Diversity of Opinions
As a student of the Ivy Tech Honors College and while completing the LIBA279 Honors Capstone Course, we were tasked with creating a Learning Portfolio and reflecting upon artifacts that pertained to specific Honors Program Outcomes.
Below is one of those reflections.
Thank you for your time.
- Michael
Honors Program Outcome 6:
Demonstrate knowledge and sensitivity to a diversity of opinions resulting from ethnic, cultural, and national differences, and synthesize these viewpoints to create effective answers to global questions.
Reflection
This program outcome is extremely important to me because in a world that feels so divided, it seems that so many are closed off to the idea of diversity of opinion. While tremendous societal strides have been made to encourage diversity in many areas, it can often feel like diverse mindsets are something that is frowned upon. Perhaps this is just media portrayal of divisiveness within society, but I truly value learn new viewpoints from individuals who are passionate about… whatever they are passionate about.
I choose the artifacts for this outcome because I believe each example covers an important topic that many should consider.
Deforestation
Bright-eyed and bushy tailed I arrived at one of my first college courses: English Composition. During the course we were asked to write an analysis of a speech given by Marina Silva about deforestation in Brazil. The biggest takeaway from this assignment was the gut check that I needed to expand my worldview to encompass more than just the community around me. I was generally aware of deforestation. I had seen the videos online of open swathes of land destroyed by greedy companies. But this assignment helped me to put on the shoes of another. Although I cannot see the immediate effects of deforestation in my city, that does not change the urgency of the issue nor the passion of those who have actively fought to make our world a better place. Also, with this project I was able to see a different approach to addressing a problem. The cliché image of an activist chained to a tree comes to mind when discussing deforestation, but to watch a Brazilian senator stand up and speak powerfully and passionately about a topic with such poise was refreshing. So often we consider only the perspective that comes easily to us and our lived experience, but by appreciating the ideas and perspectives of those who we do not yet understand we can achieve a higher form of education that truly enriches our lives. It was an early lesson in my collegiate journey, but one that helped me throughout to consider issues not from my perspective, but from the perspective of those who are actively engaged with them.
Socialization
I have often stated that if psychology is the micro level examination of the mind and behavior then sociology must be the macro level. While taking Introduction to Sociology Honors I had the opportunity to write a persuasive essay and I chose the topic of socialization. It was in the researching and writing of this paper that I truly took the time, perhaps for the first time, to understand just how pivotal an individual’s life experiences were in relation to the choices they make. It is easy to judge a person’s actions from the comfort of your own home without any context. This is antithesis to intellectual diversity! I have a responsibility to dive into complex matters and truly search for a complete comprehension of that which I do not understand. Understanding the impact of socialization may just be one of the keys to helping unite differing groups. This project helped me to appreciate the “why” of situations rather than just the “what,” which can make all the difference in developing a diverse mindset.
Global Politics
I hate politics. Cloak and dagger deals behind closed doors as power hungry pawns scramble to maintain what little control they have over others. It makes me mad to read about politicians and their hypocrisy. But I have to admit that global politics can be interesting and is very important to understanding different mentalities around the world. In Introduction to World Politics Honors, I was asked to identify potential future problems facing the global community and how these issues might be addressed politically. A hard pill to swallow is that sometimes things are not as easy to dissect as you might think. In part of this project I discuss cultural practices that, in the modern world, might be frowned upon but I ultimately came to the conclusion that respecting sovereignty and cultural differences is par for the course if we are to respect others. How diverse is your opinion if you enforce your will upon another? How considerate are you for the viewpoints of others when you would place your own viewpoint on a pedestal? Lesson learned. My viewpoint is not the only viewpoint. My culture is not the only culture. My lifestyle is not the only lifestyle. Each perspective is unique and valuable.
Gender
As I write this in April of 2021, gender is still a “hot button” topic for many people. In Lifespan Development I decided to throw my hat into this controversial ring and attempt to explain why a parent may strive to socialize their children to fall in line with “traditional” gender roles even though society is moving away from such concepts. While writing the paper I never considered the possibility that I might post it on the internet in a learning portfolio, but here I am. So why would I broadcast a paper about gender socialization from a 200-level college course? Because there is a lesson to be learned when discussing differing opinions from different worldviews. That lesson is that my opinion matters, I can learn and grow, and perhaps with enough reflection and input from others who possess greater knowledge or experience I can come to better understand the world. So… I ask you, the reader, to reflect on my work and hopefully share your thoughts with me. A mind without intellectual diversity is boring and ignorant. Two things I never intend to be.