[Applause] what are we in last fall I went to San
what are we in last fall I went to San
what are we in last fall I went to San Francisco with a friend at the end of
Francisco with a friend at the end of
Francisco with a friend at the end of the day she turned to me instead Wow
the day she turned to me instead Wow
the day she turned to me instead Wow today has been just such a mentally
today has been just such a mentally
today has been just such a mentally engaging conversation I feel like I
engaging conversation I feel like I
engaging conversation I feel like I never talked like this with any of my
never talked like this with any of my
never talked like this with any of my other friends that day we didn’t talk
other friends that day we didn’t talk
other friends that day we didn’t talk about anything monumental no deep dark
about anything monumental no deep dark
about anything monumental no deep dark secrets were spilled we simply talked
secrets were spilled we simply talked
secrets were spilled we simply talked about life without the world around us
about life without the world around us
about life without the world around us we asked questions and more questions
we asked questions and more questions
we asked questions and more questions unrestricted by the norms that tend to
unrestricted by the norms that tend to
unrestricted by the norms that tend to dictate our social conversations our
dictate our social conversations our
dictate our social conversations our society has built a go-to box of
society has built a go-to box of
society has built a go-to box of conversation starters for small talk
conversation starters for small talk
conversation starters for small talk from the weather to our weekend plans we
from the weather to our weekend plans we
from the weather to our weekend plans we compartmentalize things and impress them
compartmentalize things and impress them
compartmentalize things and impress them off sure surface level questions
off sure surface level questions
off sure surface level questions establish compatibility the only genuine
establish compatibility the only genuine
establish compatibility the only genuine organic conversations can build trust
organic conversations can build trust
organic conversations can build trust too many times have I witnessed the
too many times have I witnessed the
too many times have I witnessed the ballin situation in class we have an
ballin situation in class we have an
ballin situation in class we have an intriguing riveting lively discussion
intriguing riveting lively discussion
intriguing riveting lively discussion people ask insightful questions and
people ask insightful questions and
people ask insightful questions and speak with passion and conviction and
speak with passion and conviction and
speak with passion and conviction and yet the moment we step out of class a
yet the moment we step out of class a
yet the moment we step out of class a switch flips and we revert to our
switch flips and we revert to our
switch flips and we revert to our everyday social jargon we are floated
everyday social jargon we are floated
everyday social jargon we are floated for our intellectual curiosity outside
for our intellectual curiosity outside
for our intellectual curiosity outside of the classroom our static calculated
of the classroom our static calculated
of the classroom our static calculated conversations consequently inhibit the
conversations consequently inhibit the
conversations consequently inhibit the growth of our personal relationships a
growth of our personal relationships a
growth of our personal relationships a study from the University of Missouri
study from the University of Missouri
study from the University of Missouri reports that we spend about 70 to 80
reports that we spend about 70 to 80
reports that we spend about 70 to 80 percent of our waking hours engaged in
percent of our waking hours engaged in
percent of our waking hours engaged in some form of communication where could
some form of communication where could
some form of communication where could that be reading writing speaking or
that be reading writing speaking or
that be reading writing speaking or listening so here you can see the
listening so here you can see the
listening so here you can see the communication by definition is
communication by definition is
communication by definition is reciprocal it’s a two-way street or at
reciprocal it’s a two-way street or at
reciprocal it’s a two-way street or at least it’s supposed to be and yet in the
least it’s supposed to be and yet in the
least it’s supposed to be and yet in the last decade America is seeing two
last decade America is seeing two
last decade America is seeing two interconnected problems as shown by the
interconnected problems as shown by the
interconnected problems as shown by the data from the Pew Research Center our
data from the Pew Research Center our
data from the Pew Research Center our society is becoming increasingly
society is becoming increasingly
society is becoming increasingly polarized as more and more Americans
polarized as more and more Americans
polarized as more and more Americans lean toward extreme ideologies and do
lean toward extreme ideologies and do
lean toward extreme ideologies and do not identify as moderates this polarity
not identify as moderates this polarity
not identify as moderates this polarity has created and divided in our political
has created and divided in our political
has created and divided in our political discourse in-person and online and it’s
discourse in-person and online and it’s
discourse in-person and online and it’s post
post
post into opposite corners of a wrestling
into opposite corners of a wrestling
into opposite corners of a wrestling match that never ends in light of such a
match that never ends in light of such a
match that never ends in light of such a contentious and divisive presidential
contentious and divisive presidential
contentious and divisive presidential election The Wall Street Journal
election The Wall Street Journal
