Amy M. Schaefer
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery

From the Front Porch

I am an "accidental blogger". When I launched my writing career in March of 2014, one of the things that I decided to include was my journaling, which I have always found to be a comforting and therapeutic endeavor.  It was a big risk to open myself up in such a public forum, but it has taught me that, for the most part, we share far more experiences than we think. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!  (*the "Button Text" is the link to my first novel)
Button Text

We The People

4/22/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
"We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave, think, and feel." -Marshall B. Rosenberg

Our world is saturated with derogatory commentary in magazines, via social media, on our news networks, and any number of other venues. We are a people who seem adept at tearing one another down in order to prove our point. And often we allow ourselves to use or fall prey to common fallacies (mistaken beliefs; invalid arguments), such as the frequent posts seen on places like Facebook,  where people go after one another for their thoughts and beliefs in regards to any number of topics. Behavior like this is a classic example of Argumentum Ad Hominem, or a personal attack that fits into the abusive category which is defined as follows: (1) Abusive Argumentum Ad Hominem: To argue that proposals, assertions, or arguments must be false or dangerous because they originate with atheists, Christians, Muslims, Communists, Capitalists...etc., or any other group is fallacious. This persuasion comes from irrational psychological transference rather than from an appeal to evidence or logic concerning the issue at hand.

When I taught Social Studies to middle schoolers, during our lessons on the U.S. Constitution, it was common for my students to pontificate on their Constitutional Rights. Freedom of speech always sparked lively debates. I would begin by asking them to explain their rights in words and through visual representation, and then as a whole class we would discuss their conclusions. I would ask, "What is the meaning of free speech as outlined in the First Amendment?" Then, I would hear, "It means in America we have the right to say anything we want." And as long as what "we" say is not liable, slander, or a threat, that is true; however that should not be the end of the lesson. If it is, then we have failed as educators, parents, adults, Americans, and human beings. Just because we can do a thing without fear of going to jail, or worse, doesn't mean we should. Mocking someone for their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, political ideas, looks, gender, etc., is not exercising our right to free speech, it's bullying. Verbally attacking someone because we disagree with them about, well, anything, does not make us intelligent or superior to them. Instead, it makes us look illogical, uneducated, and narcissistic.

The lesson to my students was that "We the people..." have a right and a responsibility to use our voices, but in doing so, we understand that every utterance comes with consequences. Part of our responsibility is not to just spew verbal vomit because we can, but to present and be able to logically defend our position and views on any given topic in a way that makes sense without causing harm. As for understanding the consequences of the words that come from our lips and fingertips...one should not have to tear down others in order to express their views of the world around them. I want my students, my daughters, my nieces and nephews, cousins and everyone else to live in a world of logic, intelligence, tolerance and compassion, where we can freely build up our Earth and each other instead of blindly, cruelly plowing everyone and everything down.

*Logical Fallacies Handlist, http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html.

2 Comments
Mark
4/24/2014 03:10:05 am

People seem to miss that intent in the Constitution. In my opinion, it's why the original writings include God so often- to remember we are all accountable. People just get offended because "Your God isn't mine or I don't believe"... listen to the intent. Sigh... I could go on and on... "Forget what you know to learn what you don't.." ~Einstein (paraphrased)

Reply
Amy M. Schaefer
4/24/2014 11:44:17 pm

Mark,
Thank you for your comments. I, too, believe we are all accountable in one way or another for all that we say and do.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About The Author

    I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter.

    Since then, I have learned to reach well beyond what I ever dared to think was possible. I've learned not to allow fear to stop me from whatever future I want to create!

    What keeps me grounded? My Tribe! What provides the wind beneath my wings? A well of reserves filled with unstoppable passion!

    Archives

    August 2021
    March 2020
    August 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories
    A View From the Hill: Short Stories by Mattie Hill Shields

    All

    Button Text

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery