Sometimes I need to remind myself of why I am doing what I do, what my self-defined goals and purpose in life is, and of where I see myself heading and ending up in the future - albeit a rough outline. I therefore need to constantly give myself a pep talk especially as what I intend to achieve has been, and probably rightly can be, defined and called "over-ambitious".
Yes, I tend to be an idealist (in the Wilsonian tradition, really) and I tend to keep adding to my work load because (1) I think things need to be done, and (2) I'm a perfectionist so I prefer over-seeing or doing those things myself. Yes, it's a flaw and I am trying to work on it!
I bring this up because it was stirred up in the previous post (and in my experience that day at ISU) in which the stark contrasts between Western and African societies were highlighted, not only in terms of socio-economic development and progress, but also in terms of values, perspectives and socio-political organisation. Even in my interaction with my fellow youth ambassadors was it vividly brought to my attention that even in South Africa there are two very different worlds, a dichotomy comparable to that of the North-South divide, falling very much (in South Africa at least) along racial lines.
I know that this is not an exclusively South African phenomenon, although it may be much more pronounced here. It is a phenomenon that is witnessed and cuts across the entire world, with the majority of the world's riches concentrated in the hands of an elite minority who ultimately benefit from that abundance. Yet again, I can go into an extensive discussion on the International Political Economy, the legacy of Colonialism (and Apartheid here in South Africa) and even what some have called neo-Colonialism, but I think it defeats the purpose. I don't like pointing fingers, and as we all know, whenever we point one finger at something or someone, there are always three pointing back.
Maybe I am ambitious, over-ambitious, because I want to change the world for the better. Maybe I am an idealist because I believe in cooperation and interdependence, mutual understanding, but most importantly, the Enlightenment idea of the progressive nature and role of Education. This idea - and particularly Enligthenment philosophy in general - formed and continues to form the basis of American society (in my opinion) and explains the high value placed on Education in the United States.
Getting back to this desire I have to change the world though... Leah sent me a quote early this morning (South African time) that made me think about the over-ambitious nature of the endeavour!
My role in the grand scheme of things, I believe, is in education and politics. Yes, within these two seemingly antagonistic institutions is where I know my role in changing the world lies.
Educators are tasked with a special responsibility in that they have the opportunity to affect, touch and change so many lives by imparting and sharing knowledge and experiences. This is a real grass-roots position in which to inspire true social change by merely changing attitudes and perceptions. I believe that we need to change the world, but the greatest challenge is rather in changing minds, mentalities and attitudes. In this regard there are three quotes that I think educators should take to heart, remember and live by:
Education, the process of educating, however, goes well beyond mere chalk and talk lectures, class room discussions and debates, or all forms of teacher-student interaction. Education is a process that, in my opinion, is an ongoing, ever-present and undying process that involves the internalisation of and reflection on information, experiences, observations, interactions and encounters. More importantly, because of this interactive nature of education, it is a reciprocal process in which the teacher teaches, but should also be taught. It's a process that, whether good or bad, is intertwined with human existence as we try to make sense of the world and therefore I think that I have a role to play and responsibility even in politics.
It relates, I think, more to the Athenian democratic and Roman republican idea of the active citizen and active citizen participation in the every day organisation of social and political life. More specifically to the idea of developmental republicanism which holds that through participation in the community and its affairs, we develop and nurture our abilities as human beings and shape our destiny. If man is by nature, according to Aristotle, a political animal, then politics is central to our lives and essential in realising our full potential, not only because politics is present in every aspect of social organisation, but because it is an educating process in itself. Thomas Jefferson said: "Information is the currency of democracy," and democracy - especially if we're trying to consolidate and strengthen a new democracy - needs to be built on a solid democratic political culture base that involves active citizen participation and the free flow of debate, discussion, differences and information. But, above and beyond the virtue of political participation, is our civic duty and responsibility to participate. As the Teacher at the Mosque in Ames, IA said: "Silence is consent, and through consent we become partners in crime."
Education is key to society's advancement, something as true today as it was during the Enlightenment period, and as Oprah says: "Education is Freedom". Education is emancipation from mental slavery, and one of the building blocks - if not the cornerstone - in constructing a better world, a better life, for all.
Yes, I tend to be an idealist (in the Wilsonian tradition, really) and I tend to keep adding to my work load because (1) I think things need to be done, and (2) I'm a perfectionist so I prefer over-seeing or doing those things myself. Yes, it's a flaw and I am trying to work on it!
I bring this up because it was stirred up in the previous post (and in my experience that day at ISU) in which the stark contrasts between Western and African societies were highlighted, not only in terms of socio-economic development and progress, but also in terms of values, perspectives and socio-political organisation. Even in my interaction with my fellow youth ambassadors was it vividly brought to my attention that even in South Africa there are two very different worlds, a dichotomy comparable to that of the North-South divide, falling very much (in South Africa at least) along racial lines.
I know that this is not an exclusively South African phenomenon, although it may be much more pronounced here. It is a phenomenon that is witnessed and cuts across the entire world, with the majority of the world's riches concentrated in the hands of an elite minority who ultimately benefit from that abundance. Yet again, I can go into an extensive discussion on the International Political Economy, the legacy of Colonialism (and Apartheid here in South Africa) and even what some have called neo-Colonialism, but I think it defeats the purpose. I don't like pointing fingers, and as we all know, whenever we point one finger at something or someone, there are always three pointing back.
Maybe I am ambitious, over-ambitious, because I want to change the world for the better. Maybe I am an idealist because I believe in cooperation and interdependence, mutual understanding, but most importantly, the Enlightenment idea of the progressive nature and role of Education. This idea - and particularly Enligthenment philosophy in general - formed and continues to form the basis of American society (in my opinion) and explains the high value placed on Education in the United States.
Getting back to this desire I have to change the world though... Leah sent me a quote early this morning (South African time) that made me think about the over-ambitious nature of the endeavour!
"It takes a small group of committed citizens to change the world ~ indeed its the only thing that ever works" - Margaret MeadI tend to agree, I think changing the world is a project that has to have its roots at the very base of society - the grassroots level - should be centred around you, me and the most basic unit of society - the individual. Therefore believe this is a responsibility that rests on the shoulders of each human being.
My role in the grand scheme of things, I believe, is in education and politics. Yes, within these two seemingly antagonistic institutions is where I know my role in changing the world lies.
Educators are tasked with a special responsibility in that they have the opportunity to affect, touch and change so many lives by imparting and sharing knowledge and experiences. This is a real grass-roots position in which to inspire true social change by merely changing attitudes and perceptions. I believe that we need to change the world, but the greatest challenge is rather in changing minds, mentalities and attitudes. In this regard there are three quotes that I think educators should take to heart, remember and live by:
"After all, what is education but a process by which a person begins to learn how to learn?" Peter Ustinov, Dear Me 1977In a contemporary age in which we have witnessed the gradual decline in prestige and status of teaching, I think we need to reclaim the profession as an honourable enterprise and one of the highest civic virtues or duties, proclaiming that (contrary to the popular expression) "those who can't teach, do."
"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." - Malcolm Forbes
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - W.B.Yeats
Education, the process of educating, however, goes well beyond mere chalk and talk lectures, class room discussions and debates, or all forms of teacher-student interaction. Education is a process that, in my opinion, is an ongoing, ever-present and undying process that involves the internalisation of and reflection on information, experiences, observations, interactions and encounters. More importantly, because of this interactive nature of education, it is a reciprocal process in which the teacher teaches, but should also be taught. It's a process that, whether good or bad, is intertwined with human existence as we try to make sense of the world and therefore I think that I have a role to play and responsibility even in politics.
It relates, I think, more to the Athenian democratic and Roman republican idea of the active citizen and active citizen participation in the every day organisation of social and political life. More specifically to the idea of developmental republicanism which holds that through participation in the community and its affairs, we develop and nurture our abilities as human beings and shape our destiny. If man is by nature, according to Aristotle, a political animal, then politics is central to our lives and essential in realising our full potential, not only because politics is present in every aspect of social organisation, but because it is an educating process in itself. Thomas Jefferson said: "Information is the currency of democracy," and democracy - especially if we're trying to consolidate and strengthen a new democracy - needs to be built on a solid democratic political culture base that involves active citizen participation and the free flow of debate, discussion, differences and information. But, above and beyond the virtue of political participation, is our civic duty and responsibility to participate. As the Teacher at the Mosque in Ames, IA said: "Silence is consent, and through consent we become partners in crime."
Education is key to society's advancement, something as true today as it was during the Enlightenment period, and as Oprah says: "Education is Freedom". Education is emancipation from mental slavery, and one of the building blocks - if not the cornerstone - in constructing a better world, a better life, for all.
2 comments:
Wilsonian Tradition in the Walter Russel Meade sense of the term?
If you're referring to Walter Russell Mead's article in the Winter 1999/2000 issue of The National Interest entitled "The Jacksonian Tradition," in which he desribed the four main guiding philosophies which have influenced the formation of American foreign policy in history: the Hamiltonians, the Wilsonians, the Jeffersonians and the Jacksonians.
Then yes, in that sense. :)
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