This is journal questions for my class. As with the course ‘confessional’, your journal responses may be kept anonymously
for the purpose of sharing with others, in educational settings, the nature of students’ thoughts
and attitudes. When you turn in your journal, please sign the cover page/title sheet next to your
name as indication of your permission to use your responses anonymously so that others may
learn from your words.
1. (Jan 30). How does the idea of multiculturalism strike you? Is it worth achieving? Does it offend you? Do you find yourself wanting to create space for others’ stories or not?
2. (Feb 6). What, if any, events taking place today are normalized by our own or others’ ethnocentrism yet might otherwise be considered “wrong”, “cruel” or an “injustice”?
3. (Feb 13). As we have already learned, we need others to see ourselves. Considering these “others” all around us as a resource, please seek out a sojourner, immigrant, or refugee (not yourself, even if these labels apply) to this country and ask them the following question, “In order to understand what the United States looks like to others, please share one or several things about the United States or Americans that is most remarkable to you- including how welcome/unwelcome you have felt here”.
4. (March 6). Ogden and Richards’ Meaning Triangle forces us to recognize that there is no “true” or “absolute” meaning for any word; how does this recognition affect you? For example, does the idea that the word “police” can mean “corruption and brutality” as well as “honor and duty” sit well with you?
5. (March 11). Einstein claims that “when we survey our lives and endeavors we soon observe that almost the whole of our actions are desires are bound up with the existence of other human beings”. Please take time to observe and reflect on this claim in relation to your life. What did you notice- In what ways (if any) are bound together with others? In what ways (if any) are you truly independent?
6. (March 20). According to a Native American tale, there are two wolves fighting inside all of us- the wolf of fear and hate, and the wolf of love and peace. Which one wins depends on which one we feed. Thinking broadly about your life experiences, when do you feed your wolf of fear and hate? And when do you feed your wolf of love and peace? Which one is winning?
7. (April 10). We have now explored several experiences within and perspectives of various “Other” co-cultures in U.S. society (e.g., sexuality, gender, and religion). During this exploration, when you sit quietly with the stories of these “Others”, what reactions have you noticed in yourself? Is it easy and/or difficult to sit with, and to allow room for these voices?
8. (April 23). Please consider Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief. Where are you in this cycle, right now, regarding the second story of race in the U.S.- the story of structural oppression?
9. (April 29)After viewing the dialogue among students featured in the video “If These Halls Could Talk”, where are you at with the project of intercultural (e.g., interracial) conversation? Please re-read your response to Journal Question One (“How does the idea of multiculturalism strike you?”) and share how you feel now, today, about continuing these sorts of discussions.
