think that it's important to think of the issues you are passionate about and stick with it. We have to figure out which battles are worth fighting for, the ones that will benefit the students. For instance, if I have to choose between making sure a child has been fed or making a child is safe and teaching him math; I will feed him first and make sure that his basic needs are met first before teaching him,because his lack of nutrition will affect his health which also affects his academics.
ReplyDeleteThe students fight battles everyday. Some battles are as simple as getting out of the house and getting on the bus on the way to school especially since if they're home life is safe. They have to know that we're fighting for them, too. And that's a battle that's always worth it.
Frances Marquez
DeleteThis is an incredibly difficult question to answer. Ideally, I'd love to say all battles are worth fighting, but is that realistic? Unfortunately, I don't think it is. (Which may be wrong of me!) I believe that it is absolutely crucial to stand up for what you believe in and stand up against injustices. I agree that, to a certain extent, you should be willing to make people uncomfortable to "call them out" for their hurtful stereotypes or prejudices. However, I think a line should be drawn to maintain relationships that are important to you. For example, my father and I vary a bit in some of our views. We share our differing ideas with each other and are willing to listen, but some things we simply do not agree on. To me, it is not worth straining my relationship with my father. I would rather agree to disagree as long as I have made my stance and beliefs clear to him. On the other hand, as an educator, this may get even stickier. I believe, like we have discussed in class, that teachers should advocate for their students. They should stand against injustice and oppression and fight for equality for their students. However, this seems most appropriate outside of the immediate classroom environment. What I do believe is appropriate- and crucial!- in the actual classroom is for teachers to teach students how to respect one another, be willing to listen to different opinions, celebrate differences, and so on. A huge piece of this being successful will be the teacher modeling all of these things!
ReplyDelete-Stephanie Liggitt
I think that fighting privilege/oppression while maintaining personal relationships and enjoying life can be quite exhausting, speaking to my own life experiences. I have gotten to the point where I have definitely learned that you can’t fight every battle, because if you do, you won’t have time to do anything else. I believe that choosing battles to fight in your personal life is a personal decision, and you can definitely take the path of least resistance and your life will still go on. That isn’t how I try live my life, but we’re all different and that’s okay.
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom setting, however, I think it is a lot easier to set a specific tone of how your classroom works. You can definitely create an environment where your students feel comfortable to talk about their opinions about privilege/oppression. I think it would look very different across grade levels, but it can be done. You can establish from early on that everyone is to feel safe and secure, and if you feel slighted, then you should be able to express that. I also believe having uncomfortable conversations with students can be done. Whether you’re talking about history, current events, or whatever- it’s all about creating the environment to be able to facilitate that. Early on in the semester, Kurt gave an example of a student calling another student a “fag.” While you can easily act like you didn’t hear that interaction, I believe talking about it would be a way to make a change. Talk about how that’s not how students are to talk to others when they’re inside your classroom/school/whatever. This way, you’re not telling them they’re “wrong” or “bad” (even if they are), you’re just telling them that language is not acceptable in that setting. Actively protesting/working against injustice is probably the trickiest, in my opinion. I think you’ll have to feel that out in your school. However, I think you can always advocate for your students if you feel/see them being mistreated, or treated unequally in comparison to another student, for whatever reason. The easiest one to include in the classroom is the idea of walking in others’ shoes and learning to see the world from the perspective of others. I think every student in a classroom has something to teach, if you give them the chance to do so. I think it is never too early to teach children that their life is not like everyone else’s. So many factors make people who they are, and I think teaching students to embrace what makes them “them” is so important. Again, this can only be possible if you allow it, if you create an environment where students feel comfortable sharing parts of their lives.
-Ashleigh Ingram
Like many of my colleagues, I also found this question to be incredibly difficult to answer. Do I think all of the mentioned battles are “worth” fighting? Of course. Do I think it’s possible to fight all of the mentioned battles? Realistically, no. I believe it’s possible to talk opening and honestly about privilege, oppression, injustice, and the many other topics when done in a respectful manner. It’s only when discussions on differing opinions become ugly and it’s clear neither person is going to have a change of heart that I think the battle becomes not “worth” fighting. Though, as a few other said, I think of myself as someone who prefers to avoid conflict and wouldn’t feel comfortable challenging beliefs unless we were comfortable with each other. I mostly thought of all this in terms of adult interactions. As for interactions in the classroom, I think it’s important to encourage and to teach children that it’s okay and “worth” talking about tough topics. Maybe the more and earlier we discuss such topics, the easier they will be for everyone to talk about.
ReplyDeleteI think the thought of talking about priviledge makes people uncomfortable because people do not like to acknowledge what they have had. I think that it is important to think what priviledge really is and to know that just because you have been priviledged doesnt mean you have not had hardships. People like to wallow in poor pitiful me thought and sometimes that can be toxic when the person is struggling with "first world problems." It just made me think about people who complain on social media and how if you have the ability to post on a regular basis, then do you really have something to complain about?
ReplyDeleteFarrell Bishop
Delete