[NIFL-AALPD:274] I hope my critics will read this

From: Eileen Eckert (eileeneckert@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Apr 29 2003 - 15:34:03 EDT


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From: "Eileen Eckert" <eileeneckert@hotmail.com>
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Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:274] I hope my critics will read this
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Thank you all for such illustrative responses. I'm drawing several 
conclusions from the responses that suggested I should not have made my last 
remark. From those responses, I'd conclude that the writers define "freedom 
of speech" as the absence of government censorship, and that that is the 
<only> criteria needed to have freedom of speech.

If that is the case, then such freedom of speech can be achieved in a few 
different ways:

1. Through such thorough socialization that speakers and writers internalize 
the norms of the group and only express thoughts and ideas that fit those 
norms.

2. Through conscious self-editing so as not to inadvertently offend the most 
politically correct and narrowly defined conventions of professionalism.

3. The vigorous protection and exchange of ideas that are sometimes 
offensive, politically incorrect, unprofessional, thoughtless, and/or just 
plain wrong!

Personally, I choose #3. I believe that potentially transformative learning 
experiences are often uncomfortable, offensive, or otherwise painful, and 
that we've got to take the bad with the good. It seems I'm in the minority.

By the way, a few people got the joke, and one was kind enough to say it put 
her in mind of Jonathan Swift's satire on cannabalizing children to solve 
the problems of poverty and overpopulation. Personally, I was thinking of 
Mark Twain's "The Corruption of Hadleyburg."

Happy on the margins, fearful of the mainstream,
Eileen






From: Susan Holt <msholt@comcast.net>
Reply-To: nifl-aalpd@nifl.gov
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:271] Re: educator's roles in politics and advocacy
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 14:27:14 -0400 (EDT)

I am stunned as well.  This line of conversation is not what I signed up
for.  Let's get back to more helpful and constructive dialog.  Thank
you.

SH

-----Original Message-----
From: nifl-aalpd@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-aalpd@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of
AWilder106@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 1:39 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:266] Re: educator's roles in politics and advocacy


Dear Eileen,

I almost don't believe I am responding to your post.

I was following you fine until your last sentence.

It seems to me your political and religious views completely undercut
your advocacy stance and your stance as an educator!

First, "moron."  It seems to me unacceptable for an educator to use this
within such a post as it is derogatory slang.  "Moron" is a word we're
trying to get rid of in the wider culture,except in very informal
speech, and here in MA where funds for residential programs for the
retarded are being slashed...  One educator on this list told me, when I
asked, that the only people he couldn't teach were those with no
insight, what we might call "mentally retarded."  I don't even want to
use your word on this list!!!

As to invoking the diety---some on this list are beleivers and others
not, I expect.  But professinally it seems useful, and something we have
signed on for,  to accept a questionning stance in general.  I don't
really see "god" as part  of the discussion.

I expect others may disagree on these points, maybe, maybe not, but
given who we are or who we profess to be, I am stunned.

Andrea



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