9/19 Blog Discussion Prompt: 9/11 different view points

For everyone in the United States, September 11, 2001 was a tragic day. A common question of our generation is where were you on 9/11? Everyone has a story and everyone is in some way connected to the September 11 attacks. Last week we were all focused on the 9/11 attacks particularly on all people that were lost. What was not mentioned were the events that took place after 9/11, the war on terror, the weapons of mass destruction, and the countless number of young Americans that died in war. This information has almost become a taboo to mention when remembering 9/11. I think that it is very important to think about the aftermath of 9/11 on a more broad scale. With this in mind, I found an article that highlights the cost of the actions of the United States after September 11, and I have found a movie that sees the war of terror as a national need. Please analyze both objectively and please keep in mind the Deborah Tannen article when posting and responding to posts.
Based on the article and the movie I would like you to answer one of these prompts. You also need to comment on one of your classmates posts. The three prompts are listed below.
1.) Propose a less dualistic view on the war on terror, and possible reasons for why there is such a dualistic view on the war on terror.
2.) How does the article show the way that American’s seem to focus more on their own freedoms rather than the freedoms of others? Does this remind you of how the declaration of independence focuses only on White Anglo-Saxon Protestant freedom instead of the freedom of all people?
3.) Compare and contrast the techniques used to by Thomas Jefferson in the declaration of independence and Lt. General E. R. Bedard to sway public opinion for a war. Also is nationalism always a positive thing? Explain.
Article: http://rt.com/news/terrorism-9-11-war-219/ (please click read related column at the bottom of the page)
Video: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/248744/why_we_fight_terrorism/

The affect of insecurity in a classroom setting

The article The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue highlights the argumentative culture in the classroom. The author Deborah Tannin explains some possible reasons for the agonistic nature in American and European classes, and goes into possible psychological and historic reasons for this argumentative culture. The part of the article that I found the most interesting was the way that some people in the class would purposely put down the subject so they wouldn't feel insecure about their inability to grasp it. When I heard this I thought back to a time when I was in class reading Shakespeare and everyone called Shakespeare stupid and annoying. It was almost as if they are putting the blame on Shakespeare, one of the best writers of all time, because they could not understand his writing. The main thing that fuels this argumentative culture in the class room is insecurity. And one of the main things that fuels insecurity is judgement. The classroom setting at this point has become almost like a self fulfilling prophecy. If one feels insecure they argue a point to try win the argument so they will feel better about themselves, but in the process they make the person they beat feel insecure, inevitably another argument will soon start. Unfortunately learning by arguing isn't always conducive to learning, only one person's opinion comes through, instead of an eclectic mix from the classroom as a whole. The only way to overcome the argumentative culture in a classroom is to respect one another, and have a very supportive setting so people don't feel the need to dominate.

Thinking about Deborah Tannen's Article

In "The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue" Deborah Tannen offers an alternative to the prevailing notion of argument in our culture. As you prepare to discuss her article, consider the following questions:

1. What surprised you as you read?
2. What did you already know about this subject?
3. What did you learn from the article?
4. How does the article reflect your own experience?
5. How does Tannen model the kind of discourse she values?

In one entry of about a paragraph, respond to two or three of the questions, but definitely respond to question 5. Then, in a second entry, respond to one of your classmates. We will use the blog responses to shape our discussion on Tuesday.

An Inspirational Address

I hope that all of you were able to take part in academic convocation yesterday afternoon, in part because convocation is always a significant event in the life of this community, but primarily because this year we heard a most inspirational convocation address. Paul Loeb's call to action echoes that of anthropologist Margaret Mead, who once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."As you begin your college careers at Merrimack, it is appropriate to consider our shared responsibility for each other and the planet we inhabit. Please respond to this post with your own thoughts on the meaning of social responsibility.

We Make the Road by Walking ~ Paulo Freire

In addition to Professor Cain, I would like to extend a warm welcome as you begin your journey at Merrimack College.  Both of us remain dedicated to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and safe community of learning where you have the opportunity to explore, question, discuss, research, and write about topics and issues that are important to you, the 21st century learner. We view our students as fellow members of a community of practice where peer to peer and peer to faculty dialogue form the basis for deepening our understanding of what it means to think critically, communicate effectively, and ultimately to participate in positive, social transformation. According to Wenger, "Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly."  We formally invite you to enter the conversation that is your past, present, and future here in Honors WRT1050.