This post was written by Sidra A. in response to the Day 9 challenge action: to engage in a respectful dialogue with someone who holds different political views than you do. This challenge required students to engage in conversation with people of differing political views, or any views in general. Our English class went down to the lower library to complete this action by participating in the "conversation stations" activity. These stations included questions and discussion prompts that were designed to help us talk about important issues without immediately focusing on the politics surrounding them. For example, one of the questions asked: "What are the most important factors in maintaining a well functioning society? What does it mean for a society to function well?" Others inquired about our feelings on art, technology, and the environment. Though each topic is one currently being debated in the political arena, the questions asked us to really consider what we think about these topics before we attach them to politics. It helped to prompt thoughtfulness and discussion. We attended each conversation station with different people and were able to hear their views and present ours as well. It was a safe and friendly environment where students felt comfortable to speak their minds. We may all be different, look different, think different, but we all bleed red. In essence, we all are the same, equal. We must respect our differences and overcome them in order to gain friendship rather than allow them to become obstacles in our lives. Having conversation is the most engaging way to learn about someone, to find similarities and understand differences, and to determine how to work together. Talking is caring.
5 Comments
Erica
3/27/2017 12:15:15 pm
Hi Sidra! You did a great job covering this action in the 30 Day Challenge! Personally, I would have to say that this was one of my favorite activities. When my class went down to the lower library, we were able to engage in discussion with, not only our classmates, but students from a junior english class. I was excited to participate in this opportunity because I did not know many of the people in the other class and I was curious to hear their perspectives on the different questions.
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Aashay Madhani
3/29/2017 03:18:01 am
Hey Sidra, I totally agree with the points you made in your blog post about the importance of conversation and the role it plays in solving our problems as a society. I think this challenge could possibly be the most important one as far as engagement goes. People tend to have no problem discussing issues with people who have the same view point, but when it comes to people who think differently, we're all scared of being proven wrong or getting into a hostile argument. However, without respectful conversation where we can learn to respect each other's differences as you said, moving forward as a society is not an option
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Dalena Huynh
3/30/2017 02:35:17 pm
Hi Sidra!
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Rachel Bolognese
3/30/2017 05:39:08 pm
Sidra, I really liked that you pointed out how this activity allowed us to understand that despite our political views, we are all the same. We are all Americans, and regardless of political stances, our loyalties remain the same. I also appreciated the fact that you mentioned that this activity was thought provoking and informative in that there could have been many people who had gone into a conversation uninformed, yet by the end of the activity they had a whole new outlook on our country as a whole.
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Erin Hanafin
4/2/2017 08:51:05 pm
Hi Sidra,
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