Mirror Sites:
CSUDH Habermas UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: May 4, 2001
Latest update: May 4, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

On Thursday, May 3, 2001, Araceli Mark wrote:

One thing that remained with me this semester is to listen to others in good faith. We don't have to agree with what others have to say, but we need to listen. Dominant discourse, prevalent in our institutions and everyday life, sets the normative standards and expectations that are required of us. Those in power use dominant discourse to their advantage; they may keep the subordinate voiceless by refusing to listen to them and tenaciously defend their own positions or beliefs. Refusing to listen creates ignorance and as Gloria Anzaldua puts it, "Ignorance splits people, creates prejudices. A misinformed people is a subjugated people." We must listen to other people's history, struggles, and triumphs.

How can we ever respect others, if we choose not to know them? How can we have peace when we, ourselves, are being structurally violent by shutting others out and object to listening in good faith? This not only applies to the dominant group, but also to the "others" who have become oppressors themselves. Nobody likes to take the blame, but everyone likes to point the finger. Respecting others is difficult because it breaks down the borders/boundaries that separate the haves from the have-nots, the visible from the invisible, the loquacious from the reticent.

A student named Valencia wrote on Watts, and you connected it to the writings of the "Urban Jungle." I would like to add that South Central is also seen in a negative light. A friend of mine, who lives out of state, asked me if it was true that South Central was dangerous, if drive-bys were common? I told him no. I asked him what gave him such an idea, and he responded "movies." The media, the dominant discourse, had fed him exaggerated and distorted images. I am not going to say that South Central is violence free, but I know I'm not dodging bullets every 5 seconds. My friend was able to come down to Los Angeles and experience the hood first hand. He told me it was not like he had imagined it to be; he actually enjoyed it. He went back home and told his cousins that South Central isn't bloody like in the movies. I am glad that he was able to share this information with others who may have had a different perception. I am especially glad that they listened to him in good faith and that positive change took place.

Araceli Mark
Peace and Conflict
5/3/01

On Friday, May 4, 2001, jeanne responded:

Beautifully done, Araceli. What a good example of taking off from Valencia Ross' work, and expanding it. I think maybe we better do Writing Dominguez Hills, and include many of our service areas in all their contrasts. Once again, you, the students, are creating the project as we go. I'm proud of your creativity and the talents you all are showing in expanding our writing to useful texts that will serve other students. I hope your friend will see this site, and gain a better sense of who we are and what it's like out here. He's welcome to share with us in Writing Our Urban Community.

You designed the essay well. I liked that you highlighted the part of good faith listening that matters so much: that agreeing is not the point, listening is. You said it clearly enough that those who have not shared our classes should still understand. And I like that you brought in other authorities, like Gloria Anzaldua. Could you give us either a quote or a citation, so that other students might look up her work?

I was impressed that you incorporated our discussion of turning alterity against others, and emphasized the importance of the "Other" listening, too. This is a good way to let the teacher know that you are synthesizing material, by juxtaposing different authorities, different texts, and bringing them together into a coherent essay.

Finally, your academic discussion led to a story that illustrated the need for mutuality in a very practical way. You have thus added an application to a real problem to your theoretical musings. Good writing.

love and peace, jeanne