election The Wall Street Journal published an online interactive graphic
published an online interactive graphic
published an online interactive graphic called blue feed red feet Facebook
called blue feed red feet Facebook
called blue feed red feet Facebook scientists scientists follow the
scientists scientists follow the
scientists scientists follow the activity of more than of millions of
activity of more than of millions of
activity of more than of millions of social media users and found that we
social media users and found that we
social media users and found that we almost exclusively like comment and
almost exclusively like comment and
almost exclusively like comment and share posts that align with our own
share posts that align with our own
share posts that align with our own political views this is not unexpected
political views this is not unexpected
political views this is not unexpected we like people that agree with us and
we like people that agree with us and
we like people that agree with us and the predictability of this research is
the predictability of this research is
the predictability of this research is the exact reason why changing our
the exact reason why changing our
the exact reason why changing our political discourse is necessary we
political discourse is necessary we
political discourse is necessary we cannot keep using social media or any
cannot keep using social media or any
cannot keep using social media or any public forum as a portal into a
public forum as a portal into a
public forum as a portal into a unilateral defection where ideas are
unilateral defection where ideas are
unilateral defection where ideas are simply bluer and around in a bubble so
simply bluer and around in a bubble so
simply bluer and around in a bubble so if we spend all of this time
if we spend all of this time
if we spend all of this time communicating why are they stuck in
communicating why are they stuck in
communicating why are they stuck in lackluster conversations why are we
lackluster conversations why are we
lackluster conversations why are we stuck in echo chambers understandably
stuck in echo chambers understandably
stuck in echo chambers understandably there is a natural sense of
there is a natural sense of
there is a natural sense of vulnerability and fragility that comes
vulnerability and fragility that comes
vulnerability and fragility that comes with any more personal or political
with any more personal or political
with any more personal or political conversation but perhaps one reason why
conversation but perhaps one reason why
conversation but perhaps one reason why we are hesitant to engage in
we are hesitant to engage in
we are hesitant to engage in intellectual conversations is the
intellectual conversations is the
intellectual conversations is the prevalence of censorship and a stigma of
prevalence of censorship and a stigma of
prevalence of censorship and a stigma of political correctness across our country
political correctness across our country
political correctness across our country there has been an ongoing heated debate
there has been an ongoing heated debate
there has been an ongoing heated debate about intellectual States faces trigger
about intellectual States faces trigger
about intellectual States faces trigger warnings and free speech and college
warnings and free speech and college
warnings and free speech and college campuses like the University of Chicago
campuses like the University of Chicago
campuses like the University of Chicago our own school community community
our own school community community
our own school community community recently made national news when the
recently made national news when the
recently made national news when the history teacher Frank Navarro was placed
history teacher Frank Navarro was placed
history teacher Frank Navarro was placed on administrative
on administrative
on administrative leave in the interest of the emotional
leave in the interest of the emotional
leave in the interest of the emotional safety of the students outrage social
safety of the students outrage social
safety of the students outrage social media statuses campus protests op-eds
media statuses campus protests op-eds
media statuses campus protests op-eds even our own school board meetings
even our own school board meetings
even our own school board meetings reveals an undeniable fracture in the
reveals an undeniable fracture in the
reveals an undeniable fracture in the web between administration faculty and
web between administration faculty and
web between administration faculty and students at many institutions nationwide
students at many institutions nationwide
students at many institutions nationwide so this dilemma begs another question
so this dilemma begs another question
so this dilemma begs another question how do we filter ideas and decide what
how do we filter ideas and decide what
how do we filter ideas and decide what is taboo or not how do we address
is taboo or not how do we address
is taboo or not how do we address intellectual diversity and academic
intellectual diversity and academic
intellectual diversity and academic freedom how do we define the parameters
freedom how do we define the parameters
freedom how do we define the parameters of our conversations if at all as
of our conversations if at all as
of our conversations if at all as individual speakers and thinkers it is
individual speakers and thinkers it is
individual speakers and thinkers it is important that we establish a balance
important that we establish a balance
important that we establish a balance between our personal advocacy and our
between our personal advocacy and our
between our personal advocacy and our respect for other perspectives and as
respect for other perspectives and as
respect for other perspectives and as listeners and a collective society we
listeners and a collective society we
listeners and a collective society we should refrain from stepping into the
should refrain from stepping into the
should refrain from stepping into the quicksand of political correctness and
quicksand of political correctness and
quicksand of political correctness and hyper sensitivity understanding and
hyper sensitivity understanding and
hyper sensitivity understanding and embracing this duality of intellectual
embracing this duality of intellectual
embracing this duality of intellectual communication is the catalyst for
communication is the catalyst for
communication is the catalyst for productive meaningful discourse and
productive meaningful discourse and
productive meaningful discourse and deeper mutual relationships in
deeper mutual relationships in
deeper mutual relationships in philosophy in illogical ISM is often
philosophy in illogical ISM is often
philosophy in illogical ISM is often considered synonymous to rationalism yet
considered synonymous to rationalism yet
considered synonymous to rationalism yet with the rhetoric that people employ
with the rhetoric that people employ
with the rhetoric that people employ today it is unrealistic to be is
today it is unrealistic to be is
today it is unrealistic to be is exclusively rational one way that we can
exclusively rational one way that we can
exclusively rational one way that we can incorporate emotion into our discourse
incorporate emotion into our discourse
incorporate emotion into our discourse is through empathy we are so lucky to
is through empathy we are so lucky to
is through empathy we are so lucky to live in a country where the fundamental
live in a country where the fundamental
live in a country where the fundamental laws like the First Amendment allow us
laws like the First Amendment allow us
laws like the First Amendment allow us to speak our minds and so we should take
to speak our minds and so we should take
to speak our minds and so we should take advantage of that without renouncing the
advantage of that without renouncing the
advantage of that without renouncing the rights of others so what does this look
rights of others so what does this look
rights of others so what does this look like I have a few steps toward reshaping
like I have a few steps toward reshaping
like I have a few steps toward reshaping our lens on both sides of intellectual
our lens on both sides of intellectual
our lens on both sides of intellectual communication the three e’s number one
communication the three e’s number one
communication the three e’s number one expose we need to ask questions get
expose we need to ask questions get
expose we need to ask questions get informed
informed
informed do our research visit websites authors
do our research visit websites authors
do our research visit websites authors and publications that we normally
and publications that we normally
and publications that we normally wouldn’t we can’t be afraid to put our
wouldn’t we can’t be afraid to put our
wouldn’t we can’t be afraid to put our ideas out there but when we do present
ideas out there but when we do present
ideas out there but when we do present them it is impaired
them it is impaired
them it is impaired that we do not begin with the other side
that we do not begin with the other side
that we do not begin with the other side is wrong and here’s why then what’s the
is wrong and here’s why then what’s the
is wrong and here’s why then what’s the point of even sharing by assuming that
point of even sharing by assuming that
point of even sharing by assuming that our idea or opinion is definitely
our idea or opinion is definitely
our idea or opinion is definitely superior or absolutely right we reject
superior or absolutely right we reject
superior or absolutely right we reject any prospect of collaborative open
any prospect of collaborative open
any prospect of collaborative open discussion and we inhibit actual
discussion and we inhibit actual
discussion and we inhibit actual progress and productivity number to
progress and productivity number to
progress and productivity number to engage in order to truly achieve our
engage in order to truly achieve our
engage in order to truly achieve our desired goals and objectives we need to
desired goals and objectives we need to
desired goals and objectives we need to engage and actually listen there’s a
engage and actually listen there’s a
engage and actually listen there’s a common phrase that goes something like
common phrase that goes something like
common phrase that goes something like listening is not just waiting for your
listening is not just waiting for your
listening is not just waiting for your turn to speak
turn to speak
turn to speak this completely rings true in any type
this completely rings true in any type
this completely rings true in any type of conversation social intellectual
of conversation social intellectual
of conversation social intellectual political engagement requires respect
political engagement requires respect
political engagement requires respect and when it comes to language there is a
and when it comes to language there is a
and when it comes to language there is a fine line between consciousness of
fine line between consciousness of
fine line between consciousness of vocabulary and nitpicking rhetoric for
vocabulary and nitpicking rhetoric for
vocabulary and nitpicking rhetoric for every possible offense shutting down
every possible offense shutting down
every possible offense shutting down scolding or slandering someone forum is
scolding or slandering someone forum is
scolding or slandering someone forum is speaking with the broad blanket
speaking with the broad blanket
speaking with the broad blanket reasoning of political correctness often
reasoning of political correctness often
reasoning of political correctness often implies a superiority complex rather we
implies a superiority complex rather we
implies a superiority complex rather we should ask for clarification and then
should ask for clarification and then
should ask for clarification and then transition into an open composed
transition into an open composed
transition into an open composed explanation of our viewpoints but there
explanation of our viewpoints but there
explanation of our viewpoints but there is also a fine line between feeling
is also a fine line between feeling
is also a fine line between feeling uncomfortable and unsafe which brings me
uncomfortable and unsafe which brings me
uncomfortable and unsafe which brings me to my final point and because honestly
to my final point and because honestly
to my final point and because honestly up until this past election I never
up until this past election I never
up until this past election I never fully understood sectionalism we have
fully understood sectionalism we have
fully understood sectionalism we have learned about it in history class but my
learned about it in history class but my
learned about it in history class but my naive mind was always lost at the idea
naive mind was always lost at the idea
naive mind was always lost at the idea that people would not want to be unified
that people would not want to be unified
that people would not want to be unified as what nation it was only until a
as what nation it was only until a
as what nation it was only until a recent spontaneous trip through rural
recent spontaneous trip through rural
recent spontaneous trip through rural California would I begin to witness how
California would I begin to witness how
California would I begin to witness how shockingly different the lifestyles and
shockingly different the lifestyles and
shockingly different the lifestyles and values are in each pocket of our nation
values are in each pocket of our nation
values are in each pocket of our nation and then I could empathize with other to
and then I could empathize with other to
and then I could empathize with other to his daily lives and see how that shapes
his daily lives and see how that shapes
his daily lives and see how that shapes their political views and social norms
their political views and social norms
their political views and social norms it was slightly uncomfortable but it was
it was slightly uncomfortable but it was
it was slightly uncomfortable but it was also I open it by empathizing
also I open it by empathizing
also I open it by empathizing others we can understand why certain
others we can understand why certain
others we can understand why certain words might make them feel unsafe where
words might make them feel unsafe where
words might make them feel unsafe where is the caring serious weight and tragic
is the caring serious weight and tragic
is the caring serious weight and tragic history to truly create an effective
history to truly create an effective
history to truly create an effective solution or to build a deeper
solution or to build a deeper
solution or to build a deeper relationship or to simply gain a greater
relationship or to simply gain a greater
relationship or to simply gain a greater understanding we have to put ourselves
understanding we have to put ourselves
understanding we have to put ourselves in other people’s positions I don’t have
in other people’s positions I don’t have
in other people’s positions I don’t have all of the answers toward healing the
all of the answers toward healing the
all of the answers toward healing the greater divide that separates our
greater divide that separates our
greater divide that separates our country our ideological differences are
country our ideological differences are
country our ideological differences are often intertwined along threads like
often intertwined along threads like
often intertwined along threads like race and socioeconomic and I acknowledge
race and socioeconomic and I acknowledge
race and socioeconomic and I acknowledge that this is not a perfect formula for
that this is not a perfect formula for
that this is not a perfect formula for revitalizing our relationships but I do
revitalizing our relationships but I do
revitalizing our relationships but I do know that the way we are going to reach
know that the way we are going to reach
know that the way we are going to reach progress depth and unity is through
progress depth and unity is through
progress depth and unity is through discourse even if we cannot or it is
discourse even if we cannot or it is
discourse even if we cannot or it is difficult to combat the
difficult to combat the
difficult to combat the institutionalized oppression and voices
institutionalized oppression and voices
institutionalized oppression and voices we can start with ourselves on the
we can start with ourselves on the
we can start with ourselves on the smaller scale of our everyday lives
smaller scale of our everyday lives
smaller scale of our everyday lives our eternal willingness to listen is a
our eternal willingness to listen is a
our eternal willingness to listen is a crucial stepping-stone in the right
crucial stepping-stone in the right
crucial stepping-stone in the right direction it is our responsibility as
direction it is our responsibility as
direction it is our responsibility as constructors of the future to boldly do’
constructors of the future to boldly do’
constructors of the future to boldly do’ to foster an environment the conduct
to foster an environment the conduct
to foster an environment the conduct ideas rather than influenza one of my
ideas rather than influenza one of my
ideas rather than influenza one of my favorite authors James Baldwin wrote in
favorite authors James Baldwin wrote in
favorite authors James Baldwin wrote in his book notes of a native son it is
his book notes of a native son it is
his book notes of a native son it is really quite impossible to be
really quite impossible to be
really quite impossible to be affirmative about anything one refused
affirmative about anything one refused
affirmative about anything one refused to question so I challenge you to
to question so I challenge you to
to question so I challenge you to question and to be genuinely open to
question and to be genuinely open to
question and to be genuinely open to hearing and answer thank you
”
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