Our founding fathers didn't use the words "gay," "trans," or "queer" but Lady Liberty does remind us that we -every person ever to know of her - is weary, and to some end, weak. That's just a human condition to be both simultaneously without need of articulating it. The freedoms represented by her torch doesn't exclude any race, gender, religious or social class or people who may present/identify themselves as any of the words forementioned or as not expected by majorities. The freedoms and the "pursuit of Happiness" is meant for everyone. Alan Johnson focuses on another human condition that causes big societal troubles in Privilege Power and Difference - our thoughts - which leads as to act (or speak) inhumane. In his chapter "The Troubke We're In" he suggests something simple to overcome or reduce societal trouble - talk about it. Johnson understands that "a trouble we can't talk about is a trouble we can't do anything about." Talking about issues that oppress and demean fellow humans or that hurt others' feelings can lead to many people checking their actions and spoken words to lessen damaging behaviors. I do agree with Johnson that through discussion we can "name and make sense of the truth of what's going on."
But how do we start to talk about painful issues? Do we just tell a friend "I saw somebody queer today" to start a dialogue that will lead to correction and better understanding?
How did you know the person was queer? Did the person do something weird or did the person say, "Hello, I'm queer?"
Why not?
Johnson gives many self-truths, and points to our human blindnesses matter of factly; "The trouble is rooted in a legacy we all inherited, and while we're here, it belongs to us. It isn't our fault. It wasn't caused by something we did or didn't do. But now that it's ours, it's up to us to decide how we're going to deal with it before we collectively pass it along to the generations that will follow ours."
How this fits into our lives as Educators is as a reminder to try to change thoughts in the lives that we touch daily by learning from others and jumping into being uncomfortable in the differences we experience. The following helps to explain Marilyn Lodan's "diversity wheel" Johnson references Bing Videos. If you do as Johnson suggests and stop to review the wheel, you will reflect on your own aspects of identity. How much of your perception shifted thinking of James Baldwin's comment on Race as a social construct? How many other social constructs do we vainly invest in?
To clarify purpose of other cultural impacts, review this site's video: Philosophy & Approach - Welcome to CCLI (Cultural Competence Learning Institute) (astc.org) We help others grow by growing. This way, as Johnson believes
References:
Johnson, A. G. (2001). Privilege, Power, and Difference.p. 1-23. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.
Philosophy & Approach. Philosophy & Approach - Welcome to CCLI (Cultural Competence Learning Institute). (n.d.). https://community.astc.org/ccli/philosophy-approach/foundations
I think starting difficult conversations is a worthwhile lesson in itself! I agree it can be challenging at times. Being able to engage and discuss issues with genuine learning and listening is a skill many of us have exchanged for the desire to debate. Many issues will not have a 'winner' or a 'loser' at the end of the discussion, but if you listen instead of debate, you might grow your understanding.
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