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Created: October 13, 2003
Latest Update: October 13, 2003
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

Really Deep Thoughts at CSUDH

Site Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors, October 2003.
"Fair use" encouraged.

On Thursday, October 9, 2003, Katie Williams, CSUDH, wrote:

Jeannie,
I was inspired to draw this picture after we had the discussion in our Agencies class. This picture is my perspective of the pre-conceived notions of CSUDH. Instead of feeling frustrated, I decided to paint this picture.

"Katie"

Katie Williams' Really Deep Thoughts at CSUDH

On Monday, October 13, 2003, jeanne responded:

Good idea to draw instead of getting more frustrated, Katie. I've done that lots of times. Good release, and sometimes I've done some pretty good work that way.

I'd like to go on and talk about answerability in this context, though. If I understand your picture accurately, you are frustrated when some of the discussion is superficial and fails to consider some the theory we've studied. I share your concern. I worry constantly, that especially because of the problem with books, and I believe it really is a genuine problem, since lots of students I know were waiting for their next pay check to buy their books - - - me, too - - - that it's harder to go into some topics as deeply as I would like to.

But at the same time I am reminded that those of us who have had the advantage, the privilege, even, of lived experiences in families and/or work groups and/or school groups and/or friendship groups that did not close off answerability are often insensitive to those who have never had such lived experiences. Look back at this week's topic on the body and our school's insensitivity to variations in our needs. Notice that you can almost feel between the line Malinda's frustration at not being heard, at the insensitivity to very real needs. Shannon is not so angry, as I read between the lines, kind of ending with an apologetic stance, of "Oh well, I guess that someone's always unhappy." Shannon is much more forgiving that I find reasonable, but she has come to accept the discomfort of nonanswerability, at least a little more than some of us have.

First, there are different levels of comfort with nonanswerability, responding to different personalities, lived experiences, and contexts. But also, here again, we don't quite know how to manage answerability even if we are allowed to. Malinda mentioned that the President's secretary was very sympathetic to her problem, but that didn't change the nonanswerability.

We must learn to more effectively understand of whom to demand answerability without toppling the whole institution, which would undoubtedly displease many people privileged by the institution. And we must learn to use answerability itself as effectively as possible, and recognize that many of us are going to be more comfortable addressing superficial topics than the real issues that matter in our lives.

Some of the superficiality is my fault, when I'm tired, and not struggling to keep us face-to-face with theory and deniability. But some of it is just our learning, slowly, as competently as possible, and sometimes as timidly as possible to develop this gift of answerability. Next time you're beginning to feel frustrated, try calling it to my attention, and then see if I can't get us back on track. That takes courage. For some will complain that we were on track. And I believe that there are many parallel tracks, some of which are deeper, some more superficial. Actually without your message, I might have misunderstood your picture and taken it for gratitude at having a forum so accessible.

That's the problem with communication. So many apperceptive masses shaped by such different lived experiences. Your picture wants us to talk more about the problems of talking deeply about things that matter. I'm glad you were moved to bring this all to my attention.

love and peace, jeanne

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