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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: November 6, 2004
Latest Update: November 6, 2004
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
Proposed Issues for Inclusion in Exhibit. Proposed by Jason M. Miller.
- Pay to Pray? Message #735
Proposed by Renee Decter."During the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur), one must have tickets to attend services, unlike Easter when anyone can come to church. This past Sept, dad called the temple requesting special consideration for disabled parking, seating close to the bema (altar) since seating is reserved, and especially tickets for the 6:30 service (there are 3 at different times and dad got 5 PM services which interferes in the meds he has to take at that time). These requests were made due to his disabilities (he's 92). The lady on the phone at the tmple told dad she couldn't accommodate him because "the temple has a lot of young families who requested the 6:30 service ... and they are paying more in temple dues than you are. In fact, Mr _____, you have been paying low dues for quite some years."
This project is one of raising consciousness in an infrastructure in which dominant discourse has foreclosed any understanding of the interrelationships which create and maintain this infrastructure. There is no authority which can offer us an answer. Instead, we are seeking greater awareness on the part of an institution which seems to have lost its sensitivity to some members. I will try to help Renee contack rabbis who will step in here and help. But maybe others of you are interested, too.
- Worker isolation from democratic party: Message #745.
We also have to remember that democrats pretty much had a block vote with the working class but they seem to have lost it. I really think the party is having some identity issue that the administration took advantage of. The democrats left workers out there alone... and the moral right was there for them." Proposed by Armando Garcia.
Cognitive Connection Links Plausible suggestions for connecting your exhibit project to the class theories in each class, and source materials for preparing a brief written description of your project for handouts.
- Shifting the burden of proof as a subtle power trip.
Proposed by jeanne.Part of the strategy involved here is shifting the burden of proof. In the introduction to the article: "This decision is troublesome because it renders many arbitration provisions unenforceable under California law and shifts the burden of proof of unconscionability Let's be sure we all understand what that means. Could we think of a shift of burden of proof in demonstrating the harm caused by a raise in tuition fees. Now the student must protest and has the burden of proof. What if we required the Board of Trustees to assume the burden of proof that such tuition fees will not prove an unbalanced and unwarranted burden on the poor. Might we be able to assume that there is such a burden when both presidential candidates talk about making it easier for middle class families to "afford college" for their children?
I proposed this because this is less specific than some of the legal projects we may wish to use for exhibits, and it goes to the public's understanding of how subtle polictical advantages are set up.
- Racism on College Campuses
Message #747 and part of thread on racism. Proposed by Renee Decter."Jenny wrote, thanking me for posting the link to this article. I responded with: I am glad you liked the article, JENNY (got it right!!!). I wonder what we can do about it ... and have some ideas. However, I've lived with racism my whole life (anti-semitism) and know that racism is deep-seated and very difficult, if not impossible, to undo." Think about transforming dominant discourse.
You know the boxes, inside, outside, upside down. How about if we got Olga to make us a few sock puppets, different colors, and then said that certain colors couldn't go insider the boxes? Wouldn't that give us a chance to make people conscious of racism. And what about using 4 x 6 cards for narrative stories at the Respect table, and checking to see if we get any that mention racism? Think outside the box. Get people to talk about it. That's the first step.
- Homelessness
Message #608 et al. Proposed by Shon Williams.
- A Divided People
Message #486."Although I believe that this election has been a extroadinary civic experience for the masses, I do think that it has exposed America as two different countries; seperated by black and white, rich and poor. I don't believe the rigid divisions existed until the Clinton administration--and the subsequent scandelous attacks aimed at him from the right."
The Republicans vowed to never give up power again (by hook or by crook). And here we are divided by the national version of the Southern strategy; divided of course by the party led by the "uniter".
Can you come up with ways of concretely illustrating the Southern Strategy. Lots of people don't even know what it is. Time we got it into discourse.There is a lot of material on this, Jason. One place to start might be The Election, Respect, and Naked Space. I'll bet Miko could spot lots of material on this. He did pretty well during the election.
Judy Blume's Book on Divorce Proposed by Jessica Graham.Working with Judy Blume book on divorce with a group of teen agers who will use the book as a diary of their own experiences for exhibit.Good combination of sharing across academic-community bridge and of bringing the issue to illocutionary and governance discourse settings. Jessica, we want to think on how you will connect this cognitively to the law, like, for example, that divorce law focuses almost not at all on the children it affects.